In this paper for the seminar “Outstanding Film Directors“ I want to analyze the movieThe Big Lebowski (TBL)by Joel and Ethan Coen. Released in 1998TBLis the seventh effort of the Coen brothers and - afterRaising Arizona(1987) andFargo(1996) - their third movie that deals with kidnapping.TBLhas been praised by most authors of the feature pages of newspapers and magazines. For Jan Distelmeyer, author of the magazine Spex, for example,TBLis an `extremly entertaining tasty morsel` (in www.gezetera.ch). The main characters´ favorite cocktail, White Russian, has become a cult drink not only amongTBL-fans. While the audience for the most part enjoy the laconic irony of the Coens´ hommage to the hard-boiled classics of Raymond Chandler, some academics question the significance of the movie. R. Barton Palmer, director of the South Carolina Film Institute, believes thatTBLadds only little importance to the general account of the Coens´ place within the history of the contemporary American filmmaking scene (6).
In this paper I want to introduce the Coen brothers and their typical style that is even referred to as “Coen-esque”. The indepth analysis of their effortTBLis the principal concern of this paper. After a brief introduction of the plot and the characters I will analyze the references and allusions that occur inTBL.The meaning of the music and the peculiarities of the dialo gs are also being discussed. The analysis of the used imagery inTBLand some of the emerging postmodern elements are also subjects of discussion.
The Coen brothers refuse to intellectualize and stress the fact that they “simply” want to entertain their audience. With this paper I want to show thatTBLis much more than 112 minutes of entertainment. It is a political statement and a perfect cinematic symbiosis of pictures, music, and dialogs.
Table of Contents
I Prologue
II The Universe of Joel and Ethan Coen
II.1 Biography – Filmography – Philosophy
II.2 The Style of the Coen Brothers
III The Coens´ Effort The Big Lebowski
III.1 The Plot
III.2 The Characters
IV Analysis of The Big Lebowski
IV.1 References and Allusions
IV.2 Music and Dialogs
IV.3 Imagery: Symbols and Metaphors
IV.4 Postmodern Elements
V Epilogue
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive film analysis of "The Big Lebowski" by Joel and Ethan Coen, investigating the movie beyond its entertainment value as a complex cinematic construct. The core research centers on how the Coen brothers utilize specific stylistic devices to create a unique, self-contained universe.
- Examination of the Coen brothers' directorial style and artistic philosophy.
- Analysis of narrative structures, characterization, and the function of the plot.
- Investigation of cultural references, allusions, and postmodern storytelling elements.
- Evaluation of the significance of music, dialog, and symbolic imagery.
Excerpt from the Book
III.2 The Characters –
Introduced in a supermarket sampling milk from the carton, The Dude is a proto-slacker, “quite possibly the laziest in Los Angeles County.” He is an unemployed and ´unkempt old-hippie´ in his forties (Müller 552). He lives in a run-down bungalow in Venice, Los Angeles, and spends his days smoking joints, drinking White Russians, and bowling with his buddies Walter and Donny. “Huh?” is his most common expression, “Take it easy” his advice on every subject (www.gezetera.ch). He listens to Creedence-tapes while driving around in his rusty 1972 Pontiac LeBaron, and relaxes to the ambient sounds of whales in his bathtub. His given name is Jeffrey Lebowski but he does not identify himself with it. “I'm the Dude. So that's what you call me. That, or Duder. His Dudeness. Or El Duderino, if, you know, you're not into the whole brevity thing.” Mentally stuck in the seventies (Kilzer / Rogall 123) The Dude is `a pacifist who slept through the 80s` (Ethan Coen in Dreibrodt / Lukas 42). The Dude is the prototype of an anti-hero. He is making out a check to Ralph´s, his supermarket, for sixty nine cents. He does not have a career, and his rumpled look suggests that he is a man in whom casualness runs deep. He is not married which he can easily prove to Jackie Treehorn´s thugs: “You see a wedding ring? Does this place look like I'm fucking married? All my plants are dead!”
Summary of Chapters
I Prologue: This chapter introduces the objective of the study and provides a brief overview of the reception of "The Big Lebowski" by critics and audiences.
II The Universe of Joel and Ethan Coen: This section details the biographical and professional background of the Coen brothers, establishing their unique filmmaking philosophy and personal stylistic signatures.
III The Coens´ Effort The Big Lebowski: This chapter provides a detailed overview of the movie's plot dynamics and introduces the central, eccentric characters that inhabit the film's world.
IV Analysis of The Big Lebowski: This central section conducts an in-depth analytical examination of the film's references, allusions, music, dialogue, symbolic imagery, and postmodern characteristics.
V Epilogue: The concluding chapter summarizes the findings, reiterating that the film offers a multi-layered experience that transcends simple entertainment, while suggesting avenues for future research.
Keywords
The Big Lebowski, Coen brothers, Film Analysis, Postmodernism, The Dude, Walter Sobchak, Raymond Chandler, Noir, Cinema, Symbolism, Narrative Structure, Pop Culture, Satire, Directing Style
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper performs a detailed film analysis of "The Big Lebowski", focusing on how the Coen brothers employ specific stylistic elements like music, dialog, and imagery to construct their unique cinematic vision.
What are the central thematic fields covered in the work?
The work covers the Coen brothers' personal filmmaking style, the nature of characterization in their stories, the function of narrative and symbols, and the application of postmodern theory to their work.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to demonstrate that "The Big Lebowski" is more than 112 minutes of entertainment; it is argued to be a sophisticated, multi-layered work that serves as a political statement and a cinematic symbiosis of various artistic elements.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes film analysis, contextualizing the work within the broader "Coen-esque" universe while drawing upon film theory, cultural analysis, and references to previous cinematic works and genres.
What does the main body of the text address?
The main body examines the plot, the idiosyncratic character profiles, the role of references and allusions to established genres like the private eye novel, and the interpretation of visual symbols and postmodern elements.
Which keywords best characterize the analysis?
Key terms include "The Big Lebowski", "Coen brothers", "Postmodernism", "Film Analysis", "Symbolism", and "Satire".
How does the author interpret the significance of the "McGuffin" in the film?
The author considers whether the $1 million ransom is a classic "McGuffin"—a plot device that captures audience attention but is ultimately secondary to the primary goal of driving the characters through various bizarre encounters.
What is the significance of the "progressing demolition" of The Dude's car?
The author argues that the ongoing destruction of The Dude's vehicle symbolizes the escalation of the chaotic events throughout the film and serves as a reflection of societal issues within the United States.
- Quote paper
- Anne Lehwald (Author), 2005, The Coens' Effort The Big Lebowski, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/47359
