How the Coen Brothers Infused ‘The Big Lebowski’ with Film Noir and Hollywood History to Make an Iconic Stoner Comedy

"What makes The Big Lebowski still endearing and rewatchable 25 years after its release is the Coens' accessibility as artists. There is a basic, surface-level entertainment value in all of their movies that any viewer can enjoy a Coen Brothers film without analyzing the minutiae of the text. This film is so innately hilarious that the references to film noir and American history can be naturalistically appreciated when revisited."

Gotta agree with this article. The film is a gem. I plan to rewatch over the Thanksgiving holiday white enjoying a Caucasian or two.

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a Caucasian or two

Great movie!

Nice Marmot!

The Coens directorial list reads like a damn Pulitzer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coen_brothers

One of my top 25 favorite movies!

A film I have watched dozens of times and can quote good chunks of. For me, their best film, and that's not a comment lightly made.

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Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
A film I have watched dozens of times and can quote good chunks of. For me, their best film, and that's not a comment lightly made.

Whenever my wife’s phone rings, this is me:


“Phone’s ringing, dude”

Mark it Zero!

It's true that they make incredible cinema, but it's so re-watchable due to their mastery of dialogue.

They have an ear for dialogue, and correct dialogue, proper for the time and place it is spoken. Their works also have a conversational feel to them, more of a fly-on-the-wall feeling than being preached to.

As an example, see the intentional deletion of contractions in their remake of True Grit. "Could not" instead of "couldn't" etc.

When you watch a Coen film, it brings you in with attention to details like that, making you feel more authentic. A more willing participant in the willful suspension of disbelief...if you will.

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Originally posted by PASig:

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Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
A film I have watched dozens of times and can quote good chunks of. For me, their best film, and that's not a comment lightly made.

Whenever my wife’s phone rings, this is me:


“Phone’s ringing, dude”

LMAO. What’s funny is there are apps for ringtones where you could literally program this into your phone so you could hear Walter every time the phone rings. I’ve long wanted to do it, giving all my friends their individual ring tones programmed into my phone so I know who it is by the ringtone and wouldn’t even have to look at the screen.

I’m a big fan of Flight, with Denzel, because of John playing Harling Mays. He was a got damn legend in that movie on par with Walter in Big L.

See my tagline, lol. "This aggression will not stand, man!"

I've loved the Coen Brothers movies since Raising Arizona. Almost all them are rewatchable, and several are masterpieces; Fargo and No Country For Old Men come to mind.

Exactly right about John Goodman. And Flight is an excellent movie.

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They have an ear for dialogue, and correct dialogue, proper for the time and place it is spoken. Their works also have a conversational feel to them, more of a fly-on-the-wall feeling than being preached to.

People like to talk about how they love Tarantino's long character monologue's or, the banter in a scene. Sorry, Coen Brother's do a much, much better job of this. Tarantino is talented and has his moments but, the Coen's really have a knack for this type of stuff.

Will said about dialogue in their films. It felt very true to the era in True Grit.

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Originally posted by Belwolf:
How the Coen Brothers Infused ‘The Big Lebowski’ with Film Noir and Hollywood History to Make an Iconic Stoner Comedy

"What makes The Big Lebowski still endearing and rewatchable 25 years after its release is the Coens' accessibility as artists. There is a basic, surface-level entertainment value in all of their movies that any viewer can enjoy a Coen Brothers film without analyzing the minutiae of the text. This film is so innately hilarious that the references to film noir and American history can be naturalistically appreciated when revisited."

Gotta agree with this article. The film is a gem. I plan to rewatch over the Thanksgiving holiday white enjoying a Caucasian or two.

Yeah, well you know, that's just like your opinion, man.

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Originally posted by YooperSigs:
Will said about dialogue in their films. It felt very true to the era in True Grit.

I’ve rewatched that thing so many times. The banter between Mattie and Cogburn, and especially “labeef” and Cogburn. But also Mattie and “labeef”, especially in the boarding house. “I’m sorry you’ve been outsmarted all winter by a halfwit” They start breaking balls “Cappin of woot?”. Let this go Labeef. LMAO. Then I remember him in court too. What direction were you going? “I always go backwards when I’m backing up”. I can rewatch it so many times because it is that funny and the dialogue is that good.

The negotiating scene between Mattie Ross and Col. Stonehill is excellent.
My favorite line is from the dugout scene:
"Speak up! Who's in there"?
"A Methodist and a son of a bitch"!

Oh, and I forgot Miller's Crossing. Such a perfect movie.

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Originally posted by AUTiger89:
See my tagline, lol. "This aggression will not stand, man!"

I've loved the Coen Brothers movies since Raising Arizona. Almost all them are rewatchable, and several are masterpieces; Fargo and No Country For Old Men come to mind.

Exactly right about John Goodman. And Flight is an excellent movie.

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Originally posted by corsair:
People like to talk about how they love Tarantino's long character monologue's or, the banter in a scene. Sorry, Coen Brother's do a much, much better job of this. Tarantino is talented and has his moments but, the Coen's really have a knack for this type of stuff.

I agree, and I'll go even further to say I don't think they're even in the same league. When I think of Tarantino, I think of shitty banter.

Not the kind of flick you expect to see Sam Elliot in.