When "The Big Lebowski" screened at the "Insomniac Cinema" not too long ago, there was a big turn out at the midnight show in West Hollywood.
Frankly, I don't recall encountering such a boisterous rambunctious crowd of filmgoers descending on a movie house with such fan frenzy, in recent days.
"The Big Lebowski" topped the "Rocky Horror Show" - for all-out enthusiasm - in my estimation.
In fact, at one point, the over-anxious crowd of young hipsters stormed the Theatre.
Yeah, when the usher's back was turned - off refilling the popcorn machine, I guess - the gang of merry pranksters surged forward in a bold-faced effort to snap up the best seats in the house.
What rollicking fun - in spite of the fact I was nearly trampled in the long cramped hallway - on the way to Theatre No. 2.
Of course, "The Big Lebowski" is a Coen Brothers' offering!
The hilarious comedy is the off-beat tale about a laid back, down-and-out guy, who goes by the moniker of "Dude"
His pals are a motley crew keen on bowling - so much so - they're in a bona fide rag-tag league.
On the heels of a case of mistaken identity, the Dudereno (Jeff Bridges) gets mixed up in an intriguing scenario with a millionaire's wife, a subsequent kidnapping, and a gang of wacko characters who spill out of the woodwork and pound on him without warning.
There's a whole posse of zany characters in this movie - a gang of loser nihilists, a high-brow conceptual artist and her hired hands, and some white-trash thugs a little slow on the uptake.
The one-liners are real zingers; in fact, the best COEN gems to come down the pike in a long time.
In fact, they're so choice and so memorable, that the filmgoers (who've obviously caught an infectious bug of some kind which compels them to take in each and every screening when it rolls around) are inclined to scream out the dialogue verbatim with wicked glee.
Dude, there appears to be a cult following for "The Big Lebowski".
In fact, the film has spawned a book, with a forward by Jeff Bridges.
The hefty tome is rife with trivia, interviews with fellow achievers (Patton Oswalt, Tony Hawk, Powerpuff Girls creator Craig McCracken), tips on Dude-ifying your life, a Little Larry flipbook, a guide to the film's locations, Lebowski Fest Highlights, and a lot of what-have-you.
And - did you know? - there's a "Big Lebowski" Film Festival on schedule every year.
Check out the dudes below in Louisville, KY, at their annual event.
Dudelicious!
As I sat there in the theatre, I wondered.
Why hasn't there been a sequel?
At the end of the film, when the mysterious cowboy noted there was a little Lebowski in the oven, it hit me like a bolt of lightning.
How about a sequel featuring the "young dude"?
For continuity's sake - how about a plot line centering around the cultivation of Medical Marijuana - or something topical like that?
There are endless ingenious scenarios to consider.
Are the COEN brothers up to it?
Heck, I just might be inclined to throw a script together, myself!
After all, late-night midnight shows and doobie-laced Film Fests appeal to me.
And, I just love muscle cars and bowlin' on Friday Nights.
Later, Dude!
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