If Fargo isn't really based on a true story of any sort, it turns out The Big Lebowski is. Well sorta. The character of The Dude (Jeff Bridges is arguably his most famous role to date), is based on independent film promoter Jeff "The Dude" Dowd, helped the Coen's get distribution for Blood Simple. Actually, a lot characteristics of Walter (John Goodman) are taken from Dowd as well. They sort of divided him between the two characters. Whether they got The Dude's tendency to repeat as his own words, phrases he hears other people utter (like "This will not stand, man") from Dowd or not is not clear, but certainly most of the central character of The Dude is taken from Dowd and some of the exploits he tends to wind up in.
Like Fargo though, it is a kidnap plot. Well, again, sorta. The essential confusion between the two Jeffery Lebowski's, with David Huddleston occupying the "old man role" as The Big Lebowski, by the two idiots that work for pornographer Jackie Treehorn (played with silly but smooth style by Ben Gazzarra), sets in motion yet another plot to extort some money from a wealthy family fund, in much the same fashion of Jerry Lundegaard--with one big twist! This time is the old man constructing a kidnap plot to get some family money that the audience would think he has free and unfettered access to. But, it turns out, is only part of the plot. There is at least another group of people who also want access to the Lebowski cash coffers: The Nihilists (led by Stormare as Uli Kunkel AKA Karl Hungus).
The film littered (in a good way) with Coen favorites. John Goodman, John Turturro, John Polito and Peter Stormare all appear. And then there is Steve Buscemi, who has managed to die in some pretty horrific ways in quite a few Coen films. Inspired choices for other roles as first timers make this my favorite Coen film. Not just Jeff Bridges and Huddleston, but also the use Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore and Tara Reid are all inspired choices for roles they occupy. Even small parts, such as Jesus Quintana (Turturro) are unforgettable. Priceless is the quick exchange between P.I. Da Fino (Polito) and The Dude because Da Fino thinks The Dude is a private investigator like he is.
Da Fino: I'm a brother Seamus
The Dude: Brother Seamus? Like an Irish Monk?
Da Fino: What the fuck are you talking about? I'm a dick man.
Trivia:
The tagline from Israel translates into English as "Lebowski: Not a man, a way of life.
The Dude repeatedly refers to his favorite drink The White Russian and "the Caucasian,"
beers are "cold sodas"
Quick Recipe: White Russian
Ice
1 1/2 oz. good Vodka
1/2 oz. Kahlua
Cream
Fill rocks glass with ice, measure in the booze, top with cream and serve with a swizzle stick for stirring (The Dude stirs his)
The vast majority of the clothes the Dude wears (including the Jelly sandals) were Jeff Bridges own stuff.
Bridges would very often ask the Coen's if "The dude had burned one on the way over?" If they said yes, he would rub the heck out of his eyes to redden them.
Jackie Treehorn's house was designed by architect John Lautner.
Uli's band Autobahn is based on the German techno group Kraftwerk.
John Goodman actually did a commercial for the In And Out Burger chain.
And finally....Sam Elliott still has no earthly idea what he was doing in this film
Specs:
Runtime: 117 min
Rated: R
Color (Technicolor) (Arriflex 525 cameras)
DTS
Langauge: English, German, Hebrew and Spanish
Filmed in Los Angeles
Tagline: They figured he was a lazy time wasting slacker. They were right
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