Fans of cult film plan 'Big Lebowski' bash

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‘Big Lebowski’

"Sometimes, there's a man, well, he's the man for his time and place. He fits right in there. And that's the Dude." — The Stranger, "The Big Lebowski"

And who is the Dude, exactly?

Put plainly, he is the Dude, you know, His Dudeness or, uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into that whole brevity thing, as the Dude himself explains in the 1998 Coen Brothers' film, "The Big Lebowski."

He's also the movie's main character, a laid-back burnout and recreational bowler mistaken for a millionaire. He drives around, has the occasional acid flashback, listens to Creedence and "Song of the Whale," slurps White Russians by the boatload and lands smack in the middle of a botched kidnapping. And — c'mon, man — all he wanted was restitution for a soiled rug.

His foibles, plus those of the film's equally absurd gang of kooks, have elevated the Coen Brothers' screwball story into another sphere. Think "Rocky Horror Picture Show." Or "The Evil Dead." Or "Blue Velvet."

Set in the early '90s and starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman and Steve Buscemi, "The Big Lebowski" flopped at the box office, grossing just $17 million. But it lives on because of a cult audience and diehards such as Robert Spencer, organizer of the second annual Lowcountry "Big Lebowski" Celebration.

Other Lebowski fests are held annually around the world, the first one in Louisville, Ky., in 2002. Spencer, who has seen the film 40 times, some parts 100 times, started one to unite Lebowski fans.

Plus, "I wanted to keep the Lowcountry real, and to try to keep it really weird."

The event starts at 7 p.m. Saturday at North Charleston's Madra Rua Irish Pub, which is owned by Spencer and partner Stephen O'Connor. They're hosting a movie screening, trivia contest and costume contest, and admission is free. Last year, about 300 people turned out. Expect more this year.

But how to celebrate? How to dress? How to behave?

The Dude, Spencer says, is in the details.

What to wear

"Ocean's Eleven," this ain't.

The cast favorites aren't necessarily the best dressed. Just distinctively dressed.

The Dude (Jeff Bridges): He wears a bathrobe, ratty sweats, Zubaz pants, flip-flops, zip-up knit sweater — just all-round lazy wear. Bonus points for long hair and an unkempt goatee, wet with Kahlua. He's best friends with ...

Walter Sobchak (John Goodman): He's an unstable, overamped, overly eager Vietnam vet obsessed with the war. Consider his flattop, boots, military-style vest, cutoff shorts and amber-tinted shooting glasses. He also loves to bowl, almost as much as ...

Jesus Quintana (John Turturro): "The Big Lebowski's" biggest scene-stealer. He's a purple-polyester-jumpsuit-clad bowler. Remember to lick your bowling ball.

The Stranger (Sam Elliott): The cowboy archetype, and intermittent film narrator. Spencer dressed as The Stranger last year, wearing a cowboy hat, boots, vest and Western shirt. Grow your mustache to walrus-size proportions and ask for a sarsaparilla, friend.

What to drink

That's easy. Try a White Russian, preferred beverage of the Dude, who also refers to them as "Caucasians." It's five parts vodka, two parts Kahlua and three parts fresh cream or milk.

It's also probably the only time you'll see a bar stocked with 20-plus gallons of milk.

What to know

Any fanatic is familiar with the movie. So watch, then repeat. From now until Saturday.

But to win trivia, Spencer suggests all you lil' Lebowskis bone up on the Vietnam War and the rules of bowling.

Prizes will be awarded to winners of the trivia contest and costume contest.

What to memorize

So you want to fit in, and what better way than a movie quote or two. They're kind of tough to print, seeing that almost every memorable line from "The Big Lebowski" is wrapped around a swear word. But here are a few of the cleaner ones:

"Way out West there was this fella I wanna tell ya about. Goes by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least that was the handle his loving parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. See, this Lebowski, he called himself 'The Dude.' " — The Stranger

"Your revolution is over, Mr. Lebowski. Condolences. The bums lost. My advice is to do what your parents did: Get a job, sir. The bums will always lose. Do you hear me, Lebowski? — The Big Lebowski, whom the Dude is mistaken for

"Nobody calls me Lebowski. You got the wrong guy. I'm the Dude, man." — The Dude

"Eight-year-olds, Dude." — Walter

"Is this your homework, Larry?" — Walter

"You said it, man. Nobody (messes) with the Jesus." — Jesus Quintana

"I do mind, the Dude minds. This will not stand, ya know, this aggression will not stand, man." — The Dude

What to enjoy

Everything, man. 'Cause as they say, through all of life's strikes and gutters, the ups and downs, the Dude abides.

Reach Rob Young at 937-5518 or ryoung@postand courier.com.