The Big Lebowski

R.I.P the Rug 1991 - 1998

People often take me for the kind of person who doesn't care what anyone thinks about them, but that just isn't the case. I care a great deal about what a specific set of people think about me, namely my ISP, the Australian Federal Police and that guy from Dateline's To Catch A Predator.

I can see how others would assume that though; I do give off that kind of 'no fucks given' type of vibe. Hell, I once jerked off in a friend's room while he slept not ten feet away. Does that make me a bad person? Probably. Would I do it again? Invite me over for the night and we can find out together. Though, to be fair, he probably shouldn't have hidden his porn stash in a folder called NROP like it's some kind of fucking uncrackable code. Oh yeah, I'd better call Bletchley Park for help deciphering that one, idiot.

All of that, however, pales in comparison to the guru of not giving a fuck. The man who cares so little about what anyone else thinks he parties hard in a bathrobe and plastic sandals. A man so unconcerned with anything at all going on in the world he drinks White Russians before 5pm, blazes joints like Willy Nelson and goes bowling 4 times a week. A man simply known as The Dude.

Our tale begins, as so many tales do, with a misunderstanding.

At it's very core this is essentially a movie about a rug. Mind you, it's quite a nice rug, and it really tied the room together - but it's still just a rug.

For a movie that was by definition a box office flop it is both widely known and quite fondly remembered. Other great movies that came out that year include Armageddon, Shakespeare in Love and Lethal Weapon 4. Movies that saw way more popularity and are among the top 10 highest grossing films of that year. Movies who's income dwarfed that of The Big Lebowski's. But can you quote a line from any of these movies? Any jokes or references that have made the transition into pop culture? Probably not, even though statistically you saw these movies a lot more than you saw this humble cult classic (and no, Aerosmith's song isn't a quote, even if it is some mad-hot shit).

But beside these giants of cinema stands a movie so festooned with quotable quotes that I bet you can probably think of several to do with a rug or a ball-licking sex offender named Jesus. It is well - if a tad simply - written, and I think that makes it accessible to a much wider audience. It has some deeper undertones, but doesn't come off as a preachy. Has surrealist and artistic influences, but doesn't come off as pretentious. It's funny and interesting and broken up by these quieter moments of exposition in a bowling alley that don't seem out of place for this character. It is borderline brilliant.

The Dude is some kind of hippy Jesus analogue, with his long hair, thrift store attire and blasé faire attitude. I've even heard rumours that Jeff Bridges apparently set his clock to 4:20 and 'blazed it' in preparation for this role. Though what exactly 'it' was is a topic of much debate.

John Goodman stars in one of his most recognisable roles as the Vietnam veteran and friend of the Dude; Walter Sobchak - the craziest motherfucker you will ever meet in a bowling alley. His approach to life as an angry, wound up man just two steps away from a mass shooting is a stark contrast to the happy-go-lucky nature of the Dude, but the relationship works so well in spite of - or perhaps because of - this difference. Either way, this cunt should have won an Oscar for this shit.

Oh yeah, Steve Buscemi's also here. You know, ol' bug eyes? Yeah, him. Neat.

There are a lot of familiar faces, some incredibly memorable scenes, and enough quotable material to poke a stick at. What more could you want? It's possibly the best movie ever made about a rug - and if that doesn't sell you on it, I don't think anything will.

Here are some things I couldn't work into the review, but probably still bear mentioning:

• The film is probably narrated by Sam Elliot's moustache.
• Tara Reid. That's it. That's the whole point. Sort of speaks for itself, really.
• Phillip Seymour Hoffman was alive. That's kind of a downer. But hey, on the bright side he's dead now.
• Hey, is that... is that Flea? Yes. Yes it is. Fuck off back to Hill Valley, Needles.

If you see just one Cohen Bothers movie this year, then you're probably not a very good film snob. But you should still probably make it this one.

Abide.