The Big Lebowski

The Big Lebowski is a 1998 film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen starring Jeff Bridges as Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, John Goodman as Walter, Julianne Moore as Maude Lebowski, David Huddleston as Jeffrey "The Big" Lebowski, Philip Seymour Hoffman as Brandt, and Sam Elliott as "The Stranger". Coen brothers regulars John Turturro, Jon Polito, and Steve Buscemi are also featured. The movie is widely considered to be a cult classic for its originality and direction, its eccentric characters, and its convoluted plot that centers around The Dude's earnest quest to replace his soiled living room rug.

Analysis

The Big Lebowski is a cult film, in that it received mediocre or moderately positive reviews, generally, but sales were and remain slim. Perhaps one reason is the anti-hero status of The Dude, whose refusal of gainful employment makes him difficult for some to sympathize with, as well as the general eccentricity of all the primary players in the plot.

Related Topics:
Cult film - Anti-hero

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The film's fans tend to identify with the unusual characters, appreciate the movie's very clever and quotable dialogue, or both. Cult culture activites such as drinking and marijuana-smoking games have evolved from the film's liberal depiction of both substances. The cult status has even developed to the point where fans of the movie have Lebowski Fest conventions as often as thrice a year, during which people bowl, dress like characters in the movie, and drink White Russians. Some even show off their old and dilapidated automobiles, which resemble the Dude's rusted and discolored 1970s-era car. The car itself suffering gradual but sustained destruction from gunfire, theft, vandalism and accidents over the course of the story. As The Dude mournfully observes: "Well, they finally did it. They killed my fucking car."

Related Topics:
Marijuana - Lebowski Fest - White Russians

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Many of the characters and plot elements in The Big Lebowski were inspired by people the Coen brothers have known throughout the years. The Dude, himself, is based quite heavily upon the Coen Brothers' real life friend, Jeff "The Dude" Dowd, who, like Lebowski, was a member of the Seattle Seven. According to the Coens, Dowd refers to himself as "the Pope of Dope".

Related Topics:
Coen brothers - Jeff "The Dude" Dowd - Seattle Seven

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Dude's "micturated-upon" rug was inspired by the Coen Brothers' uncle Pete, who had a fixation upon an unattractive rug he owned and how "it really tied the room together" (The Dude). The character Walter was also based on uncle Pete, who spoke of his experiences in the Vietnam War quite bitterly and frequently.

Related Topics:
Micturated - Vietnam War

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Interestingly enough, The Big Lebowski was a big box office hit in Israel. It has been viewed by hundreds of thousands on screen, and is still aired on TV every couple of months. This could be explained by its witty treatment of several Israeli open nerves, among which:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Die Hard Jewish converts - "shomer fucking shabbos!"
• National Socialism - "at least it's an ethos"
• Fear of terrorist actions - "My only hope is that the big Lebowski kills me before the Germans can cut my dick off"
• The Gulf War - "look at our current situation with that camelfucker in Iraq"