The Big Lebowski

The Big Lebowski, a 1998 comedy film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, chronicles a few days in the life of an unemployed California slacker and recreational bowler after he is mistaken for a millionaire with the same name. The film, known for its idiosyncratic characters, surreal dream sequences, unconventional dialogue and eclectic soundtrack, has become a cult classic. While not directly based on Raymond Chandler’s novel The Big Sleep, Joel Coen has said that “[we] wanted to do a Chandler kind of story – how it moves episodically, and deals with the characters trying to unravel a mystery. As well as having a hopelessly complex plot that’s ultimately unimportant.” The world of Raymond Chandler has been modernized considerably, in the style of Robert Altman’s 1973 film The Long Goodbye.