Blu-Ray Review: ‘The Big Lebowski’ Really Ties Your Collection Together

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CHICAGO – Most Coen brother releases on Blu-ray are going to cause a ripple through the film-loving community. Who doesn’t want to own “Fargo,” “Miller’s Crossing,” and even less-beloved films like “The Man Who Wasn’t There” or “The Hudsucker Proxy” in 1080p? Joel and Ethan Coen have long been visually-gifted filmmakers and those gifts shine through brightly in HD. But the release of the massively-adored “The Big Lebowski” in a special Blu-ray edition? Well, that’s more of a wave than a ripple.

HollywoodChicago.com Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0
Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0

It’s not often that a movie comes along that so gets under the skin of its fan base as “The Big Lebowski.” The movie is so beloved that not only does it screen regularly to quote-a-long audiences but also spawns an annual event called Lebowski Fest, the 2011 edition of which just came to a hazy close. People dress up like Jeff Bridges’ The Dude. They quote him. They are inspired by him. They know everything about him. And they’ve seen “The Big Lebowski” two dozen times. If you’re one of those Dude-aholics, this edition of your favorite film will almost certainly be your favorite Blu-ray of the year.

All you need to know is that this release does your favorite movie justice. You probably own it already (most movie fans do) in one of the many DVD incarnations over the years but the new video quality and U-Control-enabled special features, along with a nifty hardcover book case, warrant the upgrade. The HD transfer is good (not great), but it’s the special features and, of course, the movie itself, that will keep fans busy for days. It’s a release loaded down with bonus material, including several U-Control features that allow behind-the-scenes details to play picture-in-picture without interrupting your favorite flick.

The Big Lebowski was released on Blu-ray on August 16th, 2011
The Big Lebowski was released on Blu-ray on August 16th, 2011
Photo credit: Universal

Synopsis:
“From the Academy Award-winning Coen brothers (Fargo, True Grit), The Big Lebowski is a hilariously quirky comedy about bowling a severed toe, White Russians and a guy named…The Dude. Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski doesn’t want any drama in his life…heck, he can’t even be bothered with a job. But, he must embark on a quest with his bowling buddies after his rug is destroyed in a twisted case of mistaken identity. Starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Turturro, experience the cultural phenomenon of The Dude in the “#1 cult film of all time!” (The Boston Globe).”

Special Features:
o U-Control: Scene Companion - Watch behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and more during key scenes with this picture-in-picture companion
o U-Control: Mark It, Dude - This on-screen counter really ties the film together and keeps track of the “F-bombs,” Dudes” and Lebowski-isms
o U-Control: The Music Of Big Lebowski - Instantly identify the songs heard while watching the film and create a custom playlist
o Worthy Adversaries: What’s My Line? Trivia - Test your Lebowski knowledge during the film by finishing lines of dialogue in this interactive game
o The Dude’s Life
o The Dude Abides: The Big Lebowski Ten Years Later
o The Lebowski Fest: An Achiever’s Story
o Flying Carpets and Bowling Pin Dreams: The Dream Sequences of The Dude
o Interactive Map Jeff Bridges’ Photo Book Making of The Big Lebowski
o Photo Gallery
o BD Live Enabled
o Pocket Blu
o Digital Copy Of Feature Film

“The Big Lebowski” stars Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, John Turturro, Julianne Moore, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. It was written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. It was released by Universal on Blu-ray and DVD on August 16th, 2011.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

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