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Tag: the big lebowski

  • Oliva Munn, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender of ‘X-Men’ Offer Hilarious Read of ‘The Big Lebowski’

    Olivia Munn, Jennifer Lawrence and Michael Fassbender of X-Men: Apocalypse took part in a hilarious table read of the 1998 Coen brothers hit comedy The Big Lebowski.

    The reading of The Big Lebowski, a cult-classic film that starred Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi and John Turturro, took place during Friday’s Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal.

    Also helping out at the festival were Patton Oswalt, Dennis Quaid, Mae Whitman, Mike Judge, Martin Starr and T.J. Miller, People magazine reported.

    Olivia Munn and her co-stars took part in the celebrity reading that was organized by director Jason Reitman.

    A crowd of about 1,300 were treated with the reading.

    According to UPI, one of the funniest moments came when Oliva Munn, who was reading the lines of Bunny, accidentally read a line meant for Jennifer Lawrence, who was reading Maude’s lines. The error resulted in complete confusion for the cast.

    “It was highlighted, mother[expletives,]” Olivia Munn said before switching script pages with Jennifer Lawrence.

    “We’ve been waiting three hours to get to my part and it’s all falling to [expletive,]” Lawrence joked about the error.

    For Friday’s table reading, Michael Fassbender read the part of The Dude (originally Jeff Bridges) while Jennifer Lawrence played Maude (Julianne Moore). Patton Oswalt played Walter (John Goodman), Olivia Munn was Bunny (Tara Reid) and Dennis Quaid made a surprise appearance as the Big Lebowski (David Huddleston).

    Well done Olivia Munn!

  • Kenny Rogers Could See a Career Resurgence If He Did This One Thing

    Kenny Rogers has been at it so long that he has seen numerous periods of resurgence in his fame. It was one thing to turn on the radio in the 80s and hear Kenny Rogers crossover hits coming out of the speakers, but when the singer took the stage at Bonnaroo in 2012 with Phish to play “The Gambler,” it was almost surreal.

    “It was so much fun, they were so receptive,” Kenny said recently, reminiscing about the Bonnaroo crowd. “(Phish) came in my dressing room and said, ‘We really want to do this, would you mind doing it?’ and I said, ‘No, I don’t mind doing it.’ And, when I performed at Bonnaroo, the first thing I said was, ‘What’s wrong with this picture, Kenny Rogers and Bonnarro?’ And it was fun. The people loved it.

    Maybe many of those people were telling each other that it was Kenny Rogers who sang that “Just Dropped In” song in the Big Lebowski dream sequence. That’s cred.

    Kenny Rogers also said recently that people in Korea have told him that they have learned to speak English from listening to his music.

    Kenny Rogers isn’t resting. He’s playing gigs, and he just announced he will release a new Christmas album this Fall. Once Again It’s Christmas will feature guest stars like Alison Krauss, Jennifer Nettles, Home Free, Jim Brickman and Winfield’s Locket.

    “I feel like this is a special group of songs–both old and new–and I was particularly lucky to be joined by many talented guest artists and musicians who each have something unique to say,” Rogers said of the album.

    Here’s an idea: Kenny Rogers could do albums like Carlos Santana does. Invite younger artists — country, pop, and rock — to join him in singing an album full of new songs.

    It could work. Kenny Rogers had so many hits that his entire live shows nowadays are packed end-to-end with recognizable tunes.

    “I just do all the hits I can do,” Rogers said of his live shows. “Every song, from start to finish, was a hit. It’s pretty safe when you do that. I put them in an order that I think is fascinating and … really, it’s just a question of pacing the show with my hits. Someone asked me if I got tired of doing the hits and I said, ‘No, I don’t want to be the guy that goes out there without them’ because that’s a great comfort zone.”

    If Kenny Rogers did a series of albums, all with guest artists, he could even re-visit some of those hits joined by new blood, as well as new material. After three of those, hook up with Rick Rubin and get the Johnny Cash treatment.

    Kenny Rogers could be back on top yet again.

  • Tara Reid Revisits “The Big Lebowski” In Her Bra

    Tara Reid has been having quite the week, according to her Instagram account. The 39-year old actress recently made headlines for her revealing vacation snaps, and now she’s getting attention for her homage to a cult classic film: The Big Lebowski. Reid posted a couple of shots at a bowling alley in San Francisco on Tuesday, where she was inexplicably rolling balls in her bra, and captioned one of them “Bunny Lebowski gets a strike”.

