The Big Lebowski- a whirlwind in Coen History

After watching the three Coen Brother's films in class, numerous other Coen brothers film clips, and then watching "The Big Lebowski", I am impressed at how they can make at least four different films that were successful, and yet they all are in different categories. "Fargo" under a murder, crime, drama category, "No Country for Old Men" a thriller mystery action film, TBL as a pothead innapropriate comedy and "Raising Arizona" as a more apropriate humorous film. Although they all are very different in their own ways, there are numerous similarities between some of them.

the link I found highlights some of these differences and correlations.

http://lookingcloser.org/movie%20reviews/A-G/biglebowski.htm

the link here talks about typical Coen attributes: "Sometimes they're philosophical, sometimes merely entertaining; yet, they always write memorable dialogue, and they coax the best performances out of great actors."

This reviewer (Jeffrey Overstreeet) hit my opinion head on, there is always a memorable dialogue in my mind. I recall some quotes from RA, many from Fargo, and also from NCFOM, and some hilarious ones from Lebowski. This is a pretty agreed upon stance on Coen Brothers reviewers but i don't agree with the second part of the statement reguarding best performances.

I do not think Jeff Bridges had his best performance in BL, according to IMDB, Bridges had 4 oscar nominations by the time this review was written (2002), of which he won none of them. Now i realize that BL was not set out to win awards or anything, but clearly Bridges "best" was not brought out for this film.

The Coen Brothers in my opinion really like to re-use actors and actresses in many of their films, even more than other directors do. Just searching under steve buscemi displayed his appearences in at least five Coen films: Hudsucker, Millers, Barton Fink, fargo and Lebowski. Some roles are larger than others but nonetheless they are acting roles in Coen films. Also John Turturro stars in O Brother, Millers Crossing, The BL, and Barton Fink. I will save you the time of not discussing peter stormare, John Goodman, frances mcDormand etc. I really think its a good idea for directors to reuse their actors because it helps build up their identity and make them more of a household name when they have overlapping characters.

Like many other coen characters, I really like "dude", and my laziness is in training to become as prominent as his. I do think that Overstreet is correct when he mentions how BL is a mish mosh of scenes that they couldnt include in them in earlier movies. there are way too many stange out there scenes that are sometimes funny but unnecesary. Also unnecessary is the amount of swearing that is in the film. I have zero problem with foul language but i feel that it is just pointless to have so much swearing that serves little or no purpose. Much of the swearing is directed at Steve Buscemi, or donny in the film. Donny is barely allowed to talk in the film with out having bridges or goodman swear at him. which is ironic in that in fargo, he couldn't stop talking and peter stormare just sat there and looked at him and beat him up and killed him. I have included a youtube clip of how steve buscemi is interjected numerous times with profanity and rudeness showing his complete night and day change from his vocal roles in Fargo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgW7RpJfeto

Steve Buscemi has earned zero respect from walter and dude and they dont care about his opinion or anything he has to add to the conversation. However they do pay him tribute and respect in the end of the film after his death when they release his ashes into the pacific ocean air, even though they refrained from paying for the 180 urn to contain his ashes.

The Szporn Ultimatum
Mitch Rymes, John Hasbargen, Erik Heim, Elliot Hursch, Dan Swendsen
Paying tribute and showing respect to Sergio Leone is the foundation for our final fourth quarter project. Our short film will incorporate some of Leone’s signature style, or “Leone-ian” elements. Many of his films had a damsel in distress in his spaghetti western motif films, so we also will have a female who needs rescuing. In addition to that element, we will also portray death playing a large role in the film like he used in his and also we will incorporate a “wronged hero” much like Sergio did.
Opening scene is Jason Szporn relaxing in a Midwest suburb, one that is not too different from Edina coincidentally. He receives a phone call instructing him that he must travel back in time to the spaghetti western times to save a female who is in severe life-threatening trouble and he could alter the future for the better by doing so. In the second scene, Jason is seen traveling back into time where he arrives and immediately kills people. He suddenly has turned into a person who has little mercy and remorse for the men he kills and is solely focused on rescuing the damsel. His confrontations with his enemies are gruesome and numerous. Unfortunately, zombies also cross his path, but luckily he has his gun(s) nearby. By artistically using Leoneian cinematography, the film displays awesome conflict scenes that emphasize the importance of Jason’s mission. Of course in the end, Jason returns from the Sergio spaghetti western days into present time after saving the damsel, his wronged personality no longer a important issue.

The Coen brothers-ability to create charismatic characters

In all three of the films we watched, there was one or more characters that held a certain "magnetic" personality. (dictionary definition for charismatic). The Coen brothers seem to have the amazing ability to conjure up characters with whom the audience feels and connects with.

In "Raising Arizona", H.I. and Ed are both characters who come off as friendly and ordinary people. Even though they do the extraordinary thing of stealing a baby, the Coen brothers still make them seem as loveable characters and almost pass the baby stealing as a a sort of humorous plot but only in search for the "perfect Family" that the Mcdonough's so badly want... another attribute that makes the characters more likable.

Jerry Lundegaard, an auto-insurance salesman, also is depicted as such a loveable character in that all of the audience loves William H. Macy. His accent and friendliness make his character appeal to the average viewer. Again, even though he is doing such a horrible activity like fixing to have his wife kidnapped in "Fargo", the Coen brothers again can make the illegal activity irrelivant to the characters in the film. We still love how Jerry carries himself and how everything just goes to crap for him.

lastly, in "No Country for Old Men", Tommy Lee Jones character is charasmatic in that his persona is so sad and depressing towards the end of the film, that the viewer wants him to be happy and we begin to feel sorry for him. This one being the smallest of the three films, but still being charismatic, the Coen brothers really spark emotions with the two long dialogue sequences involving Tommy at the end of the film. We really start to side with him and his cop profession. its hard to have the movie end on such a sad note

very fun unit and i wish we could do "Big Lebowski" and even more Coen Brothers films. Best unit of the year!!!