The Big Lebowski (1998 Joel and Ethan Coen)

Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, David Huddlestone (the other Lebowski, who coincidentally just died on August 2 aged 85), Tara Reid, Peter Stormare, John Turturro, David Thewlis, Sam Elliott, Ben Gazzara. Not much of a cast...

Not quite as out there as I remembered, plot vaguely resembles that of a noirish 40s LA thriller in which the Dude gradually works out what's going on following the theft of a rug involving various crazies. Has some remarkable flights of fancy, one involving a distinctly Busby Berkeley sequence, and a bowling contest that doesn't happen. Both Goodman (psychotic) and Turturro (outrageous) behave in Coen bothers film in a way you're not used to (the way Clooney also does).

Usual team of Burwell, T Bone Burnett, Deakins and Zophres with production design by Rick Heinrichs. The gradual disintegration of the car eclipses a similar idea in Comfort and Joy.