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."

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Francis Donnelly, pleased to meet you. Jeff Lebowski. Walter Sobchak. The Dude actually is...

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Excuse me? Oh, nothing.

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Yes. I understand you're taking away the remains? Yeah.

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We have the urn.

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I assume this is credit card? Yeah.

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What's this?

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Now, that's for the urn. Don't need it. We're scattering the ashes.

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Yes. So we were informed. However, we must, of course, transmit the remains to you in a receptacle.

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That's $180.

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It is our most modestly priced receptacle.

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Well, can't we just... $180? They range up to $3,000.

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We're... Can't we just rent it from you, you know? Sir, this is a mortuary not a rental house. V\Ie're scattering the fucking ashes! Walter, Walter. Just because we're bereaved doesn't make us saps. Sir, please lower your voices. Man, don't you have, you know, something else we can put him in? You know? That is our most modestly priced receptacle. God damn it!

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Is there a Ralph's around here?

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Donny was a good bowler and a good man. He was one of us. He was a man who loved the outdoors and bowling. And as a surfer he explored the beaches of Southern California from La Jolla to Leo Carrillo and up to Pismo. He died... He died as so many young men of his generation, before his time. In your wisdom, Lord, you took him, as you took so many bright, flowering young men at Khe Sanh, at Ian Doc, at Hill 364. These young men gave their lives, and so did Donny. Donny, who loved bowling. And so, Theodore Donald Kerabatsos, in accordance with what we think your dying wishes might well have been, we commit your final mortal remains to the bosom of the Pacific Ocean which you loved so well. Good night, sweet prince.

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Shit.

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Oh, shit, Dude. I'm sorry.

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Goddamn wind. Fuck, god damn it, Walter! You fucking asshole! Shit, Dude. I'm sorry. Everything's a fucking travesty with you, man! I'm sorry. It was an accident. What was that shit about Vietnam? Dude, I'm sorry. What the fuck does anything have to do with Vietnam? Dude, I'm sorry. What the fuck are you talking about? Dude, I'm sorry.

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Come on, Dude.

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Hey, fuck it, man.

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Let's go bowling.

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