- Reviewed in:
Publishers Weekly,
page
45.
- Review Date:
2007-06-25
- Reviewer:
Staff
If you recognize the phrase “I don't roll on Shabbos” or “The Dude abides,” then you've seen The Big Lebowski, filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen's tribute to the detective genre starring Jeff Bridges as a bowling-loving stoner named “The Dude” who accidentally gets mixed up with kidnappers, nihilists and other strange Coen brother–style comic types. A financial and critical bomb released in 1998, it has since gained a devoted cult following, due in no small part to the efforts of this delightfully obsessive book's authors, the organizers of “Lebowski Fest,” a traveling celebration that combines the good vibes of a Grateful Dead concert with the fervor of a Star Trek convention. Like a typical Dead concert, however, the book is a lot of fun, but will seem uneven to all but the hardest-core fan. Highlights include insightful interviews with principal actors, including Bridges and John Goodman (“I think that's the favorite thing I've ever done in my life”). Unfortunately, the authors also feature various unsuccessful attempts at capturing the film's quirky humor (“How to Dude-ify Your Car”) along with too many long and repetitious interviews with various Lebowski fanatics. (Sept.)
