Talking with an old friend. He mentions a scene from The Big Lebowski.

“That’s playing tonight. About 45 minuets.”

“Really? Where?”

“The Nu-Art.”

“Could we make it?”

“Yeah, it takes about twenty-five minutes to get there.”

And so, dear reader, we found ourselves in Santa Monica on a Friday night watching The Big Lebowski, which I’ve reviewed and reviewed and reviewed, and I even think one review is missing.

Still made me laugh to beat the band. Even if I do have to cover my mouth to keep from repeating the lines. Terrific soundtrack, terrific score, terrific performances, of course.

What I noticed especially on this viewing is how tight the editing is. So much of the humor, and the cadence of the dialogue, depends on the careful editing. The reverse shot sequence where the Dude unravels the toe, for example. Today, most directors would probably do a simple reverse, then explain that there was a toe (with nail polish). The Coens slowly zoom in on the Dude while cutting back to The Big Lebowski ranting and Brandt looking concerned, with the climax of the scene showing the Dude unwrapping the toe.

Then, bang, cut to classic Hollywood diner where Walter scoffs at this latest attempt for These Amateurs to try to intimidate them.

My buddy, who had smoked a bit in his day, enjoyed all the various joint issues the Dude had. Apparently, he, too, had done all those things.

I, as always, love the dance cycle done to “Pictures from an Exhibition”, because it reminds me of stuff I actually went to back in the day. And the visiting of a barely remembered TV writer in a small house in the Valley. Driving into Simi Valley on pitch black canyon roads.

The Coens capture L.A. so well, the places where they bring in their Minnesotan tics kind of stand out like sore thumbs to this local. Jesus? A very L.A. character. Liam? Very Minnesota. (“Me and Liam? We gonna fuck you up!”) Rough, laconic black cop? Very L.A. Mild-mannered, doughy-blond cop who looks like he’s on his way to a casserole? Very Minnesota.

Look, how much more can I write about this film?

The theater was pretty full for a late Friday show, and some meager percentage of the audience other than us, was not smoking a joint.