Films Of The Week #7 - The Big Lebowski / Pulp Fiction

Karl Hungus

The Big Lebowski

Pulp Fiction

It's a draw this week, and I didn't feel comfortable putting forward my own suggestion after last week's controversy.

Anyway, let the discussion begin.

Two very good films, though I will have to admit that The Big Lebowski is the better film. It's endlessly reatchable, quotable and damn good fun.

Every aspect of the film is perfect, from the casting to the music. Jeff Bridges deserved much wider recognition for his performance, understated and a joy to watch.

Pulp Fiction is a good film, but like all of Tarantino's work it comes across as self indulgent masturbation at times. Roger Avery's contribution to the film is rarely recognised, which is a shame. A lot of the great scenes were his and not Tarantinos.

BTW Karl, I'm pretty sure that The Princess Bride won last weeks poll, so in future don't hold back when deciding between a stalemate.

Karl Hungus

Deleted User wrote:

BTW Karl, I'm pretty sure that The Princess Bride won last weeks poll, so in future don't hold back when deciding between a stalemate.

I dunno man, to be entirely fair, I thought that both films belonged here. I think there's been a streak of fairly light-hearted films being voted it, and the Film Of The Week needs a bit of a gritty edge.

Besides, a certain hack director almost never fails to bring up some controvertial discussion, so getting that aspect in there was a big motivation too.

Karl Hungus

Karl Hungus wrote:

I dunno man, to be entirely fair, I thought that both films belonged here. I think there's been a streak of fairly light-hearted films being voted it, and the Film Of The Week needs a bit of a gritty edge.

Besides, a certain hack director almost never fails to bring up some controvertial discussion, so getting that aspect in there was a big motivation too.

I'm looking forward to the Kill Bill Vs. Lady Snowblood discussion. Almost as fun as when people argue that City on Fire is a remake of Reservoir Dogs, an arguement I endured last Friday.

bluto63

The Big Lebouski is a great film, but personally I feel it has nothing on Pulp Fiction. That movie is pure gold. So many brilliant scenes. My favorite has to be the "Personality goes a long way" talk. I listen to it over and over again and I love it more everytime.
Samuel L delivers a brilliant performance, as does Travolta and Thurman. Deserves to be FotW, but does anyone else feel that a stalemate kind of takes away from the prestiege of being FotW?

Carcharodon

To be honest last weeks so called controversy was a bit blown out of porpotion, i just saw the situation in black and white as being a draw and i may be a bit anal but i wont lick ass in order to keep with the grain, i feel that Karls contribution is essential, as he has a good knowledge and is not afraid to express hes opinion.

On topic, Pulp Fiction is one of those films that really has put its mark on popular culture, i feel its downfall is its success, it was so good on so many levels, it appeals to so many people, movie lovers and the ordinary joe soap. Its hard to express how much i love this film, i have memorised so many quotes from the film. Jackson steals the show for me with some of hes speaches and one liners.
I feel that alot of great films have one or two stand out scenes but Pulp fiction has around a dozen stand out scenes that would make any film worthy of being a true great.

The Big Lebowski is one of my fav films too and is loved my people that really appreciate their films, Bridges, Goodman and Buscemi put in some of their best work.
The more you watch this film the more that you will appreciate it how funny and clever it really is, The Dude stands out as being one of my favourite movie characters and the whole film just floes so well, Coen Brothers best work maybe ? White Russians... brilliant.

Its hard to choose the better film because The Big Lebowski is so subtle and under appreciated but Pulp Fiction really does come through with the muscle it has at its disposal

johnny_ultimate

Two great films, but I am a Big Lebowski man. I love the Coens, but having seen all their films, none reach the dizzying heights of the Dude and his White Russians. It is the pinnacle of the obscure Coen Brothers sense of humour. So many classic moments and quotes - "You're out of your element Donnie!", Logjammin', the bizarre visit to Jackie Treehorn's house, the Nihilists - the list could go on. It is a brilliant, weird and always rewatchable film.
All that said, Pulp Fiction is also excellent. It is one of the most knowledgable pop-culture films around, filled with sparkling dialogue and just oozes stylishness. Perhaps the pinnacle of Tarantinos abitilites.

OfflerCrocGod

The Big Lebowski is a better film - Pulp is all style, flashiness and cool but lacks a bit of substance which makes it seem a bit hollow imo.

shatners basoon

The Big Lebowski wouldn't be my favourite Coen Brothers film at all even though its one of my favourite films. Personally i think that Fargo, Blood simple and O Brother Where Art Thou are better films. None of those films have the cult status of the Big Lebowski though largely due to the magnificant performance of Bridges. I saw the man who wasn't there recently enough too and that was really good too, pity they've gone horribly downhill since then. Are they working on anything at the moment?

Pulp fiction is an excellent film especially if you consider the time it was released where there was nothing which oozed such style (except maybe his previous film Resevoir Dogs). Possibly the best multiple storylines which interconnect films ever. I think its Samuel Jackson's only good performance too.

Pulp is all style, flashiness and cool but lacks a bit of substance which makes it seem a bit hollow imo. wrote:

Thats possibly true but i think it would be a lesser film if it made any attempt to add depth. Its simply pure entertainment rather than an attempt at 'art'. Something that Hollywood rarely gets right (as in most hollywood films are pretty damn rubbish), Tarantino is pretty damn good at it though.

Slutmonkey57b

Having tried and tried for years with Coen brothers films, even buying some of them to rewatch them, I've come to a conclusion:

They're totally overrated.

People that love them love the idea that they're part of a sect of people that "get" the Coen's humour, which is apparantly too subtle for the rest of us. It's not subtle, it's just tedious. The Coens are a couple of guys who take a whole load of obscure (usually self-referential) waffle, and amuse themselves with it. Tarantino takes a whole load of obscure stuff that he loves and tries to amuse the audience with it. I'm with Tarantino all the way on this.