I'm A Lebowski, You're A Lebowski

Life, The Big Lebowski and What-Have-You

Scott Shuffitt, Will Russell, Bill Green, Ben Peskoe

• Publisher: Canongate Books
• Year: 2013
• Print ISBN:
  9781841959399
• eBook ISBN:
  9781847676306
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Film & Video

In 1998, the Coen Brothers followed the global success of their smash hit Fargo with a rambling tale of lies, corruption and bowling in early 90s LA - The Big Lebowski. It flopped at the box office. But in the years that followed, the movie took on a life of its own, spawning a culture of quotable lines, White Russians and even Lebowski Fest, an annual event attracting thousands of Big Lebowski die-hards. In I'm a Lebowski, You're a Lebowski ('That's terrific') the curators of Lebowski Fest offer the complete guide to one of the few true cult movies of the last twenty years, with photographs, real locations and interviews with the stars of the film, including John Turturro, John Goodman and Julianne Moore - and a foreword by the Dude himself, Jeff Bridges. The book also contains a glossary, trivia questions and the ultimate soundtrack listing - in other words, the whole Lebowski.

Within the pages of this book, you'll find out how to order a White Russian like an Achiever, how to react when an Asian-American pees on your rug, how to think like a nihilist, and more. You'll also read interviews with the real-life eccentrics who inspired the film's main characters, the actors who played them, and the famous siblings who conjured the whole thing up. We'll throw ourselves into the mix as well, hopping into our own Dude-mobile (a 1972 Plymouth Fury III, complete with rust colorations just like the movie) to journey around the country gathering interviews and anecdotes. We'll also reveal our own stories about how we came to love the movie and launch Lebowski Fest.

CHAPTER ONE

I WON’T SAY HERO, ’CAUSE WHAT’S A HERO?

A·bide v

1. to find somebody or something acceptable or bearable

2. to endure or withstand something (archaic)

3. to have the ability to say, “Fuck it. Let’s go bowling”

Way back in 1996, fresh off the set of the soon-to-be Oscar favorite Fargo, Joel and Ethan Coen were gearing up to shoot their next feature film. Written with a nod to classic noir crime films such as The Big Sleep and a wink to the Coens’ growing, spoof-loving fan base, it was to be a film about a mistaken identity, a film about a kidnapping, a film about taking a stand against aggressors—but most of all, it was to be a film about, ahem, bowling? Throw in an aging hippie, a gun-toting Vietnam vet, a vain millionaire, and a few nihilists, and you’ve got what is now hailed as one of the most quotable cult films of the past two decades, The Big Lebowski.

You might have seen it in the theater, or maybe you caught part of it on cable a year or so later. If you’re like most people, you had no idea what was going on. Even if you caught it from the beginning, you may still have felt like you had just tuned in to an episode of Seinfeld five minutes late, and every line seemed like an inside joke. It wasn’t until the second or fifth time that you might have begun to see the layers of genius woven into The Big Lebowski.

And at the center of it all is the Dude, played by the man born for the role, Jeff Bridges.

It’s not often that our culture presents us with a heroic icon who is also one of the laziest men of his time and place. Superman wears a cape, not a bathrobe. Neo has no trouble dodging a swarm of bullets, much less a coffee mug to the forehead. Batman never wrecked the Batmobile while looking for the joint he dropped. Nor does he care whether his cocktail is shaken or stirred. That’s 007’s thing, man. Even Homer Simpson has a job.

No, the Dude doesn’t need all the fancy clothes, cars, or names. Just “the Dude.” That’s what people call him. And maybe this is wishful thinking, but it seems we all have a little bit of the Dude in us. Sitting right there next to that little bit of Elvis. If you enjoy bowling, the only “sport” that provides cup holders; if you’ve ever looked the Man in the face and just said, “Fuck it”; if you’ve ever postdated a check for change—that’s the Dude coming out of you. Feels good, doesn’t it?

Quiz: How Dude Are You?

So just how Dude are you, anyway? Get out your number-two pencils and answer the following questions to discover how in touch you are with your inner Dude. Report back as soon as it’s done.

1. Are you employed, sir?

A) Yes

B) No

C) What day is this?

2. Do you have any Kahlua?

A) No, but I do have some watermelon schnapps

B) No, I’m fresh out

C) Does the pope shit in the woods?

3. What’s your favorite Eagles album?

A) Desperado

B) Ride the Lightning

C) I hate the fucking Eagles

4. What do you do in your free time?

A) Balance my checkbook

B) Occupy various administration buildings

C) Bowl, drive around, the occasional acid flashback

5. What is the smallest check you’ve ever written?

A) $100 and up

B) $0.70 to $99.99

C) $0.69 and under

6. Identify this small woodland mammal

A) Beaver

B) Ferret

C) Marmot

7. What cassette is in your Walkman right now?

A) I have an iPod

B) Creedence

C) Venice Beach League Playoffs 1987/Bob

8. What is your primary form of ID?

A) Driver’s license

B) Expired student ID

C) Ralphs Card

9. What color is your vehicle?

A) My Hummer is yellow

B) Blue

C) Green with rust coloration

10. When do you pay your rent?

A) When you own, it’s called a mortgage

B) The tenth

C) Far out, man

Tally up your score:

For each A) answer, you get 0 points

For each B) answer, give yourself 21 points

For each C) answer, give yourself 42 points

How Dude are you:

0–105 = You’re being very un-Dude

106–210 = You are ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Instructions For Enjoying This Book
• Foreword: Saying What Can’t Be Said
• Introduction: Lotta Ins, Lotta Outs, Lotta What-Have-Yous
• Chapter One: I Won’t Say Hero, ’Cause What’s A Hero?
• Chapter Two: Parts, Anyway. The Actors And Their Roles
• Chapter Three: Way Out West. Origins And Inspirations
• Chapter Four: Are We Alone? Or, How The Big Lebowski Became A Cult Classic
• Chapter Five: The Achievers. And Proud We Are Of All Of Them
• Chapter Six: Lebowski Fest. If You Will It, Dude, It Is No Dream
• Chapter Seven: Reference Materials. A By Your-Side Guide To Watching The Big Lebowski
• Lebowski Locations
• A Note On The Authors
• Copyright