For years the Cohen Brothers have been delivering some great films including Raising Arizona, Fargo and No Country For Old Men. While all of their films standout in various ways it was their 1998 film The Big Lebowski starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, John Turturro and the late great Philip Seymour Hoffman that has garnered the biggest cult status. Now Universal is celebrating the 20th Anniversary Edition by bringing the film to 4K Ultra and Collector’s Edition.

 

The Big Lebowski follows "The Dude" Lebowski is mistaken for a millionaire Lebowski, two thugs urinate on his rug to coerce him into paying a debt he knows nothing about. While attempting to gain recompense for the ruined rug from his wealthy counterpart, he accepts a one-time job with high pay-off. He enlists the help of his bowling buddy, Walter, a gun-toting Jewish-convert with anger issues. Deception leads to more trouble, and it soon seems that everyone from porn empire tycoons to nihilists want something from The Dude. 

 

I remember seeing this when it came out and not quite sure how I felt about it, but like most over the years I fell in love with it. This is such a strange brilliant film that offers up so many great quotable and memorable lines. While Bridges is at his best in the role of the Dude for it was John Goodman who stole the show. His ongoing loud speeches and aggressive behavior is pure fun to watch and made all the better by his running gag of telling Buscemi’s character Donny to shut up. Outside the main cast this film is filled with strange memorable characters much like most Cohen films like only they can deliver.   

 

I could go on and on about all the greatness of the film, but you have to see it to get the full experience and this new 4K release is the perfect way to do that with not only the film but also bonus content including hours of bonus features including retrospective documentaries, an interactive map, an in-depth look at the phenomenon known as the Lebowski Fest taking audiences deeper than ever before into the upside down world of “The Dude.”

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As if the standard 4K release isn’t cool enough The  Big Lebowski 20th Anniversary Limited Edition set includes a collectible bag, bowling ball pencil holder, polishing cloth and sweater packaging offering an experience like no other to look back on the cultural phenomenon of The Dude. Grab both versions of this iconic film available now from Universal Home Entertainment.