A subtle call for peace.

Rating: 10/10 (17 August 2007)

Like many I'm sure, I've watched this movie so many times, I can quote nearly every line. Needless to say, it is one of the most entertaining and laugh-out-loud stories ever told. But, watching it again recently, I was struck by a subtle theme that I hadn't caught on to before: this movie is very seriously advocating peace, in our lives, in our relationships, and on the world scene. It's a little bit discomforting how this "comedy" unintentionally reminds us that we are still fighting in Iraq after over a decade. Not to espouse my political views or suggest that this is a political film, but this film does focus our attention (via the Walter character) on our collective obsession with violence and encourages us to reevaluate our situation from the Dude's perspective: our communication lines are breaking down, "new information has come to light," and like many of the characters in the film, we should be asking, "WTF are we talking about?!" When "this aggression will not stand," the Dude doesn't raise a fist, "the Dude abides" and "takes it easy." The Dude is a "bigger" man; he IS the Big Lebowski.