"The Big Lebowski"

[Tarantella]

Has anyone seen this hilarious cult film and what did you think of it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd-go0oBF4Y

[Balthazar]

I love Lebowski, and everything else the Cohen Bros. have done.

Whenever my kids complain something "isn't fair," I always think of oafish Walter: "Fair? Who's the fucking nihilist here?"

[Tarantella]

Ditto, ditto, ditto. "That f...*ing" rug really tied the room together, did it not?" Other memorable quotes:

"You're out of your element, Donny!".
"My buddies didn't die face down in the slime in 'Nam for this!"

"Over the line....you're entering a world of pain"!
"Say what you like about the tenants of National Socialism, Dude; it WAS an ethos"! (As opposed to Nihilism)

"I brought it (the dog) bowling, Dude; I'm not buying it a beer; It's not going to take your turn; I'm not renting it shoes"!

The Coens are just marvellous. Their film, "The Man who Wasn't There" is a MASTERPIECE.

[Balthazar]

"Strong men also cry."

Originally Posted by Tarantella

"The Man who Wasn't There" is a MASTERPIECE.

My wife loves that one too. As far as their less-heralded films go, I have a soft spot for The Hudsucker Proxy.

[Scott Good]

Jeff Bridges (The Dude) has some great lines...and of course, Jesus!

"Don't ___ with the Jesus!"

So many classic lines.

I also love Millers Crossing...and of course the standards - Fargo is brilliant with some absolutely great acting - how do they ride suspense and comedy so effectively? The first I saw was Raising Arizona...back when Nicholas Cage was a formidable actor (can you think of any others who have fallen from being so high?)

Barton Fink! One of the creepiest movies I can think of. Perhaps their least humorous attempt.

Funny, O Brother left me kinda cold...but loved the soundtrack.

Yep, Coen's are masters. The Big Lebowski is definitely a classic...but there are many.

[Tarantella]

Thoroughly enjoyed "Oh Brother..." and "Intolerable Cruelty" - what about those lines..!! So 'screwball comedy' in every way!! Preston Sturges, Howard Hawks, George Stevens and Billy Wilder would all have been very impressed (except for the swearing).

I also loved "No Country for Old Men" - so Hitchcockian and so terrifying. And the extraordinary talents of Javier Bardem! One of the sexiest men on this planet.

Did you ever see Bardem in "The Sea Inside"? WHAT A DEVASTATING PERFORMANCE. This is a film for VERY grown up people, and definitely not Megaplex material:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVRnG1MddAM

It has Coen elements in it - the fantasy sequence, in particular.

[Scott Good]

Originally Posted by Tarantella

I also loved "No Country for Old Men" - so Hitchcockian and so terrifying. And the extraordinary talents of Javier Bardem! One of the sexiest men on this planet.

Did you ever see Bardem in "The Sea Inside"? WHAT A DEVASTATING PERFORMANCE. This is a film for VERY grown up people, and definitely not Megaplex material:

Right. I forgot about that one. It is quite astounding as well - a great cinematic experience - almost horror...is that because of the acting? Anton Chigurh is such a morally dubious villain - a truly non-empathetic creature - its strange, but it seems it would be more palatable if he actually enjoyed his murdering!

That opening scene certainly puts you in this place right away, but the scene that stuck in my head most was the coin toss - what suspense! (even more if you have seen the movie up to this point, and know what he is capable of - he is not a nice man)

"What do I have to lose?' - "Everything"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhXJcfczNIc

Javier Bardem is one of my favorite actors today - definitely hot! He was in a recent (and quite good) Woody Allen movie as the Romantic lead - hum-a-na-hum-a-na! Hope he keeps getting great roles - I certainly want to see The Sea Inside - thanks for the suggestion.

[Tarantella]

The Coens walk that fine line between humour and drama - and this is so hard to achieve. Of course, in "Fargo" it was right out there.

A memorable line in "No Country for Old Men" is when the sheriff and his offsider come across the drug massacre. The offsider comments on what a "mess" it is and Tommy Lee Jones says laconically, "it'll do until another mess comes along". Of course, the screenplay is based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy, so I'm not sure if this was the writer or the Coens having a hand in this (but I have my suspicions!).

I remember Billy Wilder's film from the early 1950's, "Stalag 17". That was a film which drew on both humour and very serious drama and Wilder got away with it. At times it was downright screwball comedy, especially the character of "Animal", but there are dead people in the end of the film as well as betrayal, so it's also intensely serious.

[Tarantella]

Here's the trailer for the Coen's "Intolerable Cruelty" - hilarious, and George Clooney is superb in it. He's a real thoroughbred!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7LEI2WCeEQ

Highly recommended: sense of humour mandatory!