The Dude Abides

Writing about greatness leaves a scribe in an unenviable position. I mean, can you imagine trying to encapsulate the greatness of Tiger Woods without seeing Tiger Woods? "He parred, and then he birdied." Would that encapsulate what Tiger can do with a dimpled ball? No, you'd need F. Scott or...

By Spencer Campbell

July 10, 2008

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Writing about greatness leaves a scribe in an unenviable position. I mean, can you imagine trying to encapsulate the greatness of Tiger Woods without seeing Tiger Woods? "He parred, and then he birdied." Would that encapsulate what Tiger can do with a dimpled ball? No, you'd need F. Scott or Hemingway -- some writer we're all supposed to be familiar with, anyway -- to elegantly convey the gravity of such an iconic person/event. And so I'm not going to try and outwit The Big Lebowski. The Cohen brothers have showcased their greatness too many times to count, from Fargo to No Country for Old Men, but The Big Lebowski is their Sistine Chapel. To obscure its litany of ingenious quotes ("He fixes the cable?," "Nobody fucks with the Jesus," "No, Donny. These men are cowards," etc.) would be a disservice to your recollection of the movie. But if you can't really remember why the aforementioned quips are hilarious, then you need a refresher. And if you want to experience The Dude and his cohort in full movie-theater mode, visit the Angelika Film Center of Plano, 7205 Bishop Road, this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $9 for adults and available at the box office. Call 972-943-1300.
Wed., July 16, 7:30 p.m., 2008

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