Julio Diaz

jdiaz@pnj.com

Released in 1998, "The Big Lebowski" was neither one of the most popular films that year, nor one of the most honored. But it has become, perhaps, the most beloved.

Joel and Ethan Coen's comic noir film has become a cult favorite, and while the duo won Oscars for "Fargo" and "No Country For Old Men," those films don't get whole festivals based on them. "The Big Lebowski" does, and Sept. 26 and 27, Pensacola gets a "Lebowski" celebration of its own.

PensacoLebowski will feature two days of activities dedicated to "The Dude," played by Jeff Bridges, and the ridiculous situations he finds himself in when he's drafted to investigate a kidnapping in 1991 Los Angeles.

Ryan Eaton and Shauncey Fury of Pensacola were inspired by the success of Pensacon, the hugely successful nerd culture event that took place in February, to create this celebration of a film that they both love.

"We were on the tail end of Pensacon, and I'd worn my costume throughout," said Eaton, who cosplayed as John Goodman's "Lebowski" character, Walter Sobchak, throughout the event. "We wished that someone would bring a Lebowski Fest to Pensacola, and as we were sitting in the lobby of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, we realized that if we want something cool to happen, we could just do it."

"So that was our attitude," said Eaton. "If we want Pensacola to get better, we can make it happen."

Eaton said he and Fury sat in the cocktail lounge at the Crowne Plaza and immediately started sketching up ideas on a cocktail napkin.

"We literally unfolded a napkin and wrote down 25-30 things we could do," he said. "We figured out logistically, for a first-year event, to keep it fun and affordable — because the brunt of the cash came from us — we whittled it down to 7-to-10 different little events, stuff we could do in a whole day that people could get into and have a good time."

Those events include a screening of the film at Treehouse Cinemas in Gulf Breeze and a full day at Liberty Lanes — bowling being the Dude's favorite game — including a tournament; trivia and costume contests; a bartender challenge surrounding the Dude's cocktail of choice, the White Russian; a bowling pin art show and sale; and more.

Eaton said the Dude's laid-back philosophy — which has even inspired a religion, Dudeism, and is said to have ordained more than 250,000 "Dudeist Priests" worldwide — is the key to why people embrace the film.

"A lot of people desire to be like the Dude, to have the attitude of taking what life throws at you and abiding," he said. "People want to be able to attain that level of Zen. Plus, it's just a really funny movie."

"People connect with the Dude," said Dan Fugate, who considers himself a big "Lebowski" fan. "True, he's lazy, he smokes a lot of pot and seems to drink White Russians exclusively. But that is likely a big part of his appeal. He's not overly smart — or at least, he's street-dim — but he has good intentions. He's not out to do wrong by anyone, but he doesn't like it when he is wronged. He says what he's thinking. With the exception of the laziness, he's a fairly admirable character."

"And it's well written, full of great quotes and one-liners."

"Lebowski" celebrations have become major events around the country, and there is even a company called Lebowski Fest that puts on major gatherings with the film's biggest stars in major cities.

Eaton stressed that PensacoLebowski is not affiliated with that company, and that they're aiming to build an event on a scale that is more appropriate for Pensacola — and that helps the community continue to grow.

While PensacoLebowski may not be able to draw names like Bridges and Goodman yet, it will still feature a celebrity guest: actor James Hoosier, who plays Liam, bowling partner of the Dude's arch rival on the lanes, Jesus Quintana (John Turturro), will greet fans at the event.

About 400 weekend passes will be available for the event, the limit being the capacity of Treehouse Cinemas for the opening-night screening. However, Eaton said that Liberty Lanes can accommodate about 1,000 fans, so those who cannot make the screening could still purchase a day pass for Saturday's day full of events.

"If we have 200 people show up and have a good time, it will be a successful event," he said. "We want Treehouse Theater to get full, and for people who have never been to the theater to come out and enjoy what a great theater they have out there."

Fans like Chris Smith of Pensacola, who cosplayed as The Dude at Pensacon and plans to do so at PensacoLebowski, are enthused.

"I'm looking forward to the all-day bowling whilst hanging with fellow abiders," Smith said.

"It has to be stress free," Fugate added. "Anything un-Dude would ruin it."

Want to go?

• WHAT: PensacoLebowski.

• WHEN: Sept. 26-27.

• WHERE: The main events are a screening of "The Big Lebowski" on Friday, Sept. 26, at Treehouse Cinemas, 1175 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, followed by Jackie Treehorn's Garden Party at Capt'n Fun Beach Club, 400 Quietwater Beach Road, Pensacola Beach; and all-day bowling with additional events on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Liberty Lanes, 3200 N. Palafox St., folowed by the Logjammin' Party at Arety's Angels, 11 E. Fairfield Dr.

• TICKETS: $35 through Sept. 19; $40 thereafter at www.pensacolebowski.com. Additional fees may apply. Saturday-only day passes will be $35 at the door, if available. No day passes will be available for Friday.

• DETAILS: Visit www.pensacolebowski.com.