It seems appropriate to the character of the Dude that “The Big Lebowski” took its time finding its audience. Coming fresh on the heels of their first Oscar-winning hit, “Fargo,” the Coen Brothers’ 7th film had a strange sense of humor, felt disjointed, was full of swearing, and didn’t connect with audiences or critics, who were all largely left scratching their heads. But time was on the side of the movie as people continued to discover it, turning it into a much-loved cult classic — with its own annual festival even. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Coen Comedy series with 1998’s “The Big Lebowski.” Pete contemplates why it still doesn’t work for him completely, and Andy talks about why it works for him and tries to convince Pete of its brilliance. We discuss the characters depicted in this story and highlight what each of the performers brings to the role, most notably Jeff Bridges. We talk about some of the production team — Roger Deakins and Carter Burwell in particular — and discuss what they bring to the table. And we chat about how the movie has taken on a life of its own, leading to the annual Lebowski Fest, the religion of Dudeism and countless research papers and websites analyzing the intricacies of this film. We’re a bit split on the film but in a way, that really ties the conversation together. Check it out! Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!

And for anyone interested in our fine bouquet of show hosts:

Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:

Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year
Join our Discord community of movie lovers

The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:

Connect With Us:

Main Site: Web
Movie Platforms: Letterboxd | Flickchart
Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | Pinterest
Your Hosts: Andy | Pete

Shop & Stream:

Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & more
Watch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussed
Originals: Source material from our episodes
Special offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

The Big Lebowski • The Next Reel