The Coen Brothers have a knack for creating unforgettable characters and putting them into absurd situations. In The Big Lebowski, we meet Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski, a sloppy, unemployed, peace-loving former hippie played famously by Jeff Bridges. The Dude’s routine of bowling with his loser buddies, pot-smoking, drinking White Russians, and generally hanging out is interrupted when a couple of thugs break into his home, rough him up and piss on his rug, all because he’s been mistaken for philanthropic Pasadena millionaire Jeffrey Lebowski, whose ornamental younger wife owes money to a local porn film producer. Indignant as any self-respecting rug owner would be, The Dude looks up his wealthy namesake, drops by his mansion and in his laid-back, dude-a-licious way, procures a rug to replace his own ruined one. When Mr. Lebowski’s wife is kidnapped, The Dude is added to the Lebowski payroll and put in charge of handling the ransom, which initiates a series of events that only the Coen Brothers could devise. Tonight, Beach Theatre screens The Big Lebowski and serves White Russians as part of its first annual FlickStock, a festival of music and movies as well as a celebration of the brand new Dolby Digital sound system acquired by the theater’s new owners. Tonight’s showtimes are 6:45 and 9:30 p.m.; tickets are $8.
FlickStock event schedule:
The Jerk, Thurs., June 28, 6:45 and 9:15 p.m.
Live Music with The Hodaddys, Fri., June 29, 8 p.m.
A Hard Day’s Night, Sat., June 30, 6:45 and 9:30 p.m., with Beatles tunes performed between screenings by Ed Woltil (The Ditchflowers), Brian Merrill (The Ditchflowers, Barely Pink, The Threads), and Mark Warren (Barely Pink, The Threads).
Standing in the Shadows of Motown, Sun., July 1, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m., with live music performed by Freight Train Annie between screenings.
FlickStock, Through July 1, Beach Theatre, 315 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach, $8 per person, 727-360-6697, beachtheatre.com. –Leilani Polk
This article appears in Jun 20-26, 2007.
