The Dude’s Edition

Kabir Sarin

English 181.402

ME Alea

Paper 2

The Dude’s Edition

“The Big Lebowski” is a bizarre story about the lives of affirmed failures and losers. “A genial spoof about life on the unhinged margins of L.A., “The Big Lebowski” isn’t the most ambitious film the Coen brothers have made” (O'Hehir). However, it’s the most munificent and, in its own absurd way, “the most naturalistic, and that combination” marks a new phase in the Coen brothers’ work (O'Hehir). “Lebowski” is entertainment for ordinary people, a hilarious comedy that almost anyone can enjoy. The film displays an overwhelming concentration of elements, from a “tribute to bowling culture” (O’Hehir), during the early 90’s, “a send-up of art-damaged Euro-pretension” (O’Hehir), some of the strangest fantasy/dream sequences ever dreamt, to a “running gag” (O’Hehir) on voice-over narration. Although, I believe that more than anything else, “The Big Lebowski” is an actors’ film. The Coen brothers have provided a stage for distinct actors to do their best work.

It’s hard to find the right words to say about Jeff Bridges’ impersonation of “The Dude” (“or “El Duderino,” if you’re not into the whole brevity thing”). This is probably because “words like “commitment” and “conviction” don’t belong anywhere near this Zen master of lethargy. Let’s just say that Bridges’ performance makes one wonder what his life would be like if the acting thing hadn’t worked out” (O'Hehir). Donny (Steve Buscemi), the third wheel of Walter and the Dude’s bowling team, plays a pretty weak role in the film, but is equally as funny because he is always dressed in bowling shirts bearing every possible name but Donny. Jesus (John Turturro), introducing himself as the Dude, Walter, and Donny’s biggest bowling adversary, makes a stunning (but somewhat creepy) entrance into the film. While viewing this film, I couldn’t help but think that the decision to cast Turturro as Jesus was merely some more Coen satire – because if you met Jesus at a bowling alley, what should you expect?

“Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski really isn’t the sort of person about whom movies often get made, but if you grew up anywhere in middle-class America, chances are you knew somebody like him (and if you grew up in California, you knew at least 10)” (O’Hehir). In the story, the Dude claims that he “co-authored the Port Huron Statement” (O’Hehir), a key document of the �60s democratic students, but “not the compromise second draft”. In reality, though, except for his also claimed “roadie for Metallica” gig, he’s been smoking doobies and listening to Credence Clearwater his whole life.

“Despite his surname, the Dude is not in fact the Big Lebowski of the title; that’s the other Jeff Lebowski” (O'Hehir), an irritable, wheelchair-bound Beverly Hills millionaire (David Huddleston). His wife Bunny (Tara Reid), a debt-ridden former porn star, owes money to bad guys all over town. One night, because of the similar names, a couple of thugs break into the Dude’s broken-down Venice Beach apartment. They kick him around and rummage through his house looking for the money that Bunny owes, interrogate him, and finally piss on his rug, before realizing their mistake. This really upsets the Dude, especially because this was a rug which “really tied the room together.” However, the Dude is not the confrontational type, so his Vietnam vet bowling-crazed buddy