She Likes to Watch

Ever thus to deadbeats: Fans celebrate “The Big Lebowski”

This weekend, as conservatives were “Raising McCain” at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., fans of “The Big Lebowski” paid tribute to their favorite comedy in typical Dude fashion.

Costumes. Movie quotes. Giveaways. Sioux City sarsaparillas and bottomless White Russians.

About 700 Achievers crowded into Mezzanine in San Francisco for the first night of Lebowski Fest West– a dark, loud and swelteringly hot night of Bay Area debauchery.

The evening kicked off with a set by Meshugga Beach Party, a group of righteous surf rockers dressed in beards, prayer shawls and floppy black hats.

Then The Dead Hensons took the stage with a rousing rendition of “Pinball Number Count.” Channeling a ’70s era blend of funk, soul and jazz, this Oakland eight-piece covers the best of Jim Henson’s musical legacy: “Sesame Street,” “The Muppet Show,” “The Muppet Movie” and so forth.

According to band leader Ryan Beebe, the idea for a Muppet tribute band arose from “our collective consciousness.” Thank heavens it did. This octet has a fun and sweetly nostalgic vibe — made more precious by the fact that the Dead Hensons only perform a couple times a year.

If you get a chance, catch a concert. It’s well-worth the efort.

The same sentiment goes for the Extra Action Marching Band, a fabulously fierce ensemble of musicians and scantily clad cheerleaders. (That’s them at the top of the page.)

When this group came barreling out onto the stage, the energy level shot up immediately. In fact, I nearly got mowed over a few times by the marauding marchers.

Extra Action delivers a little extra of everything: scowling, bare-chested horn players, an agressive drumline, and a flag corps clad in sparkley bikinis. (The group’s sole male cheerleader — I’ll dub him Cheerleader Misterioso — sports hot pants and a domino mask.) As befits a San Francisco powerhouse, their music is more tribal jam band than nerdy marching band.

Their attitude is also distinctly Bay Area: Take the smirking, joint-smoking girl with a blond afro who draped her flags over a Roger Ebert look-a-like’s bald pate.

Jeff Dowd, the real-life inspiration for The Dude, served as emcee for the night — a choice that got more interesting as the night progressed. In between “Lebowski” quotes and vague anecdotes about his family’s connection to Butch Cassidy, he circulated the bar (ahem, convention floor) sloshing drinks and rubbing elbows with fans.

(Turns out Dowd is a supporter of Barack Obama. Imagining the Democratic presidential hopeful leading a horn section and cheerleaders through the streets of San Francisco, Dowd quipped, “Sarah Palin hunts moose. Obama rocks out the (expletive) Baghdad by the Bay.)

Naturally, the event closed with a screening of “The Big Lebowski.” You’ve never really lived until you’ve heard “You’re out of your element, Donnie” roaring out of 700 well-lubricated throats.

Like Lebowski Fest itself, the sensation was a cross between a Catholic mass and a drunken wake. Dazed, confused and distinctly Dude.

***

LEBOWSKI FEST BY THE NUMBERS:

Number of drinks consumed by the author and her boyfriend: Six

Number of drinks consumed by Lebowksi Fest attendees: Too many to count

Number of instruments played by the Dead Hensons: 13, plus vocals (accordion, banjo, bass, clarinet, drums, guitar, kazoo, keyboards, spoons, tap shoes, trombone, tuba, washboard)

Number of people perfectly capturing the essence of Walter Sobchak: One

People dressed as Jackie Treehorn: Two

As Karl Hungus: Two, including a woman

As “the whites” (”my dirty undies”): At least three

As the Valkyries: Two

As Larry’s homework: Only one

***

Photos by Chris Daly.

“Nightmare” and “The Big Lebowski” hit on stores Tuesday

Buying movies — especially those special-edition DVDs bursting with behind-the-scenes featurettes and in-depth interviews — is one of my secret vices.

I try to resist those $5 bargain bins at Wal-Mart and Blockbuster Videos’ glistening rows of $10 DVDs. Once in a while, however, I just have to have a shiny box set in my sweaty little paws.

It’s a pricey habit, but the rewards can be great.

Take the awesome three-disc special edition of “Hot Fuzz,” packaged like a policeman’s notebook. Without “Hot Fuzz,” I never would have seen director Edgar Wright’s hilarious student film “Dead Right.” I would have missed out on hours of outtakes and deleted scenes, commentaries, making-of mini-docs — a cornucopia of goodies, in short.

Beautifully packaged box sets of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy delivered insightful background material and about an hour of extra footage per film. And the collectors’ edition of “Anchorman”? Will Ferrell and company actually gave viewers a second movie to enjoy.

Here are two very special editions that I may not be able to resist:

Celebrate the 15th anniversary of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” with a sleek collector’s edition.

Tim Burton’s musical, magical claymation film is showcased in a two-disc set featuring a digitally remastered copy of the film, as well as commentary by Burton, deleted scenes and making-of featurettes. The film’s origins are evident in Burton’s original poem, also titled “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” narrated by Christopher Lee.

Most of this material has been featured in previous DVD editions of “Nightmare,” but I’d recommend this collection to fans of the film and the charmingly macabre world of Tim Burton. It’s worth it just to watch Burton’s two funny short films — “Frankenweenie” (about a reanimated family pet) and “Vincent” (an animated delight narrated by Burton’s idol, Vincent Price).

“Nightmare” is available Tuesday on DVD and Blu-Ray Hi-Def.

***

I’ve already raved about the two special editions marking the 10th anniversary of “The Big Lebowski.” But I must reiterate — this is a not-to-be-missed opportunity.

Also hitting stores on Tuesdays, the special set takes all the good stuff from 2005’s “Lebowski” release — the funny “Forever Young” intro, star Jeff Bridges’ photos, etc. — and adds new featurettes, interviews and never-before-seen video clips of the Coen brothers.

