"The Big Lebowski" introduced us to the Dude in 1998. Today, the Dude abides, thrives -- and provides an anti-role model for several generations of slackers and potheads.
The Coen Brothers' black comedy, the follow-up to Oscar winner "Fargo," disappointed critics and Hollywood bean counters upon release, but these days its righteous rep seems to grow exponentially. Certainly "The Big Lebowski" is a lot more fun to revisit than grumpy old "Fargo."
The hyperintellectual stoner noir bowling comedy (as the New York Times called it) is one of those near-perfect films in which every other line is a great quote, with myriad applications when the going gets weird.
"It's just flat out one of my favorite movies," says Jeff Bridges, an actor not known for slinging heffer dust. Bridges, of course, starred as aging pothead Jeff Lewbowski I (aka the Dude), a character based on a pal of the Coen's.
"The Dude is considered a Zen master," Bridges says with some amazement, quoting a conversation with an advanced Buddhist.
Since 2002, fans have flocked to Lebowski Fest, a cross between Burning Man and a woozy Saturday night bowling league. Fans dress in character, "Rocky Horror" style. In November, the fest rolls into New York; San Francisco hosted earlier this month. That makes four Lebowski Fests this year. A natural zesty enterprise, indeed.
Universal, which released a string of Dude DVDs, makes much-needed upgrades to the bonus features in "The Big Lebowski: 10th Anniversary Edition
The latest DVD promises "all new" extras, which is semi-true but close enough for all but the pickiest achiever.
Disc 1 has two cool new interview-heavy pieces -- "The Dude's Life" and "The Dude Abides," which covers the characters and the film's legacy. Rolling out in new interviews are Bridges, the Coens, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, John Turturro and Julianne Moore, all of whom regard the film and its production with obvious affection.
"I get all kinds of weird sex mail from men and women," confides Turturro, who plays Jesus, a purple-jumpsuit- wearing guy known for French kissing bowling balls. He's fired up for the "second coming of Jesus" if there's ever a sequel.
Disc 2 brings the marvelous "The Lebowski Fest: An Achiever's Story," in which docu maker Eddie Chung attends several years' worth of gatherings. "Flying Carpets and Bowling Pin Dreams: The Dream Sequences of the Dude" goes over the Busby Berkeley-like fantasy piece that so delights the stoner constituency. A point-and-click map lets you revisit some of the film's L.A. locations, such as the famed Johnie's diner (that I used to live behind).
One of the best special features has accomplished photographer Bridges walking us through the photo-album book he printed up for the cast and crew. (Bridges' wide-wide-angle photos have spiced up several other DVDs.) With his reading glasses pushed down low and his downhome storytelling chops, the viewer feels treated to a one-on-one visit with the Dude's dad.
Repeats from discs past are the odd and funny intro from Forever Young films, the decade-old making-of documentary -- looking two decades old -- production notes and some more photos.
Also circling the DVD blog's players this week is "Gulliver's Travels," the very fine TV movie of 1996 produced by Britain's Channel 4. Ted Danson stars. Terrific effects and cinematography marked this fantasy, which aired on NBC as one of the last splashy telefilm events.
New and notable:
Baby Mama (Universal)
The Big Bang Theory (Warner)
The Big Lebowski (Universal)
Brian Regan: The Epitome of Hyberbole (Paramount)
Child's Play: Chucky's 20th Birthday Edition (MGM)
Cool Hand Luke (Warner)
CSI Miami, season 6 (Paramount)
The Fall (Sony)
Fist of Legend (The Weinstein Co./Genius Products)
Fox Horror Classics, Vol. 3 -- Chandu the Magician, Dr. Renault's Secret, Dragonwyck
Grey's Anatomy, season 4 (Disney)
Gulliver's Travels (RHI Entertainment/Genius)
I Want Candy (Magnolia Home Entertainment)
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, season 3 (Fox)
Medium, season 4 (Paramount)
Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work (Koch Vision)
Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre (Koch)
Smallville, season 7 (Warner)
Ugly Betty, season 2 (Disney)
Check out a list of all this week's releases on my friend Harley's onvideo.org
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