1998 was the year my life forever changed... Sure, I got married... but more importantly I saw The Big Lebowski. I remember that fateful night as if it were yesterday. Micah came over to hang out, and we decided to rent a movie. We ran out to Hollywood Video and after perusing the new releases rack for a while, we decided on Lebowski (neither of us knew much about it, I remember saying “Oh, I think it’s a funny movie about bowling or something.”)
On the way back, we stopped at an AMPM/Subway to get some dinner and ran into my dad. That has nothing to do with the story, but like I said, the details of that night are indelibly marked on my brain. So, Micah and I went back to the apartment, ate our sandwiches, and watched the movie. And I was instantly in love (with the movie, not with Micah and/or Subway). I remember that Dave came over the next day and I said “You HAVE to see this movie!” and I watched it for the second day in a row.
Since that weekend, I have watched the movie around 15-20 times, and I’m not kidding when I say that it changed me. I started reading Raymond Chandler books (because I heard that Lebowski’s story is Chandleresque). I started listening to CCR (Duder’s tunes), and practically a day doesn’t go by that I don’t throw out a Lebowski reference or two. This, my most favorite of movies, is woven deep into the fabric that is me.
So, why do I gush about it today? Because last Sunday night I saw it for the first time in the theater! Kara discovered that it was playing at the Clinton and she surprised me with this fantastic information. Seeing it on the big screen was a real treat; there were about 10 other people in the theater, so hearing their reactions gave me a fresh perspective on it. And I still love it!
It changed me to. I have to listen to his fascist lebowski-isms all day.
Dude,
that was the same night where the subway employee that made our sandwiches was truly an 'artist'. He'd take the bell pepper rings and position them correctly on top of the sandwich to look as if they were still intact. It was probably the slowest subway I've ever had, but why diss perfection? Also, wasn't your dad driving that LTD, or some crazy huge boat of a car that he inherited. If that's all the same night, indeed it was a life changing night.
That rug really tied the room together.
Kim and I got to see it at an employee screening at a local theatre one night. The best part - we made white russians and drank them while watching it on the big screen.
Phil, you're out of your element.
Nate, white russians were my first mixed drink of choice thanks to the movie. Now I just stick to oat sodas.
Micah, yup that was the same night. I still tell the "sandwich artist" story on occasion. That man really took his green peppers seriously!
oat soda?
WTF is that?
Halo2 tonight?
This sentence is?
Longer than the rest!
Urban Dictionary has all the answers (the sample sentence is even from Lebowski!)
No H2 for me, tonight is my piano lesson.