The Big Lebowski (1998)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Joel Coen
(more)

Writers (WGA):

Ethan Coen (written by) &
Joel Coen (written by)

Release Date:

6 March 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

They figured he was a lazy time wasting slacker. They were right.

Plot:

"Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire Lebowski, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it.

Plot Keywords:

Rug | Millionaire | Bowling | Slacker | Jewish Convert

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Jeff Bridges	...	Jeffrey Lebowski - The Dude
John Goodman	...	Walter Sobchak
Julianne Moore	...	Maude Lebowski
Steve Buscemi	...	Theodore Donald 'Donny' Kerabatsos
David Huddleston	...	Jeffrey Lebowski - The Big Lebowski
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Brandt
Tara Reid	...	Bunny Lebowski
Philip Moon	...	Woo, Treehorn Thug
Mark Pellegrino	...	Blond Treehorn Thug
Peter Stormare	...	Nihilist #1, Uli Kunkel / 'Karl Hungus'
Flea	...	Nihilist #2, Kieffer
Torsten Voges	...	Nihilist #3, Franz
Jimmie Dale Gilmore	...	Smokey
Jack Kehler	...	Marty
John Turturro	...	Jesus Quintana
James G. Hoosier	...	Liam O'Brien, Quintana's Partner
Carlos Leon	...	Maude's Thug #1
Terrence Burton	...	Maude's Thug #2
Richard Gant	...	Older Cop
Christian Clemenson	...	Younger Cop
Dom Irrera	...	Tony the Chauffeur
Gérard L'Heureux	...	Lebowski's Chauffeur (as Gerard L'Heureux)
David Thewlis	...	Knox Harrington
Lu Elrod	...	Coffee Shop Waitress
Mike Gomez	...	Auto Circus Cop (as Michael Gomez)
Peter Siragusa	...	Gary the Bartender
Sam Elliott	...	The Stranger
Marshall Manesh	...	Doctor
Harry Bugin	...	Arthur Digby Sellers
Jesse Flanagan	...	Little Larry Sellers
Irene Olga López	...	Pilar, Sellers' Housekeeper (as Irene Olga Lopez)
Luis Colina	...	Corvette Owner
Ben Gazzara	...	Jackie Treehorn
Leon Russom	...	Malibu Police Chief
Ajgie Kirkland	...	Cab Driver
Jon Polito	...	Da Fino
Aimee Mann	...	Nihilist Woman, Franz' Girlfriend
Jerry Haleva	...	Saddam Hussein
Jennifer Lamb	...	Pancake Waitress
Warren Keith	...	Francis Donnelly, Funeral Director (as Warren David Keith)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Wendy Braun	...	Chorine Dancer (uncredited)
Asia Carrera	...	Sherry in 'Logjammin' (uncredited)
Kiva Dawson	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Robin Jones	...	Checker at Ralph's (uncredited)

Directed by
Joel Coen
Ethan Coen		(uncredited)

Writing credits (WGA)
Ethan Coen		(written by) &
Joel Coen		(written by)

Produced by
Tim Bevan	....	executive producer
John Cameron	....	co-producer
Ethan Coen	....	producer
Eric Fellner	....	executive producer
Joel Coen	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Carter Burwell

Cinematography by
Roger Deakins

Film Editing by
Ethan Coen		(as Roderick Jaynes)
Joel Coen		(as Roderick Jaynes)
Tricia Cooke

Casting by
John S. Lyons

Production Design by
Rick Heinrichs

Art Direction by
John Dexter

Set Decoration by
Chris L. Spellman

Costume Design by
Mary Zophres

Makeup Department
Jean Ann Black	....	makeup supervisor
Daniel Curet	....	key hair stylist
Edouard F. Henriques	....	makeup artist: Mr. Bridges
Selina Jayne	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Lori McCoy-Bell	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Myke Michaels	....	special makeup effects designer (uncredited)

Production Management
John Cameron	....	unit production manager
Jane Frazer	....	executive in charge of production
Gilly Ruben	....	production supervisor
Charlie Vogel	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Conte Matal	....	key second assistant director
Donald Murphy	....	second second assistant director
Jeff Rafner	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Karen Agresti	....	co-leadperson
J. Todd Anderson	....	storyboard artist
Lori Ashcraft	....	art department coordinator
David Boucher	....	propmaker foreman
Mariko Braswell	....	set designer
Matt Dessero	....	paint artist
Douglas Dewaay	....	propmaker gang boss
Beth Emerson	....	set dresser
Susan Evans	....	paint artist
Anthony Gaudio	....	head painter
Mark Haber	....	propmaker gang boss
Aaron J. Harney	....	propmaker gang boss
Franklin R. Healy	....	propmaker foreman
Brett Hernandez	....	propmaker gang boss
Philip C. Hurst	....	greensman
Ritchie Kremer	....	property master
Tim R. Lafferty	....	construction coordinator (as Tim Lafferty)
Carolyn Lassek	....	property handler
Sydney Ann Lunn	....	art department assistant
Wayne Nycz	....	painter foreman
Gary Osborn	....	painter foreman
Tim Park	....	set dresser
Ron Patterson	....	assistant property master
Steve Powell	....	propmaker gang boss
John Railton	....	stand-by painter
Charles Reyes	....	labor foreman
Bradford Richardson	....	graphic designer
Tim Snowber	....	lead person
Phillip Vargas	....	labor gang boss
Kathleen Walker	....	construction estimator
Larry Wise	....	tool man

