The Dude

TheMercenary · 12-31-2009, 07:06 PM

Dissertations on His Dudeness

Quote:

Joel and Ethan Coen’s 1998 movie, “The Big Lebowski,” which stars Jeff Bridges as a beatific, pot-smoking, bowling-obsessed slacker known as the Dude, snuck up on the English-speaking world during the ’00s: it became, stealthily, the decade’s most venerated cult film. It’s got that elusive and addictive quality that a great midnight movie has to have: it blissfully widens and expands in your mind upon repeat viewings.

“The Big Lebowski” has spawned its own shaggy, fervid world: drinking games, Halloween costumes, bumper stickers (“This aggression will not stand, man”) and a drunken annual festival that took root in Louisville, Ky., and has spread to other cities. The movie is also the subject of an expanding shelf of books, including “The Dude Abides: The Gospel According to the Coen Brothers” and the forthcoming “The Tao of the Dude.”

Where cult films go, academics will follow. New in bookstores, and already in its second printing, is “The Year’s Work in Lebowski Studies,” an essay collection edited by Edward P. Comentale and Aaron Jaffe (Indiana University Press, $24.95). The book is, like the Dude himself, a little rough around the edges. But it’s worth an end-of-the-year holiday pop-in. Ideally you’d read it with a White Russian — the Dude’s cocktail of choice — in hand.

More than a few of this book’s essay titles will make you groan and laugh out loud at the same time (“ ‘The Big Lebowski’ and Paul de Man: Historicizing Irony and Ironizing Historicism”). But just as often, the writing here is a bit like the film: amiable, laid-back and possessed of a wobbly Zen-acuity.

continues:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/30/bo...%20dude&st=cse

TheMercenary · 12-31-2009, 07:06 PM

I love this movie. A true classic.

jinx · 12-31-2009, 07:34 PM

Jesus...

Glinda · 01-03-2010, 12:24 PM

I'm not a big movie goer, and generally prefer watching older (B&W) films on the tube. This is why I'm often surprised when I "discover" a killer film that everyone's known about for ages.

Happened with Rocky Horror Picture Show. Back in my teens, a friend had been bothering me for years to go with her to see it, but I'm like "A horror movie about transvestites? No, I don't think so." She finally dragged [pun!] me out to the big hoo-ha on Hollywood Blvd. with her.... Wow!

Who knew?!

Years later, a roommate put a life-sized poster of Mr. Blonde in the big window of our front door, for all the world to see. I had no idea who or what this was about, so roomie tells me it's from Reservoir Dogs, a movie about some batshit crazy fuckers killing people. "Hm. I'm not real big on gratuitous blood and guts; thanks but no thanks."

I was wrong again. Ever been wrong? It happened to me.

So, this friend says one day, sort of out of nowhere, "That rug really tied the room together." From that, I "discovered" The Big Lebowski. And I realized that, at least as far as knowing and appreciating strange and unusual films, I was out of my element.

DanaC · 01-03-2010, 01:24 PM

I love that film!

Gravdigr · 01-03-2010, 05:11 PM

I did not know 'what was up' with "The Big Lebowski". But, now, thanks to Jinx's spinach-language clip, I still don't.

jinx · 01-03-2010, 05:15 PM

What it again.... you'll get it at some point.

Glinda · 01-03-2010, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

I did not know 'what was up' with "The Big Lebowski". But, now, thanks to Jinx's spinach-language clip, I still don't.

Rent the film. You will not be disappointed (and you'll no longer be out of your element).

This is what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass! Shomer fucking shabbos!

Gravdigr · 01-04-2010, 03:24 AM

OK, I'll see the flick. Really tho, you had me at 'Shomer fucking shabbos!'

Trilby · 01-04-2010, 05:04 AM

shut up, Donny.

kerosene · 01-04-2010, 02:17 PM

Have you seen the edited for TV version?

"See what happens, Larry, when you find a stranger in the Alps?!"

Glinda · 01-04-2010, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

OK, I'll see the flick. Really tho, you had me at 'Shomer fucking shabbos!'

John Goodman kills in this flick. You're gonna love it!

Glinda · 01-04-2010, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by case

Have you seen the edited for TV version?

"See what happens, Larry, when you find a stranger in the Alps?!"

Isn't it awful? Stupid censors!

12-31-2009, 07:06 PM	#2
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	I love this movie. A true classic. __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

12-31-2009, 07:34 PM	#3
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	Jesus... __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

01-03-2010, 05:11 PM	#6
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	I did not know 'what was up' with "The Big Lebowski". But, now, thanks to Jinx's spinach-language clip, I still don't. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

01-03-2010, 05:15 PM	#7
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	What it again.... you'll get it at some point. __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

01-04-2010, 03:24 AM	#9
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	OK, I'll see the flick. Really tho, you had me at 'Shomer fucking shabbos!' __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

01-03-2010, 12:24 PM	#4
Glinda Fucktard Resistance League Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: 1.14 acres of heaven Posts: 1,512	I'm not a big movie goer, and generally prefer watching older (B&W) films on the tube. This is why I'm often surprised when I "discover" a killer film that everyone's known about for ages. Happened with Rocky Horror Picture Show. Back in my teens, a friend had been bothering me for years to go with her to see it, but I'm like "A horror movie about transvestites? No, I don't think so." She finally dragged [pun!] me out to the big hoo-ha on Hollywood Blvd. with her.... Wow! Who knew?! Years later, a roommate put a life-sized poster of Mr. Blonde in the big window of our front door, for all the world to see. I had no idea who or what this was about, so roomie tells me it's from Reservoir Dogs, a movie about some batshit crazy fuckers killing people. "Hm. I'm not real big on gratuitous blood and guts; thanks but no thanks." I was wrong again. Ever been wrong? It happened to me. So, this friend says one day, sort of out of nowhere, "That rug really tied the room together." From that, I "discovered" The Big Lebowski. And I realized that, at least as far as knowing and appreciating strange and unusual films, I was out of my element.

01-04-2010, 05:04 AM	#10
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	shut up, Donny. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

01-04-2010, 02:17 PM	#11
kerosene Touring the facilities Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The plains of Colorado Posts: 3,476	Have you seen the edited for TV version? "See what happens, Larry, when you find a stranger in the Alps?!"

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