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10 Years of Lebowski
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Few movies have done for me what The Big Lebowski has: provided a catchphrase for seemingly any situation, given me an excuse to drink White Russians, caused me uncontrollable fits of laughter, and made bowling seem way cooler than it actually is.
And it can do these things for you! If you haven't seen The Big Lebowski, you truly have no idea what you're missing out on. With an ensemble cast of Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Tara Reid (to name a few), this is a movie of the highest caliber.
The Big Lebowski is a film about crime, corruption, and Creedence. Starring Jeff Bridges as "The Dude," aka Jeffrey Lebowski, he is thrown through an absurdly funny series of events, all sparked by a man urinating on his rug. Which normally wouldn't be that big of a deal, but, that rug really tied the room together, man.
The Dude is quite a laid back fella. Known for lightin' up a roach or two from time to time, drinking White Russians, and most importantly, being an avid bowler, one wouldn't normally expect a guy of this caliber to go on a journey through the various underworlds of Los Angeles, and that's part of the reason this movie is hilarious and amazing. Joined by Walter Sobchak (John Goodman), a Vietnam Vet who seems to see everything through the eyes of war, and Donny (Steve Buscemi), a simple man who loved bowling, the ridiculous happenings that these men go through will leave you in tears.
Like I said before, everything that happens in this movie is due to The Dude's favorite rug being peed on by somebody who thinks he's a rich man, a man that owes people money "all over town." The Dude then goes to find the rich man, who is also named Jeffrey Lebowski (thereby fulfilling the role of the "Big Lebowski"), for compensation. After an entertaining conversation, which can be summed up with the phrase "the bums will always lose!", The Dude goes home, but only after meeting The Big Lebowski's wife, Bunny. A while later he's summoned by Brandt (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Jeffrey Lebowski's male-servant. It is explained to The Dude that Bunny has been kidnapped, and the big Lebowski wants The Dude to make the money handoff. So he agrees for some reason, and decides to bring Walter with him. Walter proceeds to ruin the deal by throwing the kidnappers his dirty undies, "the whites", if you will. Without giving away too much, before the whole mess is over The Dude has to deal with a corrupt porn mogul, nihilists, Jeffrey Lebowski's hyper-feminist daughter (Julianne Moore), and so much more.
The Big Lebowski didn't do too great at the box office, but it's since grown into one of the most beloved cult films of all time, with DVD sales far exceeding what it made in theaters. Hell, there's even an annual party held in honor of The Big Lebowski, called Lebowski Fest. Though the original is held in the same city every year, other cities have adopted it and have their own festivals, too. Also, the creators of the festival encourage us to hold our own little Lebowski Fests, so feel free to go all out. Information about Lebowski Fest can be found here. This movie has spawned many catchphrases, some of which you've probably heard: "Fuck it, dude. Let's go bowling," or the classic "Shut the fuck up, Donny!" That's just naming a few. True Lebowski fans will consider pretty much any line in that movie a catchphrase. I would give this movie a 19 out of 7 if it was possible, so I'd definitely say you should check it out. But even if you don't, If you take anything from this review, make it the comforting, applicable words of The Stranger, a cowboy-narrator played by Sam Elliott: "The Dude abides."
Mii Lebowski:
youtube.com/watch?v=zcv6fPszAZY
Shut the Fuck Up, Donny (SPOILER):
youtube.com/watch?v=MjYJ7zZ9BRw&feature=related
The Fucking Short Version:
youtube.com/watch?v=gU2ZgaQ_H-Y&feature=related
The Jesus Scene:
youtube.com/watch?v=QFu8vtVxKzM&feature=related
The Dude and Walter - Funniest Moments:
youtube.com/watch?v=ED4VL7W6VdQ&feature=related
Trailer:
youtube.com/watch?v=r_GCRFRcWxA
Trailer 2:
youtube.com/watch?v=HuRd1fR1LjA&feature=related
Lebowski Fest:
lebowskifest.com
Q&A With Jeff Bridges:
rollingstone.com/news/story/22774825/the_dude_survives_jeff_bridges_on_the_enduring_big_lebowski
Q&A With Steve Buscemi:
rollingstone.com/news/story/22722865/behind_the_dude_steve_buscemi_on_the_big_lebowski
Q&A With John Goodman:
rollingstone.com/news/story/22722901/behind_the_dude_john_goodman_on_the_big_lebowski
Decade of the Dude:
rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/08/27/decade-of-the-dude-how-the-big-lebowski-became-a-cult-sensation/
The Dude is quite a laid back fella. Known for lightin' up a roach or two from time to time, drinking White Russians, and most importantly, being an avid bowler, one wouldn't normally expect a guy of this caliber to go on a journey through the various underworlds of Los Angeles, and that's part of the reason this movie is hilarious and amazing. Joined by Walter Sobchak (John Goodman), a Vietnam Vet who seems to see everything through the eyes of war, and Donny (Steve Buscemi), a simple man who loved bowling, the ridiculous happenings that these men go through will leave you in tears.