Sound Department
Michael Barry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Allan Byer	....	production sound mixer
Benjamin Cheah	....	foley supervisor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Rick Freeman	....	dialogue editor
Lewis Goldstein	....	sound effects editor
Bradford L. Hohle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Kenton Jakub	....	adr editor
Frank Kern	....	foley editor
Peter F. Kurland	....	boom operator
Skip Lievsay	....	sound re-recording mixer
Skip Lievsay	....	supervising sound editor
Kimberly R. McCord	....	assistant sound editor
Igor Nicholich	....	apprentice sound editor
Bruce Pross	....	foley mixer
Jennifer Ralston	....	foley editor
Sam Sarkar	....	utility sound technician
Wyatt Sprague	....	assistant sound editor
Magdaline Volaitis	....	dialogue editor
Keenan Wyatt	....	boom operator
Allan Zaleski	....	apprentice sound editor

Special Effects by
Peter Chesney	....	mechanical effects designer
Tom Chesney	....	special effects foreman
Roderic 'Mick' Duff	....	special effects foreman
Chris Nelson	....	effects technician
Rick Bongiovanni	....	effects crew: Sticks & Stones (uncredited)
Blaine Converse	....	special effects production coordinator (uncredited)
Karl Nettmann	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Daren Rouse	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
J.D. Streett	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
John Alagna	....	opticals (as John Alagua)
Travis Baumann	....	compositing artist
Robert Chapin	....	3D digital artist
David Fuhrer	....	digital artist: CFC
Katie Hecker	....	digital paint artist
Janos Pilenyi	....	opticals
Donovan Scott	....	compositing artist
Janek Sirrs	....	visual effects supervisor
Janet Yale	....	visual effects producer
Johnathan R. Banta	....	digital compositor: Sassoon Film Design (uncredited)
Dylan Carter	....	digital compositor: CFC (uncredited)

Stunts
Jennifer Badger	....	stunt driver
Loyd Catlett	....	stunts
Vince Deadrick Jr.	....	stunts
Jery Hewitt	....	stunt coordinator
Cinda-Lin James	....	stunt double: Julianne Moore
Jennifer Lamb	....	stunts
Danny Downey	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jeffrey Eith	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kathy Jarvis	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Philippe Aubry	....	rigging grip
Martin Bosworth	....	rigging gaffer
Tony Boura	....	grip
Jeremy Braben	....	aerial assistant camera
Craig A. Brink	....	rigging electrician
Kevin Brown	....	rigging electrician
Alan Colbert	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Ed Dally	....	camera loader
Jerry Day	....	key rigging grip
David Diamond	....	rigging electrician
Charles Edwards	....	grip (as Charlie Edwards)
Jimmy Ellis	....	rigging electrician
Alan Frazier	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Jenifer Galvez	....	rigging electrician
Adam Gilmore	....	second assistant camera
Ron Goodman	....	aerial camera operator
Bill Green	....	rigging best boy grip
Bruce Hamme	....	dolly grip
Andy Harris	....	first assistant camera
Brad Heiner	....	rigging grip
Roman Jakobi	....	electrician
Robert King	....	rigging grip
Wayne Kosky	....	second company grip
Alvaro Martinez	....	rigging grip
Ted Morris	....	camera operator
Merrick Morton	....	still photographer
Bill O'Leary	....	lighting consultant
Les Percy	....	first company grip
Chris Reddish	....	rigging best boy electric
Dave Sale	....	aerial assistant camera
Jonathon E. Salzman	....	electrician (as Jon Salzman)
Charles Smith	....	grip
Duncan M. Sobel	....	electrician
R. Michael Stringer	....	rigging grip
Martin Weight	....	video assist operator
Abbe Wool	....	electrician
John Bonnin	....	crane operator: Akela crane (uncredited)
Jeffrey De La Rosa	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)
George Lozano Jr.	....	electrician (uncredited)
Alexandre Naufel	....	set lighting (uncredited)
Charles Schner	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
Cricket Sloat	....	dimmer board operator (uncredited)
Chuck Whelan	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)

