Why The Big Lebowski Is The Coen Brothers’ Best Film

With a resume that includes some of the greatest films ever made, such as Fargo, No Country For Old Men and Barton Fink. In addition to great films like Inside Llewyn Davis, Raising Arizona, True Grit and their latest, Hail, Caesar, the Coen Brothers have been making great movies for well over 30 years. Among all of the great movies they’ve made, The Big Lebowski stands out as their best film in a line up of Oscar winners and modern masterpieces.
Why Some People Don’t Like The Big Lebowski…
While it’s true that The Big Lebowski has become a cult classic over the years, it’s also true that many people don’t like this film and would completely disagree with me that it’s the Coen Brothers best. Many would choose either Fargo or No Country For Old Men, which are in many ways superior dramas, but the humour and wackiness of The Big Lebowski takes it for me.
I myself did not like The Big Lebowski when I first saw it on home video about a year after it was released in theatres. A teenager at the time, I simply did not understand what the movie was about, I hated all the characters and didn’t think the film was funny what-so-ever. A few years ago, I revisited this film, which I also happened to give 1 star on my Netflix account and was really taken aback by how much more I got out of it. Now I give it 5 stars.
While I know I’m not the only one who would benefit from a revisit, it still is a little disconcerting to hear that not even the Coen Brothers love The Big Lebowski. From a 2009 interview with MTV about a possible sequel staring John Turturro, Ethan Coen said of The Big Lebowski “That movie has more of an enduring fascination for other people than it does for us.” Considering that it’s a cult classic loved by many, there’s also an actual religion called Dudeism, which was inspired by the film and while The Big Lebowski gets a tremendous amount of love from so many people, it hasn’t yet from its own filmmakers.
Why The Dude Abides…
I was very happy that I gave The Big Lebowski a second chance because it’s a film that more than deserves another go. While it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, as many Coen Brothers’ films aren’t, there’s still a lot to love in The Big Lebowski and is hands down the Coen Brothers’ best film.
Why is that, you ask?
From Jeff Bridges’ performance as a bumbling stoner to John Goodman’s great one-liners to Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s uncomfortable laugh to Julianne Moore and her strange video artist friend, The Big Lebowski offers a lot for audience members to love. While it may not have one of the greatest villains in film history, that being Anton Chigurh from No Country For Old Men or that great Minnesota accent scene from Fargo, The Big Lebowski is an entertaining film with loads of humour. It also won’t make you feel depressed or terrible about yourself like No Country For Old Men and Fargo does. That is often a major complaint about the Coen Brothers dramas; they tend to be very bleak, dark and depressing.
In the end, while many consider No Country For Old Men and/or Fargo to be the better Coen Brothers’ films, I much prefer The Big Lebowski to both. It’s certainly THE FUNNIEST COEN BROTHERS’ FILM and the MOST SURREAL. While it might not be for everyone, the humour, characters, mystery and film noir influences certainly make me feel that the Big Lebowski is in fact THE BEST COEN BROTHERS’ FILM OF ALL TIME and BETTER THAN ANY OTHER FILM off of the Coen Brothers’ impressive resume.
Look out for Flea, the bass player from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, as one of the Nihilists.
Join The Discussion
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Liz Jaluague February 8, 2016 , 3:14 am
I honestly have yet to meet someone who dislikes this movie! But then again, I hang around weirdos. :3
Mark Tordai February 8, 2016 , 4:32 am Vote0
I have brought up this movie many times because I think it’s the Coen Brothers’ best and have heard otherwise. I know a lot of people like it but a lot of people don’t, including the Coen Brothers themselves. They don’t really like it.
Leanne Baker February 8, 2016 , 6:21 am Vote0
I love the Coen Brothers, but this is definitely not my favorite, maybe not even in the top five. I would rank Fargo, then No Country, and then Brother, Where Art Thou? (which is the one I have watched most often), then Inside Llewyn Davis — well, OK, the Big Lebowski is Number Five. Have you seen the new one yet? Just like the Monty Python movies, I feel like you have to watch Lebowski just so you know the reference when someone else starts quoting the funniest and/or best-known lines.
Mark Tordai February 8, 2016 , 1:35 pm Vote0
I have seen Hail, Caesar and I really like it but I also love everything about Lebowski too.
Craig Spencer February 8, 2016 , 8:31 am Vote0
Who are the Coen brothers?
Mark Tordai February 8, 2016 , 1:36 pm Vote0
They make some really awesome movies.
Adam Johnson February 8, 2016 , 9:56 am Vote0
@ccspencer Ethan and Joel Cohen are brothers that direct movies together.
Mark Tordai February 8, 2016 , 1:36 pm Vote0
Yup!
James Smith February 8, 2016 , 12:03 pm Vote0
TBL is one of those that requires a second viewing to fully appreciate. Its pleasures are in familiarity and getting used to its world, at first obscured by a bafflingly complicated plot – it seems to exist in its own universe of rules and language that you have to learn. When you do give it a second chance, everything just clicks and it becomes one of the funniest things you’ve ever seen.
For me, Fargo is a better film all round, but I put it as Coen Brothers’ number 2 best creation, and 5 stars.
Mark Tordai February 8, 2016 , 1:38 pm Vote0
I completely agree. I definitely did not like TBL the first time I saw it but now I love it.
Ned Netterville February 8, 2016 , 8:05 pm Vote2
Naah! Nothing beats OH BROTHER… I guess it is my all time fav, cause I’ve watched it more than any–unless as a youngster and wannabe cowboy I watched RED RIVER and John Wayne more. It was also Clooney’s best among those I’ve seen.
Mark Tordai February 9, 2016 , 2:37 am Vote0
That is one of the Coen’s that I have yet to see.
Leanne Baker February 19, 2016 , 5:56 am Vote0
Saw “Hail Caesar” today and totally enjoyed it. A touch Woody Allen-ish.
Colin Albea February 19, 2016 , 7:58 am Vote0
I liked The Big Lewbowski when I first saw it, yet still found that it’s a movie that you tend to appreciate more with each viewing. Part of that is the fact that the plot is incomprehensible on a first viewing, but also because it’s so dense with details that I usually find something new each time I watch it.
Mike Reid February 28, 2016 , 3:34 am Vote0
Is there any movie in this year’s whole Oscar crop that can stand up to the majesty of the Big Lebowski?