Are 'Raising Arizona' and 'The Big Lebowski' the same mode? Drugged/zonked fantasy bits aside, I always thought 'Big Lebiwski' was more naturalistic and deadpan droll that anything, far moreso than even 'Fargo', its most memorable sequences for me are static shots of people talking casually. The were still burdened with Barry Sonenfeld on 'Raising Arizona', which I never liked all that much. 'Lebowski' was something new for them I think. It was genuinely touching in parts and the caricatures weren't so mean. Also what I like about it is that ordinary Midwesterners aren't hanging out as punching bags, being LA everyone is a little strange and tuned into their own frequency, like Jeff's landlord. I haven't seen all their movies but it is my favorite one that I have seen. 'Barton Fink' is up there too.