Essay 6 and Today's Movie #9

"Big Lebowski"(1998)
Directed by Joel Coen

This offbeat film’s story is about three men named Lebowski, Sobczak, and Kerabatsos: Lebowski is an unemployed middle-aged man who prefers his nickname “The Dude” rather than his real name, Jeffrey. He spends his careless life with playing bowling. Walter Sobezak, one of The Dude’s close friend, was a solder who joined the Vietnam war long time ago. He has a terrible temper and a gun in his bag to threaten someone at gun-point. Donny Kerabatsos is retired pro surfer. He also plays bowling with The Dude and Walter, but he is not smart enough to follow along to other people’s conversation.
Once upon a time, bill collectors came to The Dude’s house and asked The Dude for his wife’s debts. However, The Dude doesn’t have any wife or debts. He tried to explain the mistaken identity, but the bill collectors didn’t lend an ear. At last, the bill collectors peed on his rug which ties the room together. Next day, as The Dude told Walter and Donny the story, Walter got very upset. He told The Dude to go to the real Lebowski’s house and tell him what happened on the rug last night. And then The Dude did it, but the real Lebowski didn’t believe The Dude’s story and will never pay the damage for the rug.
Some days later, The Dude got a phone from Lebowski. Lebowski said his wife is kidnapped by a party of crazy Germans and asked The Dude to save her. If The Dude has made it, Lebowski would pay him a lot of money as a reward. The Dude accepted offer, but he wondered if Lebowski's wife had kidnapped herself for the ransom money. At the night, The Dude and Walter made a plan. They were planning to hand a case of Walter's dirty undies over to the Germans party instead of the ransom money which Lebowski gave over to them. Finally, The Dude, Walter and Donny found the lager truth and went back to their ordinary life.

“The Big Lebowski" is one of my favorites. I have watched this movies a jillion times so I’m able to remember almost all lines. I also bought the DVDs, including the US version, New US version and JP version. Now I want the shirt which has a picture of The Dude and the soundtrack.
Coen brothers, who directed this masterpiece in 1998, had made a great movie called “Barton Fink” too. It was also great. You can find them at any video store in your town.