When The Big Lebowski was released on March 8, 1998, the modest Coen brothers comedy was splashed on 1,207 screens and pulled in a mere $5.3 million in its first weekend. By the end of its run in theaters, it had made a less-than-memorable $17.4 million. In other words, no one in their right minds would’ve expected that folks would still be discussing, parsing, and obsessively re-watching the film a decade later, let alone dressing up like the movie’s characters at Lebowski Fests. But, as Jeff Bridges’ aging hippie bowler once said, “Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.”
The new documentary The Achievers is just additional proof (if any more were needed) that Lebowski has become a bona fide American phenomenon — the Rocky Horror Picture Show of the new millennium. Directed by Eddie Chung, the lo-fi, labor-of-love documentary made its debut at this year’s San Francisco Independent Film Festival and has since played at a small handful of theaters. But most fans of John Goodman’s Walter, Steve Buscemi’s Donny, and John Turturro’s Jesus (“Nobody f—s with the Jesus!”) won’t be able to get their first taste of The Achievers until its release on DVD by Sony on October 27.
While the Dude himself, Jeff Bridges, does pop up in the film — interviewed during his appearance at a 2005 Lebowski Fest, where he jams onstage with his band (sounding a bit like John Hiatt) and loans one of his jelly sandals to a fan to try on and experience the Dudeness first hand — the film focuses on the fans who’ve turned the movie into a cult sensation. If you’re one of them and can quote the film by heart and agree that there’s no bowling on Shabbas and that a rug can really tie a room together, then why not put on your favorite old bathrobe, kick back with a White Russian, and check out these clips from The Achievers…
The trailer:
An interview with one of the film’s bit players:
The Dude himself:
Now let’s hear from you. Are you a Lebowski fanatic? Will you be checking out The Achievers? What’s your favorite line/scene/character in the film?
Best. Movie. Ever.
Jackie Treehorn treats objects like women man.
Obviously you’re not a golfer.
Best line from the basic tv edit: This is what happens when you find a stranger in the alps.
Ha ha!
“You see what happens Larry, when you find a stranger in Aspen?”
Nihilists? Say what you want about national socialism but at least its an ethos dude.
The Dude abides. (Fortunately for the rest of us! My husband and I started calling each other Dood after we saw The Big Lebowski; I’m not sure I even remember his real name.)
I don’t know about you but I take comfort in that. It’s good knowin’ he’s out there. The Dude. Takin’ ‘er easy for all us sinners.
I ran in to Jeff Bridges in an elevator once. I was outside, he inside. When I realized it was him, all I could say was “The DOOOOD!” as the doors closed between us. It was a good day.
Is there any way to get list of popwatch blogs by date like we used to, without getting the entire article?
As a fan of movie quotes, the best are the obscure ones you can trot out both contextually and as non-sequiters. For me, the line that works the best for me from this endlessly quotable film is, “Different mothers?”
Well, vast amounts of this is hard to quote due to liberal use of the F word. Among my favorites- the whole “Shomer Shabbos” thing (deeply weird), the Jackie Treehorn hallucination scene with Kenny Rogers soundtrack (the bowling viking women), ‘Mark it 8, dude!”, “That rug really tied the room together.” It’s a strange movie, but definitely in my top ten faves. I would go to a Lebowski Fest if they ever went to Vancouver or back to Vegas.
Oh, and almost forgot- the Jesus scenes. When John Turturo licks the ball and dances, I get kind of squicked out, but it’s hilarious. “Eight year olds dude.”
Oh. My. God. Must. See. This. Movie.
Living in Copenhagen now, but a Lebowski fest would be grounds for going back to the US for a visit, man.
The Dude abides.
Phone’s ringin’, Dude.
I hate it when people say “DUUUDE”, it’s dumb and annoying.
Oh boy. How ya gonna keep ‘em down on the farm once they’ve seen Karl Hungus.
I saw this movie again and it’s still CRAP. Makes no sense and that annoying guy calling people DUUDE all the time. People get something good to eat and wake up, the movie is garbage.
Well, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.