Animation Department
Kathy Kelehan	....	animation producer
Daniel Leung	....	computer animator
Matt McDonald	....	computer animator
Gray Miller	....	computer animator
Amit Sethi	....	computer animator

Casting Department
Fonda Anita	....	extras casting assistant
Jenna Dupree	....	casting assistant
Cecily Jordan	....	extras casting coordinator
Wendy Weidman	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cookie Lopez	....	key set costumer
Sonya Ooten	....	assistant costume designer
Virginia Skeffens-Burton	....	set costumer
Pamela Withers	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Karyn Anonia	....	apprentice editor
Alex Belth	....	assistant editor
David Diliberto	....	associate editor
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
David Orr	....	color timer
Anne Pope	....	transfer assistant editor
Lisa Romaniw	....	assistant editor (as Lisa Mozden)

Music Department
Spring Aspers	....	music coordinator
T-Bone Burnett	....	musical archivist
Carter Burwell	....	orchestrator
Emile Charlap	....	music coordinator
Missy Cohen	....	associate music editor
Michael Farrow	....	music engineer
Todd Kasow	....	music editor
Sonny Kompanek	....	orchestrator: original music
Brian L. McCarty	....	music playback operator
Manish Raval	....	music coordinator
Dawn Soler	....	executive in charge of music: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Happy Walters	....	music supervisor
Tom Wolfe	....	music coordinator

Transportation Department
Michael Cain	....	driver: production van
Dennis Junt	....	driver: honeywagon
Anthony K. Riedel	....	driver: production van
Timothy P. Ryan	....	transportation captain (as Tim Ryan)
Jerry Smith	....	driver
Don Tardino	....	transportation coordinator
Thomas Vilardo	....	transportation captain
Derek Wade	....	transportation estimator

Other crew
Melissa Aggeles	....	dancer
Karyn Anonia	....	production goddess
Barry Asher	....	bowling consultant
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer
Clement Baque	....	caterer
Barry Beaulac	....	effects technician
Lilli Birdsell	....	dancer
Lisa C. Boltauzer	....	dancer
Julie Bond	....	dancer
Aillene Laure Bubis	....	accounting production assistant
Val Burnley	....	location assistant (as Valerie Jo Burnley)
Rashid Chinchanwala	....	financial consultant
Karen Christenberry	....	dancer
Pattie Cooke	....	baby wrangler
Holly Copeland	....	dancer
Rita Lisa Danao	....	set production assistant
Kiva Dawson	....	dancer
Tammy R. Dickson	....	set production assistant
Patricia Douglas	....	assistant: Mr. Goodman
Juliette Dow	....	assistant: Mr. Bevan
Elizabeth A. Eaton	....	dancer
Gregg Edler	....	production coordinator
Tom Elkins	....	assistant production coordinator
Lindsay Fellenbaum	....	dancer
Thomas W. Foster	....	first aid
Chris Fuentes	....	location assistant
Jennifer S. Garett	....	dancer
Robert Graf	....	location manager
Amelia Granger	....	assistant: Mr. Fellner
Jamie Green	....	dancer
Elizabeth Himelstein	....	dialect coach
Rachel Holroyd	....	legal advisor
Marty Houston	....	office assistant
Kim Jordan	....	assistant location manager
Larry Kaplan	....	publicist
Ken Kells	....	stand-in
Nina Khoshaba	....	company coordinator
Laurel Kitten	....	dancer
Gary Kramer	....	craft service
T. Kukovinski	....	script supervisor
Bill Landrum	....	choreographer
Jacqui Landrum	....	choreographer
Jacqui Landrum	....	dancer
Lauren Lapham	....	production intern
Mary Lee	....	dancer
Jerry Legget	....	payroll accountant
Carrie Macy	....	dancer
Danielle Marcus-Janssen	....	dancer
Joelle Martinec	....	dancer
Jonas C. Matz	....	first aid
Caitlin McLean	....	dancer
Stacy Minkowsky	....	production intern
Angela Morrison	....	legal advisor
Danielle Nicole Parish	....	dancer
Randol Perelman-Taylor	....	set production assistant (as Randol P. Taylor)
Jacquie Perryman	....	senior vice president: PolyGram Soundtracks
Sandra Plazinic	....	dancer
Kimberly Rach	....	production secretary
William Preston Robertson	....	giggles/howls/marmots
Michelle Rudy	....	dancer (as Michelle Rudy-Mirkovich)
Alan J. Schoolcraft	....	president of operations: Mike Zoss Productions
Kelly Sheerin	....	dancer
Mindy Sheldon	....	accountant
Alison Simpson	....	dancer
Katherine Slay	....	dancer
Kristina Soderquist	....	assistant accountant
Jenifer Strovas	....	dancer
Eileen Sullivan	....	baby wrangler
Michelle E. Swanson	....	dancer
Lara Thompson	....	assistant: Mr. Fellner
Amy Tinkham	....	dancer
Bree Turner	....	dancer
Eric Vignando	....	caterer
Martina Volpp	....	dancer
Amy Warren	....	dancer
Natalie Webb	....	dancer
Kim Yates	....	dancer
Fred Fein	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Mem Ferda	....	double: Jeff Bridges (uncredited)
Rome Romanne	....	stand-in (uncredited)
David Torn	....	textures & guitar (uncredited)
Frank G. Turner	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Charlie Vogel	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Polygram Filmed Entertainment
• Working Title Films