There’s even an interactive map of filming locations and a short documentary about Lebowski Fest (the festival for hardcore Achievers), written and directed by Eddie Chung.

Like a spare, it’s definitely worth picking up.

***

Tuesday promises a number of delights for videophiles.

First up is “The Fall,” an enchanting visual feast by the director of “The Cell.”

Oscar winner “The Counterfeiters,” about the Nazis’ massive counterfeiting operation in a concentration camp,” is already on shelves — as is Martin Scorcese’s superb Rolling Stones documentary, “Shine A Light.”

I’m also itching to get my hands on “Redbelt,” which stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as a martial arts instructor; it’s the latest from mercurial auteur David Mamet.

“The Big Lebowski” celebrates 10 years: Hardly a lightweight

Aficionados of “The Big Lebowski” have to be some of the most feverish fans known to filmdom.

They quote the Coen brothers’ comedy incessantly. They attend conventions held at bars and bowling alleys. They proudly identify themselves as “Achievers” and wear T-shirts emphasizing the fact.

In fact, “The Big Lebowski” — first released in theaters on March 6, 1998 — seems to inspire the kind of fierce loyalty usually awarded to cult leaders and the dictators of Third World countries. Maybe it’s the movie’s vintage vibe — a blend of private eye caper and stoner comedy. Maybe it’s the offbeat humor. Or maybe it’s the fact that, deep inside every one of us, there’s a bit of the laidback slacker known as The Dude.

Achievers will gather this weekend in San Francisco for Lebowski Fest, a two-day celebration of all things Lebowski.

The fun starts tonight with a screening of the film and music by the Extra Action Marching Band, The Dead Hensons (a Muppets tribute band) and Meshugga Beach Party (a Jewish surf band). Then there’s a bowling party and costume contest on Saturday.

Jeff Dowd, the curly-haired inspiration for The Dude, plans to attend.

Meanwhile, two 10th anniversary editions of “The Big Lebowski” come out on DVD on Tuesday, Sept. 9. One drool-worthy set features two discs in a miniature red-and black bowling ball. Be still my beating heart!

Rolling Stone magazine has also rolled out the red carpet for “The Big Lebowski,” dedicating a big chunk of its latest issue to “The Decade of the Dude.”

Available online now is Andy Greene’s well-written paen to the Coen brothers’ masterpiece, as well as Q-and-A sessions with Jeff Bridges (The Dude), Steve Buscemi (Donny) and John Goodman (Walter).

There’s also a video interview with Bridges, a feature on the movie’s awesome soundtrack, Lebowski-related links and a gallery of sweet pics.

This Aug. 22 issue is now on newsstands, so you can bet I’ll be picking up a copy.

Why, it’s enough to make any cat switch his workday duds for a robe, jellies and a White Russian. The Dude abides.

The Dude Abides: “Big Lebowski” tonight

It’s kinda like a cult. Or a pyramid scheme.

First one friend watches it, then another. Before you know it, your best friend from high school is pinning you to the couch with a feverish gleam in his/her eyes and saying, “Dude, you gotta watch ‘The Big Lebowski.’”

So you pop it in, and you watch it, and you laugh a few times. You put “Lebowski” back on the shelf. A few days, weeks, years later, you pick it up again, watch it. And you rewind it and watch it. And you watch it again.

Finally you realize: “The Big Lebowski” is brilliant.

It’s a private eye caper with a White Russian-drinking, pot-smoking bathrobe-wearing slacker as its reluctant hero. A case of mistaken identities and missing toes. It’s got ‘Nam vets. Nihilists. Porn. Paraplegics.

And bowling. Lots of bowling.

You’re converted.

Before you know it, you’re telling college roommates, co-workers, random people on street corners. You’re reading blogs and buying books with titles like “I’m a Lebowski, You’re a Lebowski.” You’re attending a convention at a bowling alley, dressed up like Maude or Walter or “the Jesus.” Chatting with all of your fellow freaks.

The cult of Lebowski? It’s your cult now.

And you’ve never felt so right.

***

For a movie that’s smart, funny and oh-so-Coen Brothers, catch “The Big Lebowski” tonight at the Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo.

Showtimes are 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Tickets are $7.50.

* Photo courtesy of MovieWeb.

Any doubts about the future of the Palm Theatre’s brand-new series, Palm Wednesday, were settled last night.

The one-time-only screening of “Trainspotting” was packed.

As you might guess given the subject matter (young heroin addicts in Edinburgh), “Trainspotting” isn’t for everyone. Dialogue is spoken in the thickest of Scottish brogues and laden with obscenities. Characters are morally suspect and, at times, shockingly cavalier about their misdeeds. And the plot? It’s downright depressing.

No wonder “Trainspotting” is a cult classic.

Watching the movie once more on the big screen, I was reminded just how darkly brilliant Danny Boyle’s movie is.

Written and shot with gritty realism, it’s at times desperate and desperately comical.

What other movie would find its junkie protagonist (Ewan McGregor, more grunge than glam) swimming through the foulest toilet in Scotland to rescue drugs, or hallucinating about a dead baby crawling on the ceiling? That’s modern-day absurdity at its finest.

The Palm Wednesday series continues May 7 with “Billabong Odyssey,” an adrenaline-charged sports doc about big-wave surfing.

Personally, I’m more excited about the winsome, whimsical “Amelie,” which screens May 14.

“The Big Lebowski” (strange, funny) screens May 21, followed by “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” (strangely funny) on May 28.

It should be a fun month at the movies.

***

Check out the Palm Wednesday series, 7 p.m. every Wednesday at The Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. Tickets are $7.50, and a season pass is available.

Photo above courtesy of MovieWeb.com.