    The line was, of course, in reference to her green-toed, sexually adventurous character from TBL, and fans immediately showed the post some love; as of now it has over 3,700 “likes” on the pic-sharing site. While there’s really no way to know exactly what’s going on in these pictures (why the bra? Where are the other bowlers? Did she rent out the facility just to make a reference to one of her most famous roles? Does she still have all her toes?), it’s clear she’s still having fun on holiday with her boyfriend, who appeared in a few photos with her while they were cave diving in Mexico. Those pics were responsible for a wave of backlash earlier this week when they hit the web, as many commenters on Instagram accused her of altering them to make herself look thinner than she already is.

    #bunnylebowski just got a strike

    A photo posted by Tara Reid (@tarareid) on

    Having balls of fun!

    A photo posted by Tara Reid (@tarareid) on

    There's nothing like bunny lebowski, "I'll suck your cock for a thousand dollars" lol #blow

    A photo posted by Tara Reid (@tarareid) on

    Reid has received criticism for her appearance before; back in 2008, she told OK Magazine that she gains and loses weight for roles but can never seem to please everyone.

    “I’m not too thin. I go up 10 pounds, I do down 10 pounds. I was thin for a movie that I just finished…Now they’re going to see me and say I’m too fat because I’ve gained 10 pounds…I can’t win!” she said.

  • Tara Reid Rings in 2015 With Nude Instagram Post

    Tara Reid rang in 2015 in Tulum, Mexico, and apparently felt it was a clothing-optional holiday. The Sharknado 3 actress shared a completely nude photo of herself on her Instagram account as she relaxed in a hammock–one that appeared to be indoors–with her hands strategically placed to cover her most private parts.

    Reid captioned the photo quite simply.

    “Happy New Year,” it reads.

    A photo posted by Tara Reid (@tarareid) on

    Tara Reid shared some additional photos on the social media site as well. On New Year’s Day she appeared to have been swimming inside a cave. She wore a bikini for this picture, and captioned it, “Caves are so beautiful in Tulum. I love it. Wish you were all here with me.”

    A photo posted by Tara Reid (@tarareid) on

    A second cave shot featured her boyfriend, and while he wasn’t named in the photo, it is rumored she is dating DJ Erez Eisen.

    “My amazing boyfriend who I adore. Thank you for making my New Years. You are wonderful,” she captioned the photo.

    A photo posted by Tara Reid (@tarareid) on

    While in her twenties, Tara Reid starred in films like American Pie and The Big Lebowski. She had TV roles in Saved by the Bell, Days of Our Lives, and Scrubs. She hasn’t done much acting of notoriety–other than Sharknado–in several years.

    Maybe Tara Reid is hoping something spectacular will crop up in the acting world if she bares it all? Might that be the reason behind her nude Happy New Year photo?

  • The Big Lebowski Festival Draws Fans To Los Angeles

    There are films, films with cult followings, and then The Big Lebowski.

    Released in 1998 and written by the Joel and Ethan Coen—hereby referred to as the Coen Brothers—the film features idiosyncratic characters, dream sequences, unconventional dialogue, and of course, Jeff Bridges as the character Jeff Lebowski.

    And since its release, it has generated a cult following that few other films have. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Lebowski Fest 2014, complete with bowling pins, bathrobes, white Russians, and even Jeff Bridges as “The Dude” making an appearance with his band.

    The festival has been held around the country since its inception in 2002 and lasts two days—the first day with a band and a screening of The Big Lebowski, followed by a second day costumed bowling party.

    It’s a two day celebration of all the goodness that is The Big Lebowski and 2014 was no exception.

    Taking place in Los Angeles, California, at the Wiltern Theater, fans filled the venue to capacity and Jeff Bridges and his band performed the 30-minute set, with an opening from Kyle Gass, the other half of Jack Black’s band Tenacious D, according to The Associated Press.

    Actors with minor roles in the film signed autographs and one man even traveled from as far as North Dakota for his 20th birthday to take part in Lebowski Fest.

    But even Jeff Bridges couldn’t upstage the real attraction of the night—a showing of the movie those in attendance had seen once or twice or a hundred times. Fans in the audience shouted out some of the lines and applauded at others.

    Asked about what draws moviegoers to the festival, Mike Sullivan, a four-time festival-goer who says he has the film memorized, said, “What you got here is a bunch of pot-smoking hippies having a good time.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Lebowski Fest: Jeff Bridges, Fans Celebrate Film

    Trekkies have nothing on the Dude-ers.

    Hundreds packed the Wiltern Theater in midtown Los Angeles Friday to pay homage to Joel and Ethan Coen‘s 1998 cult film The Big Lebowski.

    Even the Dude himself, Jeff Bridges, performed with his band.

    The theater was decked out with inflatable bowling pins and the drink menu featured white Russians “made with Ralphs half-and -half,” in honor of the film’s opening scene when the Dude writes a check for 69 cents to buy half-and-half from a Ralphs supermarket to make his favorite drink.

