It's been twenty years since Jeff Bridges portrayed the on screen persona of Jeff Lebowski and said those immortal words, "The Dude abides". His down to earth, laid back, beach-bum of a character is an icon of modern cinema. Now, TCM and Fathom Events brings the classic comedy back to screens August 5th and 8th. Trust me when I say, this is one you want to see on the big screen in a big theater near you.
Two decades ago, not every critic or moviegoer was quite sure what to make of Joel and Ethan Coen's wild ride through kidnapping, ransom negotiations, mis-identification, and amateur bowling. Since its release in 1998, The Big Lebowski has proved to be so indelible that in 2014 it was named to the Library of Congress's National Film Registry. This is a very big deal. It means it will be preserved for generations to come. And now, it's part of the TCM Big Screen Classics series from Fathom Events.
So, come Sunday, August 5, and Wednesday, August 8, it's time to put on a bathrobe, grab a White Russian and head into a movie theater near you to experience The Big Lebowski on the big screen and witness "The Dude" and his cohorts in a mystery/comedy truly unlike any other. Inspired loosely by the complex plots and the Noir writings of Raymond Chandler (in which the central mystery frequently turns out to be less important than the resolution), The Big Lebowski stars Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, John Turturro, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tara Reid and Sam Elliott in what can only be called a classic.
I was lucky enough to be among the audience at the 2018 TCMFF screening of this film at the Chinese Theater. The film's star, Jeff Bridges was in attendance and participated in a Q&A with Ben Mankiewicz before the screening. It was a remarkable experience. Sadly, the TCM Fathom Event's screening will not include Jeff Bridges in the flesh. However, you don't need the "Dude" in person to enjoy what is a one of a kind film experience like no other. Bridges is the "Dude" and the "Dude" is Bridges. Never have I seen such a true representation of an actor's actual persona as I have with Bridges playing the "Dude".
Tickets to The Big Lebowski are available now at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Full details of these screenings can be found by using the image above as a link to the official website.