Like I said before, everything that happens in this movie is due to The Dude's favorite rug being peed on by somebody who thinks he's a rich man, a man that owes people money "all over town." The Dude then goes to find the rich man, who is also named Jeffrey Lebowski (thereby fulfilling the role of the "Big Lebowski"), for compensation. After an entertaining conversation, which can be summed up with the phrase "the bums will always lose!", The Dude goes home, but only after meeting The Big Lebowski's wife, Bunny. A while later he's summoned by Brandt (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Jeffrey Lebowski's male-servant. It is explained to The Dude that Bunny has been kidnapped, and the big Lebowski wants The Dude to make the money handoff. So he agrees for some reason, and decides to bring Walter with him. Walter proceeds to ruin the deal by throwing the kidnappers his dirty undies, "the whites", if you will. Without giving away too much, before the whole mess is over The Dude has to deal with a corrupt porn mogul, nihilists, Jeffrey Lebowski's hyper-feminist daughter (Julianne Moore), and so much more.
The Big Lebowski didn't do too great at the box office, but it's since grown into one of the most beloved cult films of all time, with DVD sales far exceeding what it made in theaters. Hell, there's even an annual party held in honor of The Big Lebowski, called Lebowski Fest. Though the original is held in the same city every year, other cities have adopted it and have their own festivals, too. Also, the creators of the festival encourage us to hold our own little Lebowski Fests, so feel free to go all out. Information about Lebowski Fest can be found here. This movie has spawned many catchphrases, some of which you've probably heard: "Fuck it, dude. Let's go bowling," or the classic "Shut the fuck up, Donny!" That's just naming a few. True Lebowski fans will consider pretty much any line in that movie a catchphrase. I would give this movie a 19 out of 7 if it was possible, so I'd definitely say you should check it out. But even if you don't, If you take anything from this review, make it the comforting, applicable words of The Stranger, a cowboy-narrator played by Sam Elliott: "The Dude abides."
More Big Lebowski
Mii Lebowski:
youtube.com/watch?v=zcv6fPszAZY
Shut the Fuck Up, Donny (SPOILER):
youtube.com/watch?v=MjYJ7zZ9BRw&feature=related
The Fucking Short Version:
youtube.com/watch?v=gU2ZgaQ_H-Y&feature=related
The Jesus Scene:
youtube.com/watch?v=QFu8vtVxKzM&feature=related
The Dude and Walter - Funniest Moments:
youtube.com/watch?v=ED4VL7W6VdQ&feature=related
Trailer:
youtube.com/watch?v=r_GCRFRcWxA
Trailer 2:
youtube.com/watch?v=HuRd1fR1LjA&feature=related
Lebowski Fest:
lebowskifest.com
Rolling Stone Articles
Q&A With Jeff Bridges:
rollingstone.com/news/story/22774825/the_dude_survives_jeff_bridges_on_the_enduring_big_lebowski
Q&A With Steve Buscemi:
rollingstone.com/news/story/22722865/behind_the_dude_steve_buscemi_on_the_big_lebowski
Q&A With John Goodman:
rollingstone.com/news/story/22722901/behind_the_dude_john_goodman_on_the_big_lebowski
Decade of the Dude:
rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/08/27/decade-of-the-dude-how-the-big-lebowski-became-a-cult-sensation/
Read More:
Features
3 comments:
September 6, 2008 11:07 PM
I read something a lot like this in Rolling Stone
September 7, 2008 12:19 AM
It isn't unique or anything, but for the ten year anniversary of this amazing film we decided to show our Lebowski love like the other sites
September 15, 2008 4:50 PM
My friend was trying to tell me about this movie and she explained it in a really confusing way. The movie sounded stupid the was she explained it, but reading this makes me want to see it :)