DVD Talk Forum - FARGO or THE BIG LEBOWSKI?

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This may be the closest poll I've ever seen, but my nod goes to Fargo. I've always thought Big Lebowski was overrated.

= J

Yikes, both films (Fargo and The Big Lebowski) are as solid as they come. Both are masterpieces of cinema. This is really so tough to answer for me, so I am going to go by my gut feeling, what film has impacted me more as a fan of cinema and as a person, and has stuck with me ever since I first saw it. Both films have done that, so this will be tough. So which one do I think is the Coen Bros. staple. And the winner is................

-- The Big Lebowski --

Ok, now, Fargo I love you to. lol.

I just voted and was suprised that my vote for Lebowski(just by a bit over Fargo) made it 79-79 -eek-

and my vote for Fargo tip the scale again...

I just made it 81-80 for the dude.

this is the most evenly matched poll ever....

Tough one but The Big Lebowski is the one I watch over and over again so the vote went there.

For me it is The Big Lebowski, the movie might be the most rewatchable movie ever made. Besides being one of the most quotable movies ever, it's humor holds up over many multiple viewings. Hell I'm still finding new things to laugh at upon each viewing. Plus John Goodman's charcter is one of the most memorable in cinamatic history, atleast in my opinion.

I will say this for Fargo though, William H Macy made me hate him after that movie, and I really like him normally. That's how good of a job he did.

They are both great..but I think THE BIG LEBOWSKI is the best!

We need some more Fargo votes.... gather up your neighbors :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomOpus

We need some more Fargo votes.... gather up your neighbors :)

No, please don't--as it stands now, this thread is actually helping me believe in miracles!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

No, please don't--as it stands now, this thread is actually helping me believe in miracles!

http://www.crazygrrl.com/cards/card_pics/miracle.gif

I hated TBL the first time I saw it. Absolutely hated it. I picked up the dvd in a trade because I wanted to give it another chance, and the second time, I freaking loved it. Not sure if I was in a better frame of mind or what, but my view was completely different from the first time. I've only seen Fargo once, and it was very good. If I was forced to vote now, I would vote TBL, but I want to give Fargo another viewing first.

Fargo is a frickin' fantastic film.

That said, TBL is so perfect I can hardly believe it was actually created by two mere mortals employing a cadre of mortal actors. I must vote for it.

I personally believe that the better question is Raising Arizona or O Brother, Where Art Thou?

I vote Fargo. I like both movies, but Fargo is just a better all around film.

I don't think I can vote. I've seen Lebowski more than any other movie. But I love Fargo, and it always gives me a comforting feeling to watch it. I suppose the humor is a tie for me. The score and cinematography of Fargo is better, but the dialogue is better in Lebowski, imo.

"FARGO" is the perfect Coen Brothers film, with the semi-noir criminal underpinnings, the almost absurdist comedic element, and the endlessly fascinating and perfectly drawn characters (from the leads all the way down to the extras). It is gorgeously shot, possibly the greatest "snow" cinematograpy ever, perfectly scripted, and edited to absolute perfection. There isn't a single flaw, and every moment is pure cinematic joy.

"Lebowski" is a hilarious shaggy-dog of a tale, with truly quotable lines, and an easy demeanor like a favorite old album from high school. Part of it's charm is its imperfection, lack of presumption, and overall goofy nature. It's a wonderful, but lesser film.

My God I can't believe Fargo is losing. Big Lebowski is mildy amusing, but Fargo is their masterpiece IMO. I would even put Huduscker Proxy before BL.

I think Fargo is a good movie. I think The Big Lebowski is one of the great comedies in movie history. I don't typically like comedies so take that for what it's worth. But I've never understood the critical acclaim Fargo has received. It's certainly a fine movie, but for the Coens it's nothing particularly special IMO.

Fargo. I love Lebowski but Fargo is just so damn well written and acted. It's easily one of my favorite films of the 90's.

Although I'd admit Fargo is the better movie, if I'm chooing one to watch it's The Big Leobowski. So I voted for that.

I thought Fargo's pacing was odd when you first watched it. Took a couple of viewings to warm up to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

I'm sure I know which way this poll will go, but I can't resist leading myself to slaughter. So, which is the better film, FARGO or it's unrelated follow-up, THE BIG LEBOWSKI? Allow me to say in advance, though I have enjoyed more Coen Brothers films than I haven't (out of the small group I've seen), I just never find myself jazzed to seek out their films; I have to stumble upon them by accident. To show that I'm really relatively Coren Brothers-ignorant, I've only seen RAISING ARIZONA (adore it), THE HUDSUCKER PROXY (amusing, but not something I'd purchase) and the two titles being queried. I haven't seen:

The Ladykillers (2004)
Intolerable Cruelty (2003)
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Barton Fink (1991)
Miller's Crossing (1990)
Blood Simple (1984)

Now that we've covered that I'm not a devotee of Coen Brothers films, I'll really hurt my case further by saying (brace yourselves) I do not whatsoever understand the appeal of FARGO. I will grant it one shining accolade and that is that it has some absolutely riveting, even breathtaking, cinematography, but I find the story to be sluggishly told and many of the performances to be played a too broadly for what the story seems to be asking. It's artfully told, granted, but what is being told just doesn't add up to much for me, and though I believe comedy and tragedy can co-exist effectively, even profoundly, in certain stories, I found FARGO's mix to be awkward, with insufficient pay-off to either quality. It may be, IMO, the single most overrated film of the '90s (certainly in the Top 5). Conversely, THE BIG LEBOWSKI, the next film in the Coen's oeuvre, and one less financially successful than FARGO, I find to be a masterpiece saturated with belly laughs. It's just a perfect little gem of a film, with spot-on performances and comedy that delivers 100% of the time, bouyed along by expert direction and more of that fine Deakins cinematography. I know most Coen Brothers fans love them both, but for me, FARGO doesn't even register as a speck on LEBOWSKI's horizon, so I'm curious to see how many people a) feel like me or b) would like to take a crack at making me understand why FARGO is considered to be the shining pinnacle of the Coen Brothers' career.

I think that Fargo is one of the best movies ever made. However, I totally understand someone liking Big Lenowski more as it is one of the "cooler" moviews made. Watch the rest of their films, they are all good. I especially love Blood Simple.