‘Big Lebowski’ fest returns to Ogden for third year
OGDEN — The Dude abides. Annually, even.
The Ogden Big Lebowski Festival is back for its third year in a row, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 12, in downtown Ogden. The yearly celebration centers around a showing of “The Big Lebowski,” a quirky 1998 comedy directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, who brought the world such acclaimed works as “Raising Arizona,” “O Brother, Where Art Thou” and “No Country for Old Men.”
The film will play at 8 p.m. Saturday in Peery’s Egyptian Theater, 2415 Washington Blvd., with a costume contest beginning 30 minutes before the movie.
Ryan McDonald is a board member on the Egyptian Theatre Foundation and the organizer — or “el hosterino,” as he calls it — of the annual fundraising festival.
Five or six years ago, when “The Big Lebowski” was released on Blu-ray, McDonald and several of his friends decided to have a little watch party to commemorate the event, dressing up as characters from the film.
Jeff Bridges is the “dude” in this still from the cult film “The Big Lebowski.” File
“The whole time we’re doing it, we’re thinking, ‘We gotta have a Lebowski fest in Ogden,'” McDonald said.
Shortly thereafter, McDonald became a member of the foundation board and began scheming for a showing of the film, similar to the way the theater shows “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” each year.
“So I joined the nonprofit board, and the first thing out of my mouth was, ‘We gotta have a Lebowski festival,'” McDonald said.
Although “The Big Lebowski” didn’t do well at the box office initially, it has since become a cult favorite, and festivals based on the story and its memorable characters are regularly held around the country.
The film stars Jeff Bridges as Jeff Lebowski, a laid-back stoner in 1990s Los Angeles who insists on being called “the Dude.” His simple life consisted primarily of smoking marijuana, drinking White Russians and league bowling with his two friends. But a case of mistaken identity tangles the Dude in a web of kidnapping, intrigue and rug-soiling. The film also stars John Goodman, Steve Buscemi and Julianne Moore.
Jason White, of South Ogden, will be attending the Ogden Big Lebowski Festival for a third consecutive year. Both he and his wife, Kate, have won the costume contest in the past.
“It’s such a fantastic movie,” White said. “It’s probably even my favorite movie. What I love is it went from being a box-office failure from one of the best writer-director combos out there and became this cult film with — I’d venture — hundreds of events around the United States.”
ROBBY LLOYD/Special to the Standard-Examiner
Kate White is all smiles after winning the “Donny” category (dressed as the ashes of Donny) of the costume contest in true Big Lebowski fashion during the second annual Lebowski Fest where festival goers bowl, dress up as favorite characters and watch the movie at Peery’s Egyptian Theater in Ogden on September 26, 2015.
As in past years, the centerpiece of the Ogden event is the the 8 p.m. showing of the film in Peery’s Egyptian Theater. A Lebowski-themed costume contest begins at 7:30 p.m. in the theater, with various film-appropriate prizes for the winners. Among them, Brigham City-based Storm Bowling has again donated a bowling ball and glove this year.
“I would say we have 30 to 40 people, on average, dressing up for the festival,” McDonald said.
Admission to the event is $12 per person, and tickets are available to purchase at the Egyptian box office, by phone at 801-689-8700 and through Smith’s Tix.
There will also be unofficial pre- and post-film activities held Saturday evening.
ROBBY LLOYD/Special to the Standard-Examiner
Ben Sant, dressed as Walter Sobchak, from the Coen brothers cult classic The Big Lebowski, bowls as part of the second annual Lebowski Fest where festival goers bowl, dress up as favorite characters and watch the movie at Peery’s Egyptian Theater in Ogden on September 26, 2015.
Before the movie, at 5:30 p.m., some festival-goers will gather for bowling at Fat Cats in The Junction, 2261 Kiesel Ave.
“There’s a few of us who like to go bowling before the event,” McDonald said. “But it’s a separate cost, and we haven’t reserved the alley, so you do that on your own.”
Then, after the film, some die-hard “Lebowski” fans will move the party over to Funk ‘n Dive Bar, 2550 Washington Blvd., for the movie’s signature White Russian cocktails. (“One part creamer, one part Kahlua and one part vodka,” McDonald explained.) The White Russians will be offered at a discount, and the bar’s cover charge will be waived for those who show their ticket at the door.
The first year of the festival saw about 230 people at the movie. Last year’s attendance was down to around 170, but McDonald said he takes the blame for that — it was inadvertently scheduled the same weekend as Salt Lake Comic Con. This year, he’s expecting attendance to be up again; more than 600 people have express interest on the festival’s Facebook page.
“Three years later here, we’re doing it again,” McDonald said. “And unless I’m only one who attends this one, we’ll be back again next year.”
One word of caution about “The Big Lebowski” — it’s rated R, for language and a moment of brief nudity. Characters use the f-word. A lot. (Reportedly 260 times, for those keeping score.)
“If you do find yourself offended by that word, this probably isn’t your film,” McDonald said.
Still, for the right crowd, “The Big Lebowski” is hard to beat, McDonald said. And watching it in a crowded theater is a bonus.
“There’s just something about being in the presence of 300 other people — the energy — when you see how quotable the movie is,” McDonald said. “People will shout the quotes before they happen.”
White said the movie is rated R “for good reason.”
“But if people can move outside their comfort zone, there’s a very intelligent and witty film beneath the language,” he said.
As with many Coen brothers movies, folks tend to either love it or hate it. And among those who do love it, it rises to a singular passion.
Jokes White: “I have friends who, if the woman they’re dating doesn’t like ‘The Big Lebowski’? They’re out.”
Contact reporter Mark Saal at 801-625-4272 or msaal@standard.net. Follow him on Twitter at @Saalman. Like him on Facebook at facebook.com/SEMarkSaal.