‘The Big Lebowski’ Abides
Posted on May 11, 2009 at 3:58 pm
It was not especially popular with critics or audiences when it was first released but has since become something of a cult with conventions of fans in costume, scholarly analysis, lines of dialogue recited with reverence by its fans, and a wide assortment of merchandise.
“Star Trek?” Nope, this time it’s The Big Lebowski
The movie is now seen not just as a fine film but as remarkably wise and prescient. Should you wish to meet with other fans all dressed as characters from the movie, you can choose from conventions in your choice of cities. You can bring the movie home with a Dude Bobble Head
And if you want to ponder the deeper meaning in it all, you can take a look at a new book from Indiana University Press collecting scholarly research on the movie. It is called The Year’s Work in Lebowski Studies and I got a big kick out of reading the table of contents:
says that your favorite movies are a reflection of your personality and temperament. Authors Risa Williams and Ezra Webb have written 
, about the history of 
. The story behind the scenes is just as gripping as what went on in the book, with tyrannical, micro-managing producer David O. Selznick and four different directors, and every actress in Hollywood angling to play the greatest role of a generation, Scarlett O’Hara. Haskell tells the stories behind the book and movie and she analyzes what it is that makes Margaret Mitchell’s characters and what they illustrate about race, gender, and the deepest conflicts in American history that continue to fascinate us.
that has some wise and practical advice for parents looking for ways to set standards without unnecessary conflict, especially those kids who are extra difficult because they are particularly oppositional or manipulative. Schafer describes the impact that our “toxic times” have on children, giving them messages that undermine parental rules.
, with three animated stories about the beloved little badger. Author Russell Hoban’s Frances stories are filled with gentle humor and perceptive insights about the way children see the world. The title story has Frances feeling a bit anxious and fearful as it gets closer to bedtime and trying to delay with requests for more hugs and kisses and then asking questions about some of the things that scare her. The DVD comes with a custom-made hard-bound book featuring that story, Bedtime for Frances, which received the “Notable Children’s Book” award from The American Library Association when it originally debuted in 1960.