It’s a classic for a reason (Picture: Working Title Film)

The Coen Brothers’ comedy masterpiece The Big Lebowski turns 20 today and in two decades it has lost none of its charm.

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It may never have set the box office alight, but it has long-since achieved bona fide cult classic status.

The Big Lebowski is a wonderfully absurd piece of pulpy comedy, and at 20 years old, it remains as hilarious and life affirming as ever.

After all these years, The Dude still abides.


So what is it about the film that makes it such an enduring classic?

It’s a comedy noir

It’s hard to define The Big Lebowski in simple genre terms.

It’s equals parts comedy, neo-noir and Raymond Chandler-esque crime thriller.



It’s a film with a twisting, labyrinthine plot that packs in nihilists, family dramas, missing toes, stolen rugs and plenty of bowling.

It’s an absurd patchwork and it’s all part of the film’s indelible aesthetic.

Of course, despite its distinctive nature, the film is still instantly recognisable as a Coen Brothers movie.

The expected surreal flights of fancy, quirky characters and pitch black humour are all present and correct in one of the duo’s greatest ever offerings.

The Dude

At the centre of it all of course is Jeff Bridges’ irrepressible The Dude, a man more at peace with who he is than any other film character to date.

He cares not for the trappings of the rat race, he’s taken apathy and turned it into something glorious.

He may be an unexpected hero in some regards, but it’s also clear to see why he has become such an icon and even inspired a religion based upon his mindset known simply as ‘Dudeism’.

Bridges is at peak affability throughout the movie and whether he’s sipping on a White Russian or fighting off a marmot in the tub, he makes it all look effortlessly cool.

It’s no exaggeration to suggest that Bridges’ character belongs among the pantheon of all-time great comedy creations.

The Dude is one of the all-time great characters (Picture: Working Title Films)

The cast

While Bridges is superb as The Dude, he’s also supported by an incredible cast.

John Goodman in particular is perfect as the brash and argumentative Vietnam vet, Walter.

He’s a man who appears to be completely at odds with The Dude’s chilled out vibe, but somehow their dynamic works perfectly.

Practically every line Walter delivers is pure gold, including the classic observation, ‘I mean, say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude. At least it’s an ethos.’

Every single cast member has their moment to shine, including Steve Buscemi’s put upon Donny, Julianne Moore’s insane artist Maude, Philip Seymour Hoffman’s sycophantic Brandt and of course, John Turturro’s utterly unforgettable Jesus.

It’s a typically Coen Brothers cast of bizarre oddities, and each character brings something new to the table.

It’s a quotable masterpiece

The movie’s screenplay is utterly flawless, with the Coen brothers packing in a non stop flow of classic one-liners.



It’s one of those movies that fans can practically recite word-for-word.

Quotes ranging from the effusive politeness of ‘careful man, there’s a beverage here’ to the obscure insistence of ‘this is not ‘Nam, this is bowling, there are rules.’

Even seemingly throwaway lines of dialogue include tiny nuggets of Coen Brothers gold.

The soundtrack

Another underrated aspect of the movie is its enjoyably diverse soundtrack.

Renowned producer T-Bone Burnett helped the brothers put together the mix and the eclectic soundtrack suits the film’s bizarre multi-faceted style perfectly.

The Gipsy Kings’ Latin-infused cover of Hotel California, and Kenny Rogers’ Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) both stand out as left-field choices that still fit the movie’s tone to a tee.

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