# The Dude Abides **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2013, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285 "2013-03-07T13:29:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/41 "2013-03-08T02:53:07Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I’m not a really bif Coen Brothers fan (although I loved their first, **Blood Simple** , and their next, **Raising Arizona** , but many of their others leave me flat. So I didn’t see _The Big Lebowski_ for a long time. But, away from home with my family, I selected the film On Demand and watched it. My wife and daughter were drawn in, and now my daughter raves abiout this to her friends. I do like its engaging weirdness. Funny, I never liked Raising Arizona. I just hate slapstick comedy. The Big Lebowski, I love. It’s one of my all time favorite movies. I think it’s because The Dude is a hero for us apathetic types. Some of us just don’t want to participate in all the bullshit going on around us and just want to get our rug back and go back to drinking and bowling. It’s fun to watch The Dude get sucked out of his comfort zone, deeper and deeper into a web of nonsense he wants no part of. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/42 "2013-03-08T03:17:26Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > I’d hardly say it was an all time great movie. Sometimes, there’s a movie, well, it’s the movie for its time and place. It fits right in there. And that’s _The Big Lebowski_. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/43 "2013-03-08T08:49:47Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Not a (little-d) doper. Don’t see how _The Big Sleep_ would help. Well, firstly, it’d make for a great double feature. But also because of the parallels, the noir archetypes that TBS helped establish that get twisted by the Coens. [This article points out some character similarities](http://suite101.com/article/the-big-lebowski-and-film-noir-film-criticism-a246370). > [@](#): > > Maude Lebowski has Vivian’s patrician arrogance, but she has traded her innuendo for feminist theory. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/44 "2013-03-08T10:47:37Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Because it’s funnier to talk about than to actually see. Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man. ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/45 "2013-03-08T20:09:16Z")
I may give it a second try. The firdt tim I saw it on VHS most likely I was ‘meh’ about it. I am looking forward to the Big Sleep and moved it up in in my Netflix queue. ---
**Author:** ![Astral\_Rejection](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@Astral\_Rejection](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astral_Rejection)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/46 "2013-03-08T20:45:28Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Killer flick. I didn’t really get the Sam Elliot bits, but no matter. The Dude abides. Funny (possibly apocryphal) story about that: Sam Elliott doesn’t get his role either. I read (or heard) about a story where, during filming, he went up to the Coen brothers and said something like “hey guys, love the movie, glad to be here, but… What’s the point of my character?” One of the brothers laughed and said “Sam, when we figure it out we’ll get back to you about it.” ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/47 "2013-03-08T21:11:59Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Killer flick. I didn’t really get the Sam Elliot bits, but no matter. The Dude abides. Wikipedia has this to say: > [@](#): > > The use of the Stranger’s voiceover also came from Chandler as Joel remarked, “He is a little bit of an audience substitute. In the movie adaptation of Chandler it’s the main character that speaks off-screen, but we didn’t want to reproduce that though it obviously has echoes. It’s as if someone was commenting on the plot from an all-seeing point of view. And at the same time rediscovering the old earthiness of a Mark Twain.” For me, hell, I don’t care. I think Sam Elliott’s awesome, and that’s reason enough to put him in any movie. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/48 "2013-03-08T22:36:02Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](#): > > Sometimes, there’s a movie, well, it’s the movie for its time and place. It fits right in there. And that’s _The Big Lebowski_. Don’t be fatuous, Jeffrey. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/49 "2013-03-08T23:48:40Z")
It’s a league game, **toofs**. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/50 "2013-03-09T01:42:28Z")
“You’re entering a world of pain.” “He fixes the cable?” “He said I could take the rug.” “I hate the fuckin’ Eagles, man.” “You don’t fuck with the Jesus!” I love love love _The Big Lebowski_, and I’m about as un-Dude-like a guy as you’re ever going to meet. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/51 "2013-03-09T10:49:50Z")
I just hope none of you ever have to learn what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/52 "2013-03-09T13:59:01Z")
> [@Astral\_Rejection](#): > > Funny (possibly apocryphal) story about that: Sam Elliott doesn’t get his role either. I read (or heard) about a story where, during filming, he went up to the Coen brothers and said something like “hey guys, love the movie, glad to be here, but… What’s the point of my character?” > > One of the brothers laughed and said “Sam, when we figure it out we’ll get back to you about it.” The brothers tell that story in the “making of the Big Lebowski” documentary on the DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Astral\_Rejection](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@Astral\_Rejection](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astral_Rejection)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/53 "2013-03-09T16:51:02Z")
Boom. That’s where I heard it, then! ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/54 "2013-03-11T11:56:07Z")
Well, the party went well and while a little beer was spilled, nobody peed on the rugs. The Brit’s in attendance loved \*The Big Lebowski \*and _The Ladykillers_ while the French like _Raising Arizona_ the best. We may just do this again if I can acquire a few more titles. And thanks to all for not pointing out my spelling error in the brothers name. How embarrassing… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/55 "2013-03-11T13:21:11Z")
Such a nice pair of Jewish boys. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/56 "2013-03-11T16:44:36Z")
Guess what movie I watched last night? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/57 "2013-03-11T17:47:50Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > Guess what movie I watched last night? **He fixes the cable**? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/58 "2013-03-11T17:50:19Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > **He fixes the cable**? Don’t be - ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/59 "2013-03-11T18:09:11Z")
You’re entering a world of pain. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285/60 "2013-03-11T21:56:12Z")
Much as I like TBL, I just didn’t like Burn Before Reading and I thought they were trying for the same sort of comedy. I guess the cast of TBL just really tied the whole thing together. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dude-abides/652285.md?page=2)