The Big Lebowski: An Illustrated, Annotated History of the Greatest Cult Film of All Time

by Jenny M. Jones

Whether contending with nihilists, botching a kidnapping pay-off, watching as his beloved rug is micturated upon, or simply bowling and drinking Caucasians, the Dude—or El Duderino if you’re not into the whole brevity thing—abides. As embodied by Jeff Bridges, the main character of the 1998 Coen brothers’ film The Big Lebowski is a modern hero who has inspired festivals, burlesque interpretations, and even a religion (Dudeism). In time for the fifteenth anniversary of The Big Lebowski, film author and curator Jenny M. Jones tells the full story of the Dude, from how the Coen brothers came up with the idea for a modern LA noir to never-been-told anecdotes about the film’s production, its critical and commercial reception, and, finally, how it came to be such an international cult hit. Achievers, as Lebowski fans call themselves, will discover many hidden truths, including why it is that Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) is so obsessed with Vietnam, what makes Theodore Donald “Donny” Kerabatsos (Steve Buscemi) so confused all the time, how the film defies genre, and what unexpected surprise Bridges got during filming of the Gutterballs dream sequence. (Hint: it involved curly wigs and a gurney.) Interspersed throughout are sidebars, interviews with members of the film’s cast and crew, scene breakdowns, guest essays by prominent experts on Lebowski language, music, filmmaking techniques, and more, and hundreds of photographs—including many of artwork inspired by the film.

Genres: Film, Pop Culture, Nonfiction, Media Tie In, Humor

447 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Jenny M. Jones is also the author of "The Big Lebowski: An Illustrated, Annotated History of the Greatest Cult Film of All Time." She learned about movies working at the Northwest Film Center, the Walker Art Center, and the late, great Oak Street Cinema. She currently lives in Minneapolis with her daughter, Maddie.

Reviews

[Dvora · Rating 4 out of 5]

it is a good book and thorough...

[Bruce Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots to learn about the back stories, you know "a lot of in's and out's and what have you's, the dude abides!

[Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the movie The Big Lebowski so naturally I loved this book! Lots of great photos, art, quotes but actually the writing is excellent. Usually books like this are all images and the writing is short and glossing over everything. Not here. A lot of loving care went into this!

(One mistake I found was where the book stated that The Dude was never holding a bowling ball or shown bowling. True we don’t see him bowling but early on in the movie we see him getting his ball out while looking for something. Then right after he gets it out of the bag again and gets up to bowl. Hey, we are trying to be accurate here-Ha!)

Watch this classic comedy then read this book!

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes, there's a man...

Very little in this book was new information to me, but it was still well written and put together. It was also neat to read the handful of things that Joel and Ethan have said about this film (or any of their films).

[Yasmin M.]

Great book of an awesome movie!!

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was a fun read that definitely spurred me to go back and watch the movie, I was hoping for more trivia and discussion of the making of the film - instead, there was a lot about The Big Lebowski as a western, The Big Lebowski as film noir, etc. - while this was neat, this book should be titled A Critical Examination of the Film and its Cultural Impact, which is fine; it's just not what I expected.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for fans of the movie who want to delve deeper. Hardly essential to enjoying the movie, of course, but wonderful if you’re in that group.

[Justin L. Van Reese · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't get further than the first but. It seemed like a fan write -up. Based on secondary info.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jones has compiled a scrap book of miscellaneous articles, photographs, fan art, lists and a desultory history of the iconic Coen Brothers film, producing a text that is somewhat less than the sum of its parts. Perhaps I was hoping for something that the book was never really designed to achieve, a detailed and authoritative study of ‘The Big Lebowski’, however at the end of the day if one produces a book that talks about being ‘an illustrated and annotated history of the greatest cult film of all time’ it needs to be more than just a scattered selection of material trawled from the internet.

The patchwork approach of Jones does have some benefits. There are nuggets and kernels of information in the book that are both worthy of some reflection and perhaps more importantly, entertaining. ‘The Big Lebowski’ is not necessarily a movie that will be best discussed or analysed from a highly academic perspective. It could be argued that Jones has taken a more meritorious approach than a serious thesis on the methodology and rationale of the Coen Brothers as filmmakers and all the thematic and/or technical aspects of this movie. Plus she does include a smattering of relatively high brow pieces in this book, and the discussions are relatively sound from an intellectual perspective.

In fact as this is a film that is essentially a paean to ‘abiding’, trying to develop a highly technical and intellectual argument about what the movie is about is counter intuitive. If there is one definitive aspect of ‘The Big Lebowski’ as a movie it is that it is a shaggy dog story; trying to pull it apart for meaning or for higher intellectual purposes goes against this. ‘The Big Lebowski’ both as a character and as a movie exists so celebrating that is more enjoyable than trying to dig too deep.

