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Dude: Why Lebowski Is Still Big

Cult classic 'symbolic of a whole way of life'

By Michael Foreman, Newser User

Posted Aug 26, 2008 6:13 PM CDT

(Newser) – A decade after its disappointing box-office release, The Big Lebowski endures as a cult classic, inspiring academic papers, annual festivals, and hot new comics like Seth Rogen. To find out why, Rolling Stone tracked down the cast and a few hardcore fans who say Lebowski is more a movement than a film—Jeff Bridges' "Dude" represents a Zen-like way of life.

A fortysomething slacker content to drink, get stoned, and bowl, "The Dude" gets swept up in absurd situations beyond his control. His yen for personal freedom seems to strike a chord in today's fast-paced technological society. "The Dude abides," says castmate Philip Seymour Hoffman. "I think that's something people really yearn for, to be able to live their life like that."

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[Videos (1)]

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"The Big Lebowski" on set, with Jeff Bridges, left, Steve Buscemi, center, and John Goodman. (Flickr)

Action figure of Bridges' character "The Dude." (Flickr)

"Lebowski" fan dressed as "The Dude." (Flickr)

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The Mii Lebowski: A scene from the movie with Wii characters. (BlueGogglesFilms)

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Lebowski is one of those rare magnets of the universe that has the power to change time and space, to draw people and events together.
- Jim James of My Morning Jacket and big Lebowski fan

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Dude: Why Lebowski Is Still Big