    This is the13th year of the annual two-day festival that celebrates the Dude, bowling, white bathrobes and White Russians.

    Fan Steve Lewis has never missed a Lebowski Fest.

    “It’s the people here that are so awesome,” said Lewis, who says he has seen the film more than 100 times. “It’s a community.”

    The 37-year-old went so far as to make his own Army dog tags to recreate one of John Goodman’s costumes from the film. Lewis has been to 11 festivals and has traveled to festivals in New York and Louisville with his friend J.D. Lloyd, who searched eBay to find the exact sweater Bridges wears in the film.

    “That’s a real Pendleton,” Lewis said. “That was expensive.”

    Connor Linnerooth, 20, who traveled from North Dakota to celebrate his birthday at the fest, wore a red bodysuit and carried oversized scissors like the character that terrorizes the Dude in his dreams.

    “Lebowski, he is a very cool guy,” he said, speaking in character. “I love the movie and I’m a big fan of it, and I really wanted to be around other people who are also big fans of the movie.”

    Matt Goforth tended bar in costume and said he’s been looking forward to the event for months.

    “First of all, I knew it was going to be a good crowd. Second of all, it’s a fantastic movie. Thirdly, Jeff Bridges’ band is amazing,” Goforth said. “It’s fun. I’ve had my picture taken maybe 35 times. It’s just a great atmosphere.”

    Friday night ended with a screening of the film, peppered with fans yelling out lines and cheering for favorite scenes.

    Saturday’s event featured a costumed bowling party.

    Mike Sullivan, a four-time festival-goer who says he’s memorized the movie, has a theory about the fest’s success.

    “What you got here,” he said, “is a bunch of pot-smoking hippies having a good time.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Tara Lipinski Honors Jimmy Fallon On Ice as The Dude

    Tara Lipinski honored late night host Jimmy Fallon this week as he finishes up his job as host of Late Night. She did so in a hilarious skit on ice, where she channeled ‘The Dude’ from The Big Lebowski. It aired while Tara was a guest on Fallon’s show.

    Dressing in a bathrobe and carrying a White Russian while skating is no small feat, but Lipinski pulled it off flawlessly in honor of Fallon, who will soon go on to host The Tonight Show as Jay Leno retires from that spot later this week. Her drink was what ‘The Dude’ in The Big Lebowski drank.

    Despite being significantly older than when she won Olympic gold at 15 back in 1998, Tara Lipinski still has amazing moves. ‘Moves’ seem to be an appropriate theme while guest starring on late night TV shows this week, as one host moves out and another moves on.

    The music used in her ice skating skit came straight from the movie, too. Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) was no doubt playing over and over in Tara’s head (and maybe Jimmy Fallon’s, too) for days!

    Lipinski tweeted word of skating with a White Russian, a la The Big Lebowski, to her fans.

    She shared the following Instagram photo, too.

    Jimmy Fallon used Twitter to call Tara a “rock star.”

    Tara Lipinski is now in Sochi, reporting on Team USA at the Olympics. Hopefully she catches a break, enjoys a nice cold White Russian, and gets that song out of her head in time to watch the Team USA skaters bring home the gold, as she did as a teenager.

    Image via YouTube

  • Tara Lipinski Ice Skated As The Dude And It Was Awesome

    Tara Lipinski won Olympic gold when she was just 15 years old, she charmed all of us with her sweet disposition and insane talent, and now she’s proven she’s the coolest skater on the ice by dressing like The Dude and performing her routine with a White Russian in one hand.

    Yes, you read that right. Lipinski performed the solo routine as a special send-off for Jimmy Fallon this week, skating to Kenny Rogers’ “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)” in a bathrobe in homage to “The Big Lebowski”. Now I want to see her do a full show set to songs from the film. Give us some CCR!

    Lipinski is currently in Sochi with NBC to report on the Olympic games, so we’ll keep a White Russian on ice for her when she returns. Until then, check out her routine.

    Fallon visited Leno on “The Tonight Show” earlier this week and read aloud a sweetly funny thank you note, earning him praise from those who think he has shown class during the transition, especially in the middle of some tension between Leno and NBC.