So when I look at this book and consider its achievement I am being somewhat disingenuous with my previously cited criticism. This text celebrates the movie through its own lack of cohesion, its sprawling format. Jones has produced a book that will appeal to most people who love the film and thanks to its readability the Dude’s fans should lap it up. If I want to look for more serious or academic studies of ‘The Big Lebowski’ then I’m sure they’re out there.

I would recommend ‘The Big Lebowski: an Illustrated, Annotated History if the Greatest Cult Film of All Time’ to devotees of the movie and those interested in the Coen brothers films and cult films in general. And if it’s not entirely your cup of tea...fuck it, go bowling.

[Zoë Birss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tying together the author's own research and her experience with film and the film industry, with many other contributors, including filmmakers and fans, this book offers a colourful account of the making of The Big Lebowski, including some analysis of the film, examples of its cultural impact and legacy, and it's place in the Coen brother's filmography.

While not comprehensive*, there are enough jewels in here to please a more casual fan of the film. It also has copious illustrations, pieces of art, and photos that are at times curious, beautiful, ironic or celebratory of a great film and its enduring characters.

The Ebook that I read was horribly designed. I endured it. Others with less patience may find parts of it unreadable, and prefer the printed volume.

I borrowed this book from my library's Ebook service upon the advent of my serious consideration of seeking ordination as a priest in the Church of The Latter Day Dude. I also watched the movie when I was about half way through the book. I started listening to Jeff Bridge's self titled country album in the bath, too. Oh yeah, and I ordered some medical marijuana, therapy for my recently diagnosed arthritis, and my not-so-recently diagnosed PTSD. Seems like this book might be the one for this time and this place, dude.

☠

Ebook
MBI, Voyageur Press, August 1, 2014

Three Stars

March 18-20, 2018

☠

*After finishing Echoes: The Complete Pink Floyd, I thought I should return here and note that when I wrote of this book not being comprehensive, I meant that it felt imbalanced in its mix of anecdotes, perspectives, and analysis. Some things received a lot of attention, while other things were touched only briefly. Neither comprehensiveness nor exhaustiveness alone doth a good book make. Whew.

[Britt Wisenbaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book that manages to be as eccentric and expert as the cult film it documents. The author chooses a broad scope, analyzing and recounting anecdotes not just about the titular film, but the films before and after it in the careers of the director/producer Coen brothers, as well as a retrospective of films that shaped the careers of many of it's principal cast. One choice that sets this book apart from many such "making of" efforts is the inclusion throughout of reproductions of paintings, prints, and other art influenced by or portraying passages of the film; the book is as much about the fans of the film as the film itself.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thorough and well-researched and -written history.

notes
36..rug tied the room together: heard at an 80's LA dinner party
44..Fluxus movement
64..Googie architecture
71..Jackie Treehorn's house..Lautner..61-63
100..Flea..nihilist..RH Chili Peppers
133..dancers practical joke..over the top pubic hair coming out of panties
158..Altman's The Long Goodbye example
168..Little Lebowski shop in Greenwich Village

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I finished the last page I turned the movie on. It was amazing, as always. The book was well-written and had a lot of cool information. The illustrations were awesome. This book is definitely a must have for any fan of the Big Lebowski.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for fans of the movie. Lots of interesting stories, quotes, interviews, photos, and artwork. It was easily on its way to a 5 star rating, however it started to lag towards the end and felt kind of like it was being filled out. But, the first 3/4 of the book made it well worth checking out.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good book, and thorough...

Fantastic. Everything you ever wanted to know about the Coen brothers' inspiration for The Big Lebowski. Useless knowledge that is bound to awe and a TON of Lebowski inspired art on every page. Worth your time.

[Mr. Cody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some flimsy/goofy articles, but the trivia and art/pictures make it fun. A coffee table book of respectable status. The Cody abides (yeesh)

[Curtis Trefry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most AWSOME book about the most Awsome movie. "The Dude" would love it.

[Jabiz Raisdana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun facts and good read for fans of the movie.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The movie is 5 star so can't go higher than 4 for this book, but it was perfect, really, as I needed one last book to reach my 2016 challenge by midnight.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Acquired Mar 15, 2015
Powell's City of Books, Portland, OR

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool, everything you EVER wanted to know about the movie is in it.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of the film and a follower of Dudeism I enjoyed this hagiography of the film and the Coens. I feel it reaches to far for connections and meanings at times but it's got lots of tales from the film and it's makers, and those really make the book worth the read for fans.