The Big Lebowski turns 20. Far out, dude.

On March 6, 1998, this bizarre Coen bros. comedy-drama-crime was released. Not having that much of a box office impact, the cult following it managed to gain was and is insane. I can't really think of many other films from the late '90s that have such loyal followings.

 

"DO YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS, LARRY??!?"

I love it. Great fun. The first time I watched I laughed so hard when Walter jumps from the car.

 

He fixes the cable?

 

I assume that Lewbowski-fest is the closest any movie has gotten to that "Rocky Horror"-style 'cult-like' status.

 

A good friend at the time who seemed to share the same taste in movies, said it was absolutely 'the worst Coen movie' and a waste of time. I didn't see it for many years until the cult of personality began to blossom.
The wife and freakin' loved it. Slapstick combined with elements from almost every other genre. Julianne Moore was perfect--by going at the role dead on serious, she got some good laughs.
We still say a couple of the film's catch phrases.

 

Are they still in the parlance of our times?

 

Like an Irish monk?

 

ohhhh yea. When I married the wife she never used the word. But times change.............................

 

The number of people who have The Dude an their avatar over all kinds of forums, says it all.

 

I remember going to see it in the theater opening weekend. Our friend Tony, known for his Tony-isms, said in all earnestness,"one ticket for the Big Lewinsky" as that happened to be what was dominating the news then. We all fell out laughing our asses off.

 

Let me explain something to you. ... I'm the Dude. So that's what you call me. You know, that or, uh, His Dudeness, or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.

 

One of my many favorite scenes from the film:

 

I sure hope there's a proper 4K scan of the film negative for UHD release.

 

I'm sorry, I wasn't listening.

 

I will settle with a Blu-ray disc with less digital noise reduction.

 

Careful Man, there's beverage here!

 

Say what you will about the tenets of National Socialism, but at least it’s an ethos.

 

Yeah well that's like your opinion man.

 

The Dude is as much a fan of The Eagles as I am.

 

"Smokey this is not Nam this is bowling, there are rules. "

"The Jesus will F! you up!"

 

"And let's also not forget -- let's not forget, Dude -- that keeping wildlife, uh, an amphibious rodent, for uh, you know, domestic, within the city -- that ain't legal either. "
"What're you, a ****ing park ranger now? "

 

Don't be fatuous, Jeffrey.

 

Shut the frak up Donnie

 

"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."

 

The question is...does Donny actually exist, or is he a figment of Walter's imagination?