The Big Lebowski
The Big Lebowski () is a 1998 independent crime comedy film written, directed, produced and co-edited by Joel and Ethan Coen. It stars Jeff Bridges as Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, a Los Angeles slacker and avid bowler. He is assaulted as a result of mistaken identity, then learns that a millionaire, also named Jeffrey Lebowski (David Huddleston), was the intended victim. The millionaire Lebowski's trophy wife is supposedly kidnapped, and millionaire Lebowski commissions The Dude to deliver the ransom to secure her release. The plan goes awry when the Dude's friend, Walter Sobchak (John Goodman), schemes to keep the ransom money for the Dude and himself. Sam Elliott, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, John Turturro, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tara Reid, David Thewlis, Peter Stormare, Jon Polito, and Ben Gazzara also appear in supporting roles. The film is loosely inspired by the work of Raymond Chandler. Joel Coen stated, "We wanted to do a Chandler kind of story – how it moves episodically, and deals with the characters trying to unravel a mystery, as well as having a hopelessly complex plot that's ultimately unimportant." The original score was composed by Carter Burwell, a longtime collaborator of the Coen brothers. The Big Lebowski received mixed reviews at the time of its release. Reviews have since become largely positive, and the film has become a cult favorite, noted for its eccentric characters, comedic dream sequences, idiosyncratic dialogue, and eclectic soundtrack. In 2014, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
Where was she, man? Visiting friends of hers in Palm Springs. She just picked up and left, never bothered to tell us. Well,I guess the fucking nihilists knew where she was. Jesus, Dude. She never even kidnapped herself. Who is this gentleman, Dude? Who am I? I'm a fucking veteran. Come on! That's who I am. You shouldn't go in there, Dude. He's very angry.
The Big Lebowski
So, man. So? She's back, no thanks to you. Where's the fucking money, Lebowski? A million bucks from fucking, needy, little Urban Achievers! You are scum, man! Who the hell is he? Who am I? Who am I? Walter. I'm the guy that's gonna kick your phony, gold-bricking ass, that's who I am. Man. We know the briefcase was fucking empty. We know you kept the million bucks for yourself. You have your story, I have mine. I say I entrusted the money to you and you stole it. As if we would ever dream of taking your bullshit money! You thought that Bunny had been kidnapped, and you were fucking glad, man. You could use it as an excuse to make some money disappear. All you needed was a sap to pin it on. You just met me. You... You human paraquat. You figured, "Oh, here's a loser, you know, a deadbeat. "Somebody this square community won't give a shit about." Well, aren't you?
The Big Lebowski
A fucking gold-bricker. Stay away from me, mister! This guy fucking walks. I've never been more certain of anything in my life. You stay away from me! Walter, for Christ's sake, man! He's a cripple. I said! Get away from me! Come on. Come on. Walter, put him down, man! Yeah, I'll put him down, Dude. Walk! Achtung, baby!
The Big Lebowski
You know, should be a piece of cake. I mean, I had an M16, Jacko, not an Abrams fucking tank. Me and Charlie, eyeball to eyeball. Yeah. That's fucking combat. The man in the black pajamas, Dude. Worthy fucking adversary. Who's in pajamas, Walter? Shut the fuck up, Donny. Whereas what we have here, a bunch of fig eaters wearing towels on their head, trying to find reverse on a Soviet tank.
The Big Lebowski
- This is not a worthy fucking adversary. - Hey! What's this day-of-rest shit? What's this bullshit? I don't fucking care! It don't matter to Jesus. But you not fooling me, man. You might fool the fucks in the league office but you don't fool Jesus. It's Bush league psych-out stuff. Laughable, man! I would've fucked you in the ass Saturday. I'll fuck you in the ass next Wednesday instead. You got a date VVednesday,baby!
The Big Lebowski
Well, they finally did it. They killed my fucking car. We want the money, Lebowski. Ja. Otherwise, we kill the girl. Ja- It seems you have forgotten our little deal, Lebowski. You don't have the fucking girl, dipshit. We know you never did. Are these the Nazis, Walter? No, Donny. These men are nihilists. There's nothing to be afraid of.
The Big Lebowski
We don't care. We still want the money, Lebowski, or we fuck you up. Fuck you. Fuck the three of you. Cool it, Walter. No. Without a hostage, there is no ransom. That's what ransom is. Those are the fucking rules. His girlfriend gave up her toe. She thought we could get $1 million. It's not fair. Fair? V\Iho's the fucking nihilists around here, you bunch of fucking crybabies? Cool it, Walter. Hey, look, pal. There never was any money. The big Lebowski gave me an empty briefcase, so take it up with him, man. And I would like my undies back. Are these guys gonna hurt us, Walter? No, Donny. These men are cowards. Okay! So we takes the money you have on you, and we calls it even.
The Big Lebowski
Fuck you. Hey, no. Come on, Walter. Come on, we're ending this thing cheap, man. No. What's mine is mine. No, come on, Walter. No funny stuff. All right. All right. No funny stuff. I got 4 bucks, almost 5. - Igot$18. - What's mine is mine. We fuck you up, man! We takes the money! Come and get it.
The Big Lebowski
We fuck you up! Show me what you got, nihilists. I fuck you! Walter, come on. He's got a sword. Fucking dipshit with a nine-toed woman! I fuck you! Fuck you! I fuck you! Take it easy, man. I fuck you! Take the $4. I fuck you! I fuck you! I'm gonna hit you with the fucking ball, man.
The Big Lebowski