Cinematographer Roger Deakins, whose relationship with the Coens stretched back to Barton Fink, captures the mundane and the dreamlike vistas of Los Angeles beautifully and the brothers' famous way for dialogue leaves you wanting to quote whole scenes back to friends the moment you see them. The plot may consciously echo old Hollywood crime epics but there’s so much to enjoy it’s almost untrue. Watched today the film remains a uniquely entertaining proposition. Other key roles include Julianne Moore’s eccentric artist Maude and David Huddleston who played her millionaire father, the 'Big' Lebowski of the title.Īs the blustering businessman Huddleston is note perfect so it’s odd to think that everyone from Marlon Brando to Gene Hackman was initally considered for the role. While Donny is sweetness and dim witted charm personified Walter is an altogether more volatile figure.Īn eminently quotable ball of frustration and anger he was apparently based on Apocalypse Now screenwriter John Milius (whose passion for firearms and hair trigger temper were legendary), as channelled by the bear-like genius of Goodman of course. The roles of The Dude’s loyal sidemen were taken by long time Coen brothers players John Goodman and Steve Buscemi as Walter and Donny. Many of the comic scrapes Jeff Lebowski finds himself in were lifted directly from stories related by the duo. The Coens based their lead character on two figures they knew in Hollywood, film producer Jeff Dowd (a fervent anti-Vietnam campaigner who drank White Russian cocktails and answered to the name of 'The Dude') and fellow Vietnam vet Peter Exline. Hard to get your head around that isn’t it? Bridges so inhabits the character it’s impossible to imagine anyone else in the role which makes it all the more shocking when you realise that Mel Gibson was one of the names originally considered for the part. At the very centre of the film’s seriously stoned soul is Jeff Bridges with his career best performance as Jeffrey 'The Dude' Lebowski.
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