Customer Reviews

The Year's Work in Lebowski Studies

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This latest, academically themed, book concerning the 1998 Coen film The Big Lebowski is the best I've seen since the BFI Film Classics book appeared in 2008 by Tyree and Walters. Based on the underground academic symposium coinciding with the 5th Annual Lebowski Fest in Louisville, KY, this book is full of the best essays and papers submitted at the event. Within the deep and casual thoughts from the authors, you'll find amazing references to both pop and historic culture along with many ins and outs of classical literature and contemporary films. Even though these are mostly just like, their opinions, man, I am sure these far out ideas and hypotheses will blow the jellies right off your feet. This is probably the best cultural study I've seen of a cult film. It's both entertaining to read, like the recent fan-books that have been released in the past few years, yet academically challenging at the same time. Comentale and Jaffe certainly do not disappoint with this long awaited compilation. Personally, I hope they hold another symposium since I was not able to attend the first.

Over the past few years, many people who clearly don't understand the magic and wonder of the Big Lebowski have attempted to cash in on the films' success with lackluster books and special edition DVD's. This new book is the best and most worthy look into the phenomenon of the Big Lebowski because it is written by the people who have made the movie what it is: the fans.
If you're like me, you are absolutely sick of reading books and watching documentaries that point out the painfully obvious: "oh, I love the Big Lebowski! It's so darn funny!". "The Year's Work In Lebowski Studies" doesn't insult the intelligence of the fans, and prides itself in truly excavating the psyche of the film, and its dedication to finding a deeper meaning is a delight to read.
This is a thick book of many essays written by people who love films, and have some extremely unique and intelligent things to say about The Dude and his ways. I thought I had enough ideas about what the film was about, but these writers do an amazing job of pointing out themes and processes that I would never have noticed on my own. The essays will have you laughing, thinking, pondering, and ultimately watching the film again and again to help make their writings make more sense. This book does a special job of helping you rearrange your thoughts about the Big Lebowski, no matter how staunch in your views you are.
I would ignore every single piece of Lebowski literature and special edition DVD on the market, and do a beeline for this book. These writers LOVE the Big Lebowski, and their passion for the film will infect your soul and make you fall in love with this classic movie all over again.

A must have for any true achiever. This book offers a fresh, intellectual insight to the characters, scenes, events of the movie. I don't know how many hours I've spent sipping caucasians, quoting lines and watching this flick, but as I read the "Years work" I found myself watching the film again with new perspectives and insight. It was fun to pick up on on the nuances that only academics could spend time illuminating. Im having a little Lebowski fest with my friends this thanksgiving, and I can't wait to blow their minds while I wax professorial. I highly recommend this book for people interested in seeing their favorite film in new context.

Man, this is, like shut the *** up, Donnie, good. It shows how popular culture is the stuff for analysis and contemplation--the fact that the Big Lebowski has a sort of interesting content may well be why it is so popular (and not only because of its sort of slacker style). This collection has a nice mix of essays from almost every angle. And no, dude, they aren't like just mental self-stimulation. If you like this check out Bill Robertson's book.

Comentale & Jaffe's collection is not exactly comical; there's some serious dissection of the cultural allusions served up in the Coen Brothers opus. The bulk of the selections, however, seem more intent on sending up the language used in social science literature. It's all in fun, though, and sporadically entertaining, especially to fans of the movie.