The ‘Big Lebowski’ theory endorsed by Jeff Bridges: “I’ve run that theme and it works”
Fan theories have exploded in popularity in recent years, with the rise of the internet leading to intense speculation about everything from the hidden meaning behind specific costumes in Severance to the cryptic codes in Taylor Swift’s lyrics. Film lovers have an endless amount of material to fuel their obsessive love for the medium, with new releases and additions to beloved franchises opening up new pools of thought and opportunities for people to analyse their favourite pieces of media.
However, this is very prevalent when it comes to directors with huge cult followings, with everyone from Christopher Nolan and Julia Ducournau being met with endless questions about the depths of their work, something that the Coen brothers are particularly familiar with after one of their films had a surprisingly huge impact on popular culture.
Whether it be the unnerving sense of dread in No Country for Old Men or the puzzling mysteries at the heart of Barton Fink, the Coen Brothers have come to be known for their versatile yet consistently absurdist filmography, with the directors exploring existentialist subject matter that hammers in just how surreal the business of being alive is. From the series of unfortunate events in A Serious Man, with horrible things happening for seemingly no reason, to the escalation of misunderstandings in Burn After Reading, their films capture the bizarre reality of human existence and the simple desire to make sense of our world.
However, perhaps one of their most talked about films is The Big Lebowski, with the story containing a lot of dark subject matter despite its laid-back exterior, as presented through the easy breezy character of ‘The Dude’.
Much of the speculation about the film’s meaning comes from the inherent darkness of the story, with The Dude being presented with disturbing situations that he barely reacts to, remaining nonchalant in the presence of strange circumstances that make very little sense. Naturally, there have been many theories as to why this is, with Jeff Bridges even discussing one theory and how he believes there could be some credibility to it.
When discussing the film, Bridges described the theory that Donny, played by Steve Buscemi, never really existed. He said, “He’s a figment of Walter’s imagination… And the last few times I’ve seen the movie, I’ve run that theme and it kind of works, man. Because The Dude never — only one time does he ever acknowledge Donnie. And it’s when he [says,] ‘Thank you, Donnie.’ But that’s only to bust Walter’s chops. He knows his friend has this hallucination, this PTSD buddy, and he loves his friend’”.
It adds an underlying sadness to the overall story, with Donny’s death at the end of the film being one of the most startling moments from the entire film. While his death pokes holes in this theory, it could be that he died much earlier, or The Dude is entertaining Walter’s version of reality because he knows he is struggling with the truth, perhaps going along with the idea that he was shot when it happened much earlier. It definitely changes the overall tone of the film, and something to bear in mind with the next rewatch.
