If you recognize the phrase “I don't roll on Shabbos†or “The Dude abides,†then you've seen The Big Lebowski
, filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen's tribute to the detective genre starring Jeff Bridges as a bowling-loving stoner named “The Dude†who accidentally gets mixed up with kidnappers, nihilists and other strange Coen brother–style comic types. A financial and critical bomb released in 1998, it has since gained a devoted cult following, due in no small part to the efforts of this delightfully obsessive book's authors, the organizers of “Lebowski Fest,†a traveling celebration that combines the good vibes of a Grateful Dead concert with the fervor of a Star Trek convention. Like a typical Dead concert, however, the book is a lot of fun, but will seem uneven to all but the hardest-core fan. Highlights include insightful interviews with principal actors, including Bridges and John Goodman (“I think that's the favorite thing I've ever done in my lifeâ€). Unfortunately, the authors also feature various unsuccessful attempts at capturing the film's quirky humor (“How to Dude-ify Your Carâ€) along with too many long and repetitious interviews with various Lebowski fanatics. (Sept.)
