First, I want to make something clear. Yes, there
I saw The Big Lebowski on VHS in 1998. I had the opportunity to go see the film in a theater with my roommates, but for some reason I didn't go. I don't remember why exactly. Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear, why, he eats you.
When I finally saw the film, nothing monumental happened. I had no idea what I was watching. A classic film? That had not occurred to us, Dude.
I liked the film right away and laughed a lot, though, and I bought VHS and DVD copies that I watched over and over. With time and repeated viewings, I saw more subtleties, caught more jokes, memorized more quotes, and laughed in random places as new things struck me as funny. The story is ludicrous. ¡Que ridiculo!
One day, though, I realized this was not just a great film, but perhaps my favorite film of all. I don't know about you, but I take comfort in that.
I started encountering other fans, usually by referencing the film in mixed company and starting a barrage of quotes that annoy non-believers all around us. I'm a Brother Seamus. Like an Irish monk.
Then I discovered the bums mobilized. You're not dealing with morons.
I'll tell you what I'm blathering about. The older this film gets, the more rewarding the connection with others. For me, finding people to share a connection with a film is rare and great. Too many people are apt to dismiss us. We have "too much time on our hands." Yes, we (the royal we, the editorial) go out looking for a job dressed like this. On a weekday.
So if I'm forced to pick a favorite film, to use the parlance of our times, I point to The Big Lebowski, not just for the great writing and direction, but for the brotherhood of a cult following, the brilliant acting, unforgettable characters and dialogue, and the fact that any reference to this film can get a room full of people laughing (the kind of people I hang out with, anyway). I love that connection. I put this film right up there with the greats, from Ronald Kuby to Sandy Koufax. This film really ties my DVD collection together.
But that's just like, my opinion, man.
Also, Dude, "bums" is not the preferred nomenclature. "Aesthetically aware bearers of the XY chromosomal pairing," please.
ReplyDeleteI've been enjoying your recent blog posts, but you're out of your element, John.
ReplyDeletemy toe hurts reading this.
ReplyDeletefrom moses to sandy koufax.
you NAILED it.
i think the big lebowski is now my favorite movie. interestingly first time i saw it in '98 i was thinking "meh." now i love love love
they're not literally his children.
I found sarsparilla at Marsh a few months ago, and immediately thought of Sam Eliot.
ReplyDeleteWe believe in na-sing.
nihilism? fuck me! say what you want about national socialism. at least it's an ethos.
ReplyDeleteand christoper you're like a child who wanders into a movie...
ReplyDeleteThe summer that movie manifest on the Earth (Year of the Dude), I had just told Corporate America to take a flying leap. I grew my first facial scruff and let my hair grow out.
ReplyDeleteI was so happy I bowled 50 frames in honor of this sacred event.
I have no frame of reference here...
ReplyDeleteWhen this film was first released, I had no interest in seeing it. I’d seen Fargo and didn’t get what all the fuss was about and I figured this would be more of the same. Then I saw it on DVD and loved it.
ReplyDeleteCoen Brothers aside, look at the talent in this film—Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, John Turturro, Julianne Moore. Damn, that’s impressive.
I was recently writing some marketing copy for a carpet store (really, I was). I could not resist including a line about area rugs tying the room together. :)
ReplyDelete