Anyone with a passing knowledge of this movie site knows my affection for “Raising Arizona.”
It’s my favorite film of all time, a designation stuffy movie critics take very seriously. As a video store clerk back in the ’80s I popped “Arizona” into our VHS player an hour and a half before closing every Saturday night. The film’s frantic comedy and surreal soundtrack made those last 90 minutes tolerable, even joyous.
I would cough loudly over the occasionally cuss word if there were young uns in the store, and I’m sure my customer service wavered during the classic Huggies chase sequence.
“Son … you got a panty on your head.”
But fans of “The Big Lebowski” argue the tale of the Dude and his coterie is the best Coen brothers comedy ever.
It’s taken me awhile to warm up to “Lebowski.” Even co-star John Turturro admits he didn’t “get” the movie at first during a retrospective feature including in the film’s spanking new Blu-ray release.
Where do you stand in the epic “Lebowski” vs. “Arizona” grudge match, and why?
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(Photo: “The Big Lebowski” stars Julianne Moore and Jeff Bridges share a tender moment at a recent cast reunion to celebrate the film’s Blu-ray release)
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I guess I don’t get “The Big Lebowski”. I tried a couple of times to watch it, but I just couldn’t get into it. I do, however, remember enjoying “Raising Arizona” and didn’t even realize it was a Coen Brothers film.
“The Hudsucker Proxy”
Just kidding. Perhaps only because it was the first Coen brothers movie that I’ve seen, “Raising Arizona” is my favorite.
(BTW, I do like “The Hudsucker Proxy”. The only clunker from the Coen brothers in my estimation was “The Ladykillers”. I also found “Burn After Reading” as meh.)
Of the two, like Big Lebowski the best, due mainly to John Goodman’s Walter, the “This is what happens …” scene beating on the car one of my favorite moments in all movies. The bowling also doesn’t hurt.
Still, fave Coen movie’s O Brother Where Art Thou.
kbiel, try watching Burn After Reading again. A lot of Coen brothers movies improve with a second or third viewing. I actually was unimpressed the first time I saw Raising Arizona. Then, because I was a bored, date-less teen, I watched it again. And again.
I love them both, but I’d give The Big Lebowski the edge, because it just gets better every time I watch it. Raising Arizona is very funny too, but it also has some scenes that grate on the nerves (John Goodman’s repeated screaming and Frances McDormand’s annoying character always have me itching to reach for the fast-forward button).
It’s not that I didn’t like it. It’s just that it was not as engrossing or unpredictable as most of the other Coen movies that I’ve seen. The other thing about it was that the plot was not inextricably tied to the culture (CIA/Washington DC) like most of their other movies. “Fargo” would not have worked in another region of the country. “The Hudsucker Proxy” would not have worked outside of the 1950s. And while “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” was loosely based on The Odyssey, all of the elements and jokes only worked in the great depression. In “Burn After Reading”, you could have changed Osborne into a corporate tycoon and the Russians into a rival corporation and made it about industrial espionage. Or you could have moved it to another country and got the same effect. It just didn’t feel as tightly integrated as most of the Coens’ other films. It was still enjoyable, but not “hey, I want to see that again,” enjoyable.
I’ll watch it again sometime and see if my view changes.
Both are amazing, but I give BIG LEBOWSKI the trophy. It’s a bit of a stoner noir, and I know that you have a bit of an aversion to weed-fueled shenanigans in movies, Christian
Stoner Noir – I like that!
No contest for me. It’s Raising Arizona in a landslide. I’ve watched The Big Lebowski a few times and I just don’t like it except for that scene where the Dude begs the guy to turn off the radio so he doesn’t have to listen to The Eagles.
Raising Arizona. The first 10 minutes is awesome.
Mighty fine cereal flakes, Mrs. McDonough …
Do those blow up into funny shapes?
Nope, unless round is funny
So many social engagements, so little time
Her insides were a rocky place where my seed could find no purchase
I never understood the cult status of “The Big Lebowski”. I can take it or leave it and stopped drinking White Russians when I grew a pair. “Raising Arizona” has always had a soft spot in my heart (head). I could watch “Raising Arizonia” over and over. “The Big Lebowski” is an “event” that I cannot figure out no matter how hard I try.
My humble apologies for “The Big Lebowski” fans. I just don’t get it, but I am not judging you because you do…
…maybe I need to start smoking pot or something…
I’d let Lebowski and Arizona duke it out, while Miller’s Crossing sneaks up on them, plugs them both in the head and casually walks away with the Best Coen Brothers Movie statuette.
Overall, My favorite Coen Bros movie has to be “A Serious Man.” The film wasn’t critically recognized as it should have been!
http://www.cinemovie.tv
I’m going to put in a plug for Intolerable Cruelty… as a lawyer (recovering) I find it high-larious and insightful.
Now to the top 2… — AZ or Lebowski… I can’t choose between my children… but “her womb was a rocky place where my seed could find no purchase” tips the scales ever so slightly.
John Turturro wasn’t a co-star, he had a bit part and was in two scenes. Why would he necessarily get it? He probably worked on it for three days!
Anyway, Jeff Bridges as The Dude is one of the best casting decisions ever. He IS The Dude. Every word he speaks is perfect.
The Big Lebowski hands down. But even is it doesn’t win, The Dude abides man.
Raising Arizona by two lengths. It featured far better pacing, a more staightforward storyline, and while I can appreciate Jeff Bridge’s Dude, Nick Cage has never since topped his brilliant portrayal of H.I. Goodman was better in Lebowski, though.