There are films, films with cult followings, and then The Big Lebowski.
Released in 1998 and written by the Joel and Ethan Coen—hereby referred to as the Coen Brothers—the film features idiosyncratic characters, dream sequences, unconventional dialogue, and of course, Jeff Bridges as the character Jeff Lebowski.
And since its release, it has generated a cult following that few other films have. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Lebowski Fest 2014, complete with bowling pins, bathrobes, white Russians, and even Jeff Bridges as “The Dude” making an appearance with his band.
The festival has been held around the country since its inception in 2002 and lasts two days—the first day with a band and a screening of The Big Lebowski, followed by a second day costumed bowling party.
It’s a two day celebration of all the goodness that is The Big Lebowski and 2014 was no exception.
Taking place in Los Angeles, California, at the Wiltern Theater, fans filled the venue to capacity and Jeff Bridges and his band performed the 30-minute set, with an opening from Kyle Gass, the other half of Jack Black’s band Tenacious D, according to The Associated Press.
Actors with minor roles in the film signed autographs and one man even traveled from as far as North Dakota for his 20th birthday to take part in Lebowski Fest.
But even Jeff Bridges couldn’t upstage the real attraction of the night—a showing of the movie those in attendance had seen once or twice or a hundred times. Fans in the audience shouted out some of the lines and applauded at others.
Fans descend on Lebowski Fest for a visit with the Dude himself | Film
Found at http://t.co/LXuK0vpaAA pic.twitter.com/kAwYbkHKiN
— Roy Kenagy (@RoyKenagy) April 27, 2014
Asked about what draws moviegoers to the festival, Mike Sullivan, a four-time festival-goer who says he has the film memorized, said, “What you got here is a bunch of pot-smoking hippies having a good time.”
Image via Wikimedia Commons
