LEWM: "THE BIG LEBOWSKI" ESL LESSON

 ARCENAL STUDIOS presents LEARNING ENGLISH WITH MOVIES: "THE BIG LEBOWSKI" (1998) - a video lesson for ESL students who would like to improve their English skills by using MOVIES as the main topic.

 THE BIG LEBOWSKI

Joel and Ethan Coen wrote, produced and directed this 1998 crime comedy starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi and John Turturro.

 

The Coen Brothers, who made their directorial debut in 1984 with BLOOD SIMPLE, found success in 1987 with the sleeper hit Raising Arizona and received critical acclaim with 1996’s FARGO.

 

A SLEEPER HIT is a term used in the entertainment industry for a film that plays successfully for a long period and becomes a big success, despite having relatively little promotion or lacking a successful opening.

 

However, one of their most memorable projects is without a doubt, 1998’s THE BIG LEBOWSKI, which has earned a cult status among movie fans.

 

In fact, it has developed such an unprecedented cult following that there have been several Lebowski-themed events all over the world including the “Lebowski Fest”, where fans socialize dressed up as their favorite character, drink White Russians and bowl.

 

A CULT MOVIE OR Cult film is known for their dedicated, passionate fan base which forms an elaborate subculture, members of which engage in repeated viewings, dialogue-quoting, and audience participation.

 

Dudeism, a religion devoted largely to spreading the philosophy and lifestyle of the DUDE, was founded in 2005.

 

Also known as The Church of the Latter-Day Dude, the organization has ordained over 220,000 "Dudeist Priests" all over the world.

 

TO ORDAIN means to make (someone) a priest or minister; confer holy orders on.

 

The film was inspired by Joel and Ethan Coen’s love of old fashion detective stories, in particular the ones popularized by PULP FICTION writer Raymond Chandler.

 

PULP FICTION refers to a genre of racy, action-based stories published in cheaply printed magazines in the 1930’s and 50’s.

 

HOWEVER, Jeff Lebowski was inspired by A HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER who shared many of the traits portrayed by Jeff Bridges in the film including drinking white Russians and being called THE DUDE.

 

A TRAIT is a particular characteristic, quality, or tendency that someone or something has.

 

The rest of the characters in the film were also inspired by real-life people Joel and Ethan Coen knew.

 

In fact, Walter, the dude’s best friend played by John Goodman was based on several people including writer / director John Milius.

 

Milius was a successful writer/ director best known for directing Conan the Barbarian and writing Apocalypse now.

 

The PLOT of the movie centers of Los Angeles slacker Jeff Lebowski, better known as THE DUDE.

 

A DUDE means an elegant man or city folk , however, it is most commonly used to mean man or guy.

 

In the film, he’s described as “the laziest man in Los Angeles” and his only interest revolve bowling, drinking white Russians and laying down on his favorite Persian rug that “ties the room together”.

 

When two goons break into his home demanding Jeff to pay a debt, they beat him and urinate on his favorite rug.

 

A GOON is a violent, aggressive person who is hired to intimidate or harm people.

 

When they realize that the DUDE was the wrong Lebowski they were after, they leave.

 

The DUDE goes to meet the other Jeff Lebowski, a successful millionaire, demanding compensation for his ordeal.

 

An ORDEAL is a painful or horrific experience.

 

On his way out he meets Lebowski’s young trophy wife Bunny, the person responsible for the debt the goons were after.

 

A TROPHY WIFE is a young, attractive wife regarded as a status symbol for an older man.

 

When the rich Lebowski learns that Bunny had been kidnapped, he hires the DUDE to find her and pay the ransom money.

 

RANSOM is a sum of money or other payment demanded or paid for the release of a prisoner.

While bowling, The Dude speculates to Walter and Donny that Bunny staged the kidnapping to pay off her debts.

TO STAGE means to produce or cause to happen for public view or public effect.

In fact, Walter is so convinced of this that instead of paying the ransom, he throws a bag full of underwear to the kidnappers.

To make matters worse, the DUDE’s car is stolen, along with the ransom money inside.

While trying to make sense of it all, he also meets MAUDE, Lebowski’s daughter, an avant-garde artist convinced that his father used the kidnapping as a way of stealing money from the family’s foundation.

After a series of misadventures, including a confrontation with a Porn King and Three German nihilists, the DUDE’s friend DONNY suffers a heart attack and dies.

After unsuccessfully scattering Donny’s ashes on the beach, the Dude and Walter go bowling.

TO SCATTER means to throw in various random directions.

Although the movie follows a traditional film noir structure seen in many detective stories, it is the characters that give the film a whole new dimension.

 

In fact, a small yet memorable character in the film, JESUS QUINTANA was the subject of his own movie, 2019’s THE JESUS ROLLS, written, directed and starring  John Turturro.

 

Although the film was a modest success, and received mixed reviews from critics, it couldn’t capture the magic of the original BIG LEBOWSKI.

 

The DUDE abides!