Upon its initial release in
1998, The Big Lebowski, Joel and Ethan Coen’s follow-up to the critical and
financial success of 1996’s Fargo, was met with mixed reviews and a
disappointing take at the box-office. However, since then the film’s reputation
and status has grown exponentially, being seen by many as a quintessential cult
classic. The film features the offbeat, often surreal humour that we have come
to associate with the Coens, a collection of strange and wonderful characters
played by the likes of regular collaborators John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, John
Turturro, Peter Stormare and many more (namely Jeff Bridges iconic Jeffrey ‘The
Dude’ Lebowski), an eclectic soundtrack and a convoluted story that weaves together
the weird, the zany and a little mix of classic Hollywood noir. This is among
the strangest of strange detective stories, with our hapless, laid-back stoner
protagonist getting caught in all manner of shenanigans. Other collaborators
such as Carter Burwell and Roger Deakins each contribute greatly to the overall
creative process. It is a film whose lore and culture have emerged almost as an
entity in it’s own right. Beginning in Louisville, Kentucky in 2002, Lebowski
Fest, an annual festival devoted to the film, involves screenings of the
picture, contests involving trivia and costumes, musical performances and, of
course, bowling. The religion Dudeism was founded in 2005, devoted to spreading
the philosophy and lifestyle of the film’s main character. Indeed, I myself am
one who can counted among the over two-hundred thousand strong officially
ordained priests in The Church Of The Latter-Day Dude. It is a phenomenon that
can ultimately be attributed to the construction of a wonderful, self-contained
universe of infinite possibilities. This is what a work of true labor, love and
respect looks like. The Dude Abides, man…
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