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From the minds of the fabulous Coen brothers, Ethan & Joel, comes one of the most interesting and entertaining movies you'll ever have the pleasure of viewing...a case of mistaken identity with an investegatory plotline, kidnapping, ransom, league bowling and trippy dream sequences. Yes, I'm serious. No, I have not been using illegal substances all day long. They gave us Fargo. And this one is even BETTER!

Our main character is Jeffrey Lebowski (played by Jeff Bridges), a hippie leftover known by his compadres as simply 'The Dude'. The movie opens with him at a local supermarket, dressed in sloppy boxer shorts, a dirty V-neck T-shirt, a tunic sweater and jelly shoes (I've read that these shoes ACTUALLY BELONG to Jeff Bridges)...he's drinking some half and half from a container, and proceeds to pay for it by writing a check for $.69. Why the half and half? For his favorite drink, the White Russian. When he arrives home, he's accosted by a Chinaman and a blonde surfer/bodybuilder dude who give him a massive swirlie, spill his half and half, and ask him where the money is. They quickly realize they must have the wrong Jeffrey Lebowski ('Woo, isn't this guy supposed to be a millionaire?') and depart the scene, Woo peeing on The Dude's oriental rug as a final goodbye.

The Dude shares his story with friends Walter (John Goodman) and Donnie (Steve Buscemi) and decides to find the OTHER Jeffrey Lebowski to receive reparations for his rug. He is successful in his venture to the point of FINDING Mr. Lebowski, who then chastises him for being jobless and a loser and looking for a handout...but when Mr. Lebowski's trophy wife Bunny (she offers to suck off The Dude for a thousand dollars) is kidnapped he's forced to seek The Dude's help to ensure her safe return.

Jeff Bridges is at his finest in this flick...if you view the 'making of' you'll be shocked to see him all 'Duded' up but out of character...it's downright creepy. He portrays a man hanging on to values and beliefs an entire generation left behind long, long ago...still smoking up every day, behind on his rent, no job, no money...but not a worry in the world. His life has a peaceful, solitary serenity that we all crave on some level and the entire plot revolves around how this peace becomes disrupted and how he attempts to deal with it.

Walter Sobchak is personally my favorite character, however...each day when I become frustrated with life I find myself becoming more and more like him. He's a Vietnam vet with a steady income and ex-wife, struggling to make sense of what the world has become and trying to control himself in the face of idiocy. One great scene...Walter, The Dude and Donnie are playing a league match and a fellow on the opposing side (Smoky) slips a toe over the line. Walter insists that the frame be marked ZERO, and he and Smoky argue until Walter pulls his pistol, stands up and screams 'Doesn't anybody give a shit about the RULES????!?', points the gun at Smoky, clicks, and says calmly 'Mark it ZERO.'

Buscemi is great as Donnie, the sort of irritating guy you let tag along so you can bust his balls, though you'd miss him if he was gone. He is forever not making sense and interrupting conversations...Walter says 'Shut the fuck UP, Donnie' more times than I can count.

Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Brandt, Mr. Lebowski's right hand man...not a huge role but he's entertaining nonetheless.

Tara Reid is Bunny Lebowski, which I feel is some excellent foreshadowing by the brothers Coen. I'm just waiting to see the pictures of her and the old guy she chooses...

Julianne Moore is Maude Lebowski, Mr. Lebowski's adult daughter (older than his new wife, of course)...she's an 'artist' and paints in the nude hanging from the ceiling on a track system. Her interest in The Dude is purely physical...she decides that he will be the biological father of her first child, though he isn't aware of his impending duties.

If for no other reason, you MUST rent this one to see John Turturro's performance...he's Jesus Quintana, bowler on an opposing league team. And a pedophile. His bowling ensemble is entirely purple, including his hairnet. His ball, pink. Before he rolls, he gives it a little tongue action and proceeds to dance around to a Mexicanized version of Hotel California. Hilarious.

The Coen brothers wrote this one together, Joel directed. The scenes are so beautifully shot it's unreal...I mean, bowling, beautiful...that takes TALENT. Characters are well developed, story is entertaining. What more can you ask for? Go get it!