It seems appropriate to the character of the Dude that “The Big Lebowski” took its time finding its audience. Coming fresh on the heels of their first Oscar-winning hit, “Fargo,” the Coen Brothers’ 7th film had a strange sense of humor, felt disjointed, was full of swearing, and didn’t connect with audiences or critics, who were all largely left scratching their heads. But time was on the side of the movie as people continued to discover it, turning it into a much-loved cult classic — with its own annual festival even. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Coen Comedy series with 1998’s “The Big Lebowski.” Pete contemplates why it still doesn’t work for him completely, and Andy talks about why it works for him and tries to convince Pete of its brilliance. We discuss the characters depicted in this story and highlight what each of the performers brings to the role, most notably Jeff Bridges. We talk about some of the production team — Roger Deakins and Carter Burwell in particular — and discuss what they bring to the table. And we chat about how the movie has taken on a life of its own, leading to the annual Lebowski Fest, the religion of Dudeism and countless research papers and websites analyzing the intricacies of this film. We’re a bit split on the film but in a way, that really ties the conversation together. Check it out!
