dear fans of "the big lebowski"

[rone]

What the fuck, over?  This movie is not funny, it is not memorable, and it is not enjoyable.  It's a story that reads like it was written by some pinhead with ADD who heavily self-medicates with marijuana; a ridiculous amount of random things happened for no damn discernible reason or even a more than tenuous connection between them.  I am a charter member of the Jeff Bridges Fan Club and the way he was wasted was nearly criminal, and the same goes for Steve Buscemi.  The movie needed a lot less John Goodman and a lot more John Turturro.  It feels like some film student decided to ape the Coen brothers.  If i hadn't rented this movie for free with a coupon, i would feel totally ripped off.  Something about the movie made me dodge it when it came out, and all the years since, but i finally decided to fill in a gap in my Coen brothers movie track, and now i'm sorry.  I blame all of you jerks.

Oh, by the way, since it seems that "watch it again another 10-40 times and you'll get it" is a really popular suggestion, i have two words for you: Stockholm syndrome.

Comments

And yet

[erikred.livejournal.com]

That rug really tied the room together, man.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Shut the fuck up, Donny.

[sunburn.livejournal.com]

Go see "No Country for Old Men." You'll feel *much* better.

[filthy-habit.livejournal.com]

"Hell, I can get you a toe by 3 o'clock this afternoon...with nail polish."

I wasn't so hooked on it on my first viewing, but over time it wormed its way into my head. As I became more familiar with it, it grew on me. Now, I just laugh senselessly.

The inevitable truth is that everyone who knows me, especially my sisters who really know me, pegged me as The Dude.

I guess the litmus test for this film is whether or not it hits a chord and taps into your own life experience, despite the random insanity. For me, it did exactly that, so I was sucked in.

[syringavulgaris.livejournal.com]

Similar effect but wrong litmus test, I think. The first time I saw it, I had the ineffable feeling that there was a level the entire rest of the world saw it on which I was Failing To Get. Second time, I was Enlightened.

Similarly, Steve recounts that he thought it weak the first time he saw it, but since then it's climbed in his estimation to a tie as his favorite Coen Brothers film

[brong.livejournal.com]

Give me another look, I'm sure it's in there somewhere.

[peglegpete.livejournal.com]

If you paid attention to anything other than character in this movie, I won't say that you missed the boat, but I will not that we were perhaps on ships passing in the night.

[benchilada.livejournal.com]

DECLARATION OF AMEN!!!

[thegodliestlord.livejournal.com]

i have something for you. dear god have i got sometthing for you.

and i tottaly aare with your enty. frick. i'm srundk.

[vatine]

But Peter Stormare as a nihilist German was, if naught else, excellent casting.

[mrbalihai.livejournal.com]

In a business where an untalented asstard like Keanu Reeves can get cast as Klaatu in an ill-advised remake of "The Day the Earth Stood Still," I can appreciate the fact that the Coens are at least trying to make films that break the mold.

That being said, I thought "Lebowski" was good for a few WTF laffs, and not much else.

[opadit.livejournal.com]

I've never seen The Big Lebowski through, because I can't watch it without falling asleep.

Same goes for Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven.

[arian1.livejournal.com]

The dude does...not abide?

[wisn.livejournal.com]

Next time you play bowling on Wii Sports, look in the crowd of cartoonish figures behind the seats.

The Dude is there, bobbing up and down like a toy duck in choppy water every time you throw a spare. Somebody in Japan likes 'The Big Lebowski' even if you don't.

[jsbowden.livejournal.com]

I'm right there with you. I tried to watch it once; I just couldn't force myself to finish it. Miller's Crossing still rules though, so it's okay that the Coen's made a flick I don't care for.

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

FWIW:

I love the Coen bros. with a white sweet unnatural love. I also missed The Big Lebowski when it appeared, and when I eventually caught it on video a few years later I was puzzled, disappointed and really annoyed. Everything you said went double for me.

Of course, I kept hearing about it on and off for years afterward, so a couple of years later I gave it another shot, and all of a sudden I found it clever, complex, fascinating and really, really funny.

Weird experience. I think that in between those two I also saw The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep, and that almost certainly helped give me a different perspective on Lebowski.

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

See, now, Miller's Crossing is one of the Coens that has not improved on subsequent viewings for me.

But that is seriously one of the things I love about them. Ask six Coen fans what their favorite movie is and you'll get ten opinions.

[sanspoof.livejournal.com]

That is very nearly exactly what I wanted to say. I do think it's worth watching, but it's a second- or third-time kind of thing for me.
I still don't love it as well as some of their other work, but I can see a lot more in there. See also (http://toddalcott.livejournal.com/19382.html).

[nothings.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't get it, and there are a ton of us out there that don't get it.

Look at the last entry here: http://www.avclub.com/content/node/49630/2

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Even the characters stink. They're not fully developed, there's no rewarding interaction except between Brandt and the Dude... what's to like? Potheads, man. They'll disappoint you, every time.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Yes, great idea, but again, where the hell was the execution? A lot more nihilism, please.

Perhaps:

[erikred.livejournal.com]

You're like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie and wants to know...

Perhaps you'd prefer a condensed version. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqtgfjkB6Pg)

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

"The Big Lebowski is a movie about how nothing means anything anymore."

Wow, i think i can safely stop reading. In a strange coincidence, yesterday someone compared people who liked this movie to people who like Seinfeld, another show whose fans proudly declaim its about-nothingness. What is this shit, pop nihilism? Is it like people who like comedians who are purposely not funny, like Chevy Chase and Norm McDonald and Chris Elliott? What the fucking fuck? What is wrong with you people?

[2wanda.livejournal.com]

I'm with you. I started fast forwarding through the boring parts, because I was about to fall asleep. And I wanted to stay up till midnight to see in the New Year.

Needless to say, I did not enjoy the movie any more than ronebofh did.

Maybe it's because I grew up with a bunch of pot heads. I just don't find their way of reacting to the world very funny. I find it pathetic and infuriating.

The sad thing is, the Dude does abide.

[reverendluke.livejournal.com]

That's just, like, you know, your opinion, man...