    “Thank you, Jay Leno, for passing the torch to me,” Fallon said. “Hopefully it doesn’t get intercepted by a Seahawk. Thank you, Jay, for teaching me how to be a late-night host — but was it really necessary for me to ‘wax on, wax off’ your entire car collection? I didn’t know I was going to get Miyagi-ed when I came out here. Thank you, Jay, for giving me such great advice for the Tonight Show like ‘you don’t need a monologue,’ and ‘have you ever thought about getting bangs?’ And finally, thank you Jay Leno, for carrying on the proud tradition of the Tonight Show host with such humor and class and for being nothing but gracious and generous to me over the past years. I will do my best to make you proud every single night. Thank you.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Bill Murray Talks Big ‘Garfield’ Mistake

    Bill Murray starred as the voice of Garfield in the 2004 film, Garfield: The Movie, but recently admitted via a Reddit chat his huge mistake in taking the role. Believing the script was created by renown film writer Joel Coen–known for hits like The Big Lebowski and Fargo–he didn’t even completely read through it, assuming he was signing on for a fantastic film. After signing on the dotted line and committing to the role, he realized the writer was instead Joel Cohen–known for flops like Cheaper by the Dozen and Howard Stern’s failed TV talk show.

    It was actually during a recording session, voicing the big orange cat, when Bill Murray realized something was horribly wrong.

    “There was just this long, two-minute silence,” he said. “I probably cursed a little, and I said, ‘I can fix this, but I can’t fix this today. Or this week. Who wrote this stuff?’ ”

    Known for getting his start on SNL, Murray also starred in Caddyshack and Lost in Translation–the second of which he earned an Academy Award nomination for.

    Needless to say, when Bill Murray was approached about voicing Garfield in the next film installment, he answered with an unequivocal and resounding “No!”

    “They sort of shot themselves in the foot, the kidneys, the liver and the pancreas on the second one,” he said.

    Despite Bill Murray’s big film mistake with Garfield, the rest of his career has involved one success after another. Long remembered for his classic lines in the 1991 film What About Bob, fans still love to quote his famous line, “I’m sailing!”

    Bill Murray is 63 years old and still going strong in the world of comedy. Who would have known–back in the mid-1970s–when he performed with other comedy greats like John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Dan Aykroyd that his career would span four decades? Sadly, he and Aykroyd are all that remain of the famous four, with Belushi dying of a drug overdose and Gilda Radner dying following a hard-fought battle with ovarian cancer. Murray started out as a troubled young man who was once arrested for smuggling almost nine pounds of marijuana through O’Hare Airport in Chicago. And while no one is saying he hasn’t smoked a joint or two since then, he certainly lives a much different life these days.

    Hopefully Murray will look back at his Garfield film experience as a minor blip on the big screen. It doesn’t seem like most people these days even knew it was his voice behind the snarky orange cat–and that’s probably a good thing.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Dave MacDowell: Art, Lebowski, And The Internet

    Dave MacDowell has made quite a name for himself in the art world over the years, garnering a huge following on Facebook as word spread of the brilliantly talented artist with a stellar sense of humor.

    Using anything and everything related to pop culture–characters from movies like “The Big Lebowski” play a recurring role in his work–and making it his own, MacDowell takes the things that resonate with our society and turns them into a work of art that we can both relate to and laugh at. His pieces are a commentary on our obsession with both pop-culture and the way information is spread in a digital world.

    “Everything pop-culture is fair game!” he told WebProNews. “Aside form television and books, most entertainment streams through the computer. If the internet ever becomes regulated, most artists and galleries will be screwed royally….I imagine we’ll just all go underground with magazines and more pop-up art shows. You can’t stop the movement, and the work will find a way to get seen by any means necessary.”

    The Virginia Beach-based artist says the internet plays a big role in both inspiration for the art and putting it out into the world; he even estimates that as much as 75% of gallery sales happen virtually.

    “The internet is a powerful tool for every artist these days,” MacDowell says. “The images fly fast and free, and prospective opportunities are a click away. Everything is virtual these days, because reality sucks.”

    For art lovers/pop-culture enthusiasts like myself, MacDowell’s work is particularly brilliant because he’s not afraid to poke a little fun at iconic figures from film and music; everyone from Steve Martin–who was turned into Scumbag Steve Martin for a meme-inspired work entitled “Dirty Rotten Scumbag Steve” earlier this year–to Notorious B.I.G. has been immortalized by MacDowell’s brush.

    (image)

    His creations, which usually entail taking two or more pop-culture references and merging them in some fantastic, colorful, hilarious way, have won the admiration of art enthusiasts everywhere, including some big-wigs at NBC/Universal. They put MacDowell in touch with Carson Daly, who interviewed the artist last year for his show, Last Call With Carson Daly.

    But as much as the internet helps get his artwork out there, MacDowell says it will never replace seeing a work of art in person and experiencing the small textural details that get lost in digital translation.

    “I’ve seen million dollar deals signed just by images chosen over a computer screen,” he says. “With that said, the internet will never recreate the experience of seeing and experiencing art live and in person. A lot gets lost through pixels and there ain’t nuthin’ like the real thing.”

    (image)
    “Vicious Vangogh”