Distributors

• Gramercy Pictures (I) (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (1998) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Bontonfilm-Beta (1998) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• PolyGram Filmed Entertainment Distribution (1998) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
• REP Distribution (1998) (Australia) (theatrical)
• SF Norge A/S (1998) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (1998) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Vitória Filmes (1998) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Image Entertainment (1998) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• PolyGram Video (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• PolyGram Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• PolyGram Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Líder Films (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (1999) (Finland) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2000) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures do Brasil (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (HD-DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Gativideo (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• USA Network (2000) (USA) (TV)

Special Effects

• Computer Film Company, The (CFC) (bluescreen compositing, CG animation)

Other Companies

• Juniper Post  sound re-recording (ADR) (foreign dub)
• Mercury Records  soundtrack released by
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Paskal Lighting  grip and lighting equipment

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive strong language, drug content, sexuality and brief violence.

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English | German | Hebrew | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

South Korea:15 (DVD rating) | Philippines:R-18 | Spain:18 | Brazil:14 | Italy:T | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KT | Canada:14A | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #35633) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Singapore:R(A) | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Polygram Filmed Entertainment

Trivia:

The lawyers that the dude mentions, are both real attorneys. Kuntsler, who died in 1995, was a self proclaimed radical lawyer. In 1983, he took on Ron Kuby, another radical lawyer, as a junior partner. Their claim to fame mainly came from defending numerous controversial defendants including suspected terrorist leaders and the daughter of Malcolm X.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Marty invites The Dude to view his performance, he says it will be "on Tuesday night." This night continues on, ending with The Dude asking Walter to pick him up, to which Walter replies that it is "Erev Shabbos." Erev Shabbos is observed on Friday night.

Quotes:

[first lines]
The Stranger: [voiceover] Way out west there was this fella I wanna tell ya about. Goes by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least that was the handle his loving parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. See, this Lebowski, he called himself "The Dude". Now, "Dude" - there's a name no man would self-apply where I come from...

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "The Simpsons: Trilogy of Error (#12.18)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Traffic Boom

My favourite Coen brothers movie and one of the most entertaining and original comedies ever made!

My favourite Coen brothers movie changes over the years as I watch and rewatch their amazingly original and consistently surprising oeuvre. When I first saw 'The Big Lebowski' on its original release I enjoyed it but thought it was a bit of a slight "fun" movie with less depth than many of their previous works. Now, a few years and several viewing later, I have come to realise just how accomplished a movie it is, and it has become one of my all time favourite movies. Other film makers have attempted to weave together various genres, styles and images in a similarly eclectic, postmodern fashion, but few do it as seamlessly and with such wit as Ethan and Joel Coen. 'The Big Lewboski' is an extremely smart film, but it doesn't shout "look at me! Aren't I clever?". It sucks you in from the get go, and bottom line it is FUNNY, and as it is a comedy that's what counts the most! Everything about the movie is perfect, the script, the direction, set design, costumes, and the wonderful soundtrack (one of the most brilliant ever assembled, it includes lesser known Dylan and Elvis Costello numbers, Creedence classics, and songs from cult favourites like Yma Sumac, Captain Beefheart, Moondog, Esquivel and garage gods The Monks). Plus of course the actors, who are well cast and virtually flawless. Jeff Bridges ('Fat City', 'Starman') IS The Dude, and it's impossible to think of anyone else acting the role. Coen regulars John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, John Turturro, Peter Stomare, and Jon Polito are all on board, as well as Julianne Moore ('Boogie Nights'), David Huddleston ('Capricorn One'), Philip Seymour Hoffman ('Magnolia') and Sam Elliot ('Mask'), even surprise cameos from Ben Gazzara ('The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie') and singer Jimmie Ray Gilmore. I can't fault 'The Big Lebowski', it is one of the most original and entertaining comedies ever made and a genuine modern classic. It's movies like this that keep me watching despite the endless mountain of mindless garbage that Hollywood continually spews out. If only every movie in the box office Top Ten was as inspired and amusing as this one!