The Big Lebowski (1998)

The Plot
Jeffrey Lebowski loves to call himself 'The Dude'. He doesn't have a job and his only work is to go bowling and have a good time with his 2 buddies Walter and Donny. Walter is a Nam war veteran and Donny has this knack of being rebuked for each question he asks.

Due to a confusion arising out of the same name, The Dude is mistaken to be a big shot of the same name and 2 people come to his home, rough him up and pee on his rug. The big Lebowski has a young wife Bunny who is into pornography and she takes money from many parties without bothering to return the money. There are people who are after her for the money.

The Dude gets mixed up with the Big Lebowski after Bunny goes missing suddenly. The Dude is asked to be the courier to deliver the money to the supposed kidnappers. He is offered some money for this job too. The Dude is now caught between the parties who are after the money from Bunny, the supposed kidnappers and also with the big Lebowski and his manager. The big Lebowski's daughter also uses the Dude like a sperm donor for her child

In the end, The Dude realizes that everything is just a sham and that the big Lebowski wants Bunny dead and Bunny has not been kidnapped at all. But unfortunately, in the ensuing fight in the climax, he loses his friend Donny to the bullet. Finally, The Dude gets back to his laid back life on the bowling alley along with his aggressive friend Walter.

                                                                   

Hits

• Jeff Bridges looks the part as The Dude. Always clad in casuals and with his coolers and long locks in place, he is a true rock star. And his voice covers all the emotions easily.
• John Goodman as the aggressive Walter is another guy with dude looks. The huge frame and the light coolers go so well with him. He impresses in the scenes when he spews aggression worked up in him from his Nam days. 
• Steve Buscemi plays the unfortunate Donny. A nice touching cameo from him. We feel bad for his death. 
• The ladies in the film are all ever willing to expose. A good time for the lads.
• Philip Seymour Hoffman as manager Brandt is another charismatic character and he has a way with his words

Misses

• Some confusion due to too many characters in the movie

VERDICT

Another complex and enjoyable entertainer from the Coen brothers. It's sort of a buddy movie in the end. 

Fargo movie review

The Plot
Jerry Lundegaard takes the services of 2 henchmen at Fargo, Carl and Grimsrud, to kidnap his wife Jean, so that he can extort some money out of his rich father in law Wade. The henchmen are promised 80000$ and a car to do their job. This was supposed to be a smooth affair

But things turn bloody near Brainerd where the 2 henchmen kill 3 people who come in their way after they kidnap Jean. The police are hot on their heels now lead by the pregnant Marge Gunderson. Finally only Grimsrud is left alive and even Jean,Wade and some other people are brutally shot. Marge arrests Grimsrud in the end after he kills the already shot Carl with a spade.

                                                                     
Hits

• Frances McDormand as the pregnant cop is charming and charismatic with her words. Very cheerful particularly her dialogs which have a lot of "Yeah"
• The snow clad setting is perfect for this investigation story. 
• The sad title theme played out with violins is quite touching. 
• The 2 henchmen are totally contrasting. While Carl is constantly irritable and very abusive, Grimsrud is always grim and rarely talks.
• William H. Macy as the fumbling Jerry makes a mark in the scenes where he is at the receiving end of conversations. The helpless and restless expressions come easily to him.  

VERDICT

Good on screen adaptation of a real life murder incident, by the Coen brothers.