The Big Lebowski Film Analysis
analytical Essay
705 words
“There's kind of a Zen aspect to bowling. The pins are either staying up or down before you even throw your arm back. It's kind of a mind-set. You want to be in this perfect mind-set before you released the ball.” Jeff Bridges describes bowling to be black or white; one pin can not both be up and down. However, the character whom Jeff Bridges portrays in the classic bowling noir film The Big Lebowski, the Dude, is far from black and white. Once he was an ex-social justice warrior protesting the Vietnam war, now he is hanging out with a disgruntled Vietnam vet. With a joint in his mouth and a White Russian in his hand, the Dude goes through life without a care, only waiting for his turn to bowl. Throughout the movie, the Dude is dragged into a series of unfortunate events, none of which are his idea. What originally started off with nothing more than a piss-stained carpet spawned into a faux kidnapping and the death of the Dude’s beloved friend, Donny. The plot, …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how jeff bridges portrays the character of the dude in the classic bowling noir film the big lebowski.
- Analyzes how the dude's personality is his insistence to keep peace. he practices the free-love, hippie lifestyle, which is evident by his lack of aggression.
- Analyzes how the dude's drug use is a constant throughout the movie. he is given to either be smoking weed or drinking white russians.
- Analyzes how the movie depicts the daily slog of life at the bowling alley.
Instead, he goes to the bowling alley to contemplate life. Everything happens at the bowling alley. Whether it is Walter convincing the Dude to take action for his soiled carpet, Walter drawing a gun, or Donny dying, the bowling alley represents as the home base for the gang. In fact, if anything, the alley is a representation of the daily slog of life. “The act of bowling is an adapted symbol which I will take to be representative of the Myth of Sisyphus. Sisyphus tragic Greek hero who is damned to endlessly toil by repeatedly pushing a rock up a hill (and when it reaches the top, it rolls back down and he must start all over again)” (Kerr). The other commoners in the fluorescent lit room are stuck there, endlessly rolling the heavy ball with little to no escape. In his dream, he’s flying to Maude, and nothing can seemingly stop him. However, as he gets closer to her the ball drags him down, and he crashes back to
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In this essay, the author
- Opines that african american representation in the film industry has always been a topic for discussion. the contemporary status of race in mainstream american culture is intimately bound to the process of representation within and through the mass media.
- Explains that african-american actors were always placed into one of the five stereotyped roles. they adapted the stereotypes that everyone was used to, often distorting them.
- Argues that hollywood is struggling to respond to the growing demand for films that reflect society as well as racial and cultural changes.
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- Analyzes how spike lee exaggerates stereotypes of all the races in his film to show the audience just how ridiculous stereotyping is.
- Argues that the film industry, especially hollywood, still manages to place unrealistic stereotypes upon african americans and continues to fall short of representing the cultural diversity of america.
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- Analyzes how butch cassidy and the sundance kid highlights the paradox of technological advancement; technology contributes to what scholars deemed the disappearance of the west while serving as a method to preserve
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how tim burton's "big fish" is a story about the relationship between the father and his son. it has an unusual way of revealing the plot by skipping back and forth.
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- Opines that big fish is a film that teaches many lessons and is also an entertaining adventure, but the main focus of the film is the power of storytelling.
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- Analyzes butch cassidy and the sundance kid, a movie that challenges the conventions of the western gebre.
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In this essay, the author
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- Analyzes how the film's real intentions are to display the challenges of homelessness as well.
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In this essay, the author
- Opines that nobody can teach someone else to grow up. the movie of mice and men shows lenny as an immature man who acts and has the mentality of a kid.
- Analyzes how nacho lib-re's protagonist is a mid-aged man whose dream is to be professional wrestler. he pursues his dream and fulfills it.
- Opines that no matter what your dream is, always strive for it and fight for what you believe in regardless of the cost.
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the humor in blazing saddles dates back to the 70's type of satire that was used. the film mocked stereotypes such as the irish, political politicians and current celebrities by either making them look bad or easily outsmarting them.
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