Weirdly enough, with six other interviews posted on the site, I don’t believe I’ve got a guest who’s gotten into the cult section of film just yet. So low and behold when I finally wrangle Scott Alldden (from Celluloidical & @celluloidical) to talk to me he decided to pick the brohemoth of films as we sit down to discuss Joel and Ethan Coen’s detective comedy about the laziest man alive just trying to get a rug.

Personally I’ve been very on and off again with this movie ever since my first viewing of it back in 2005 when my roommate was deeply offended to discover I had never seen the film. I still think that the idea of the film, and it’s jokes, are worth enough to offset how little I laugh at the movie at times, but you’re not here to find out what I think, so here’s how my discussion with Scott went.

Me: The Big Lebowski was first released in March, 1998, which dates the film over a decade old now. When was the first time you saw the film and what were your initial reactions to the film?

Scott: Whoa 1998?!? Christ I feel old…

The first time I saw the film was back in 2001 – I was 15 and I wasn’t the huge movie buff I am today but I knew of the obvious ‘classics’. Completely fell in love with the film – It just struck a chord in me that no other film has since. The highlights for me are the characters. Absolutely memorable from beginning to end.

Me: You say the film’s characters are what stand out for you above all else. In a film that features pacifists, nihilists, Vietnam vets, pornographers as well as cowboy narrators, which of the characters do you find yourself aligning more with over the years and why if possible?

Scott: Interesting question – but easily I’d have to say The Dude. Not because he’s the lead, but rather his approach to life and his attitude in response to the dilemmas and obstacles he faces during the film. I really resonate with that. He sort of had those kinds of qualities that I admire in a human being

Me: The Dude is what many believe to be the beginning of the era of the slacker on screen. While I personally don’t believe him to be a first in this regard he does come off as one of the most memorable ones. What do you believe to be the true attraction to this character who’s so beloved by so many while he manages to do almost nothing, or a close approximation if he had anything to say about it?

Scott: What I love about Jeff, is that despite everything – his laziness, and blissful ignorance. Fundamentally he’s actually a very good person at heart. He’s a bum, yeah, but that doesn’t automatically make him a bad person, He helps Maude, and of course The Big Lebowski, with no real obligation. Perhaps he’d just rather see justice be done!

Me: One of the main points of these discussions is to talk about a movie which was instrumental in your love of film. What do you think was it about your viewing of The Big Lebowski which changed the way you approached films on a whole?

Scott: It kinda broadened my horizons in terms of what I could appreciate from a comedy film. The humour was far beyond anything I’d seen previously – your John Candy, Steve Martin, Jim Carrey schlock. Lebowski was probably the first comedy I’d seen that had an interesting narrative, and interesting, diverse characters. So I guess these days I’m always looking past the laughter- for what’s behind a film’s characters. Their internal emotions, motivations.

Me: So now we’re getting into the idea of “high concept” comedy. Do you feel sometimes watching films now that you see the idea a lot more interesting than the actual punch line?

Scott: Oh without a doubt. An online vlogger called TJ Kincaid said once – “In movies – Big tits and big explosions are favoured over big ideas”. And I kinda stand by that. Sure you want to be entertained, you want your laughs. But still, you want your mind to be stimulated. And that’s what I try to look for when I’m watching a film. Also it’s beneficial when I’m trying to review a film. The more low-brow, the harder it is to analyse accurately other than wading through shit

Me: Well this is the kind of film with a notable rewatchable quality. How has it grown on/with you over the years and what do you notice more now than you ever did the first time you saw it?

Scott: I was very skeptical about recommending it. I thought it was ‘above’ comprehension for my friends. But now it’s always brought up in film conversation. Good question you raise there actually – the soundtrack, my god what an amazing soundtrack. Only really taken time out to listen to it fully in the last couple years. But it’s one of the film’s most notable aspects

Me: One thing i truly believe is that no movie is perfect, though that’s not the point of the movie anyways. So one of the questions I like to ask everyone in this series is if you had to change one thing about this movie what would it be?

Scott: That’s actually quite difficult for me… I straight out love it end to end….. Hmm, if I’m honest I would’ve loved to see some more interaction between Dude and Donny. There’s this big conspiracy always circulating implying that Donny was a figment of Walter’s imagination – a lost comrade from Vietnam. Obviously that’s inaccurate, but still… more Dude and Donny – that would be my only wish

Me: Well thank you for talking to me and giving me your time.

Scott: Your welcome man.

Let me know what you think of The Big Lebowski as well as the interview below in the comments.