Drugs in Film the Big Lebowski

Big Lebowski

Drugs in the Big Lebowski

Drugs have played a major role in the development of culture and society and have even come to be a topic of interest in cinema. Drugs' influence on cinema has even led to the creation of the sub-genre of drug films, the stoner comedy. A drug film -- in the context of stoner comedies -- can be described as a film in which a drug, such as marijuana, influences a character or in which drugs influence, drive, or contribute to the narrative or plot development. One such film in which characters are influenced by drugs is Joel and Ethan Coen's The Big Lebowski, released in 1998. In the film, The Dude's habitual and recreational drug use help to establish his character and how others around him perceive him, which leads them to believe he can be easily influenced into carrying out their schemes.

In the context of The Big Lebowski, and in other drug-oriented films, a drug can be defined as an illegal or controlled substance that may have medicinal, intoxicating, or performance enhancing properties. Additionally, it is expected that drugs influence characters and events in a drug-oriented film. In The Big Lebowski, it can be argued that there is a prominent and continuous use of two different drugs by The Dude: marijuana and alcohol. Alcohol, although legal, is a controlled substance that can only be legally accessed when an individual is of age to purchase or imbibe it. Alcohol's psychoactive attributes are its ability to be a depressant as well as a stimulant. In the film, alcohol is present in two predominant forms, beer and white Russians, which The Dude frequently enjoys. Marijuana, on the other hand, is an illegal controlled substance whose psychoactive attributes include being a depressant, stimulant, and/or hallucinogenic drug. While alcohol's sale is restricted to people ages 21 and over, the sale of marijuana -- at the time the film was produced and released -- was limited to those with medical marijuana permits and is otherwise classified as a Schedule I drug.

Throughout the film, The Dude is shown smoking marijuana or with a drink in hand. The Dude even tells Maude Lebowski, Mr. Lebowski's daughter, "I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind limber," thus implying that he uses the drug to help him deal with any anxiety issues he constantly appears to be facing due to the initial case of mistaken identity. Furthermore, the manner in which The Dude carries himself and dresses is also attributable to stoner behavior and laid back attitude. He does not appear to take pride in how he dresses and often wear clothes that do not match. He is also frequently seen wearing sunglasses, which aside from their sun-shielding properties, help to hide his bloodshot eyes that may indicate he is high at any given time.

Drug use in The Big Lebowski is evident before the opening credits roll as The Dude is shown at Ralphs, slightly paranoid, sampling or possibly chugging an entire carton of half-and-half. Drinking continues to be something The Dude frequently engages in as he is then shown drinking beer at the bowling alley he frequently goes to as part of a bowling league that includes him, Walter Sobchak, and Donny. The Dude is also shown drinking beer on one other distinct occasion as he is both drinking and driving and smoking up and driving while attempting to allude a mysterious blue Volkswagen Beetle that has been following him. However, The Dude's drink of choice is a white Russian. He is shown drinking the cocktail soon after he wakes up, at Maude's studio when he first meets her and later when she asks him to come over, on his limo ride home from Maude's studio, at the bowling alley, and after having sex with Maude. The Dude is also shown drinking a white Russian at Jackie Treehorn's house, which has been laced with an unknown hallucinogenic drug that almost immediately knocks him out. While marijuana is not shown to have any hallucinogenic effect on The Dude, the unknown substance in the white Russian leads him to have a surreal dream in which he is a character in a Jackie Treehorn produced film called Gutterballs that combines his love of bowling with his infatuation of Maude.