'The Big Lebowski: Collector's Edition'

'The Big Lebowski: Collector's Edition'

Joel and Ethan Coen's Hilarious Cult Comedy Classic Starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman and Julianne Moore

Rolls Onto DVD October 18, 2005 With a Digitally Remastered Picture Plus All-New Bonus Features From Universal Studios Home Entertainment

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- "The Dude" is back! "The Big Lebowski," the zany existential comedy from Academy Award(R) winners Joel and Ethan Coen ("O Brother Where Art Thou?," "Intolerable Cruelty") returns in a Collector's Edition DVD and "Achievers Edition" gift set October 18, 2005. The Coens' follow-up to their Oscar(R)-winning film "Fargo," "The Big Lebowski" is a whacked out film noir about life, death, bowling and slacking off. Jeff Bridges stars as the unforgettable Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski, an unrepentant L.A. stoner who just wants someone to pay for his stained rug. Bridges is joined by a spectacular ensemble cast including John Goodman ("Monsters Inc.," "Roseanne"), Julianne Moore ("Hannibal," "The Hours"), John Turturro ("Anger Management," "Mr. Deeds"), Steve Buscemi ("Fargo," "Reservoir Dogs"), Philip Seymour Hoffman ("Magnolia," "Cold Mountain"), Tara Reid ("American Pie," "Van Wilder"), Sam Elliot ("The Hulk," "Mask") and many more.

Since its theatrical release in 1998, consumer appreciation for "The Big Lebowski's" subtly subversive humor has snowballed, transforming it from a cult favorite into a cultural phenomenon. "The Big Lebowski's" faithful followers have created dozens of Web sites devoted to the film, and every year flocks of fans attend "Lebowski Fests" in cities across the U.S. to bowl, sip White Russians and, of course, enjoy their favorite film. The October 18, 2005 release of "The Big Lebowski: Collector's Edition DVD" will offer the uninitiated a chance to find out why this film has made its mark on popular culture. The disc is priced at $19.98 SRP. "The Big Lebowski: Collector's Edition DVD" is also available in "Achiever's Edition" gift set ($49.98 SRP) featuring eight exclusive Jeff Bridges' photographs taken from the set, a bowling towel and coasters. The pre-order deadline for both editions is September 13, 2005.

BONUS FEATURES THAT WILL BOWL YOU OVER

Fans of "The Dude" will be bowled over by the DVD's bonus features including:

* An introduction to the film by Mortimer Young -- Produced and directed
by the Coen Brothers.

* Jeff Bridges' On-Set Photos -- A brilliant photographer, Jeff Bridges
captures life on the set of "The Big Lebowski."

* The Making of "The Big Lebowski" -- Fans will get an inside glimpse
into the making of this timeless favorite.

SYNOPSIS

When thugs break into L.A. slacker Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski's shabby apartment, stick his head in the toilet and ruin his favorite rug, he decides someone has to pay -- for the rug at least. Especially when he realizes the gangsters have mistaken him for one of the richest men in town, a wheelchair-bound millionaire who also happens to be named Lebowski. So "The Dude" and his bowling buddies Walter (John Goodman), a devoutly Jewish Vietnam vet with a salty vocabulary, and Donny (Steve Buscemi), a pensive surfer, set out to solve a mystery that only seems to deepen as they uncover more clues. Along their uproarious journey they encounter Lebowski's sexy trophy wife (Tara Reid), an artist who paints in the nude (Julianne Moore), a flamboyant, trash-talking Hispanic bowler (John Turturro), a ruthless porn kingpin (Ben Gazzara) and a rapacious funeral director.

CAST & FILMMAKERS
Director: Joel Coen
Screenwriters: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Producer: Ethan Coen
Executive Producers: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
Director of Photography: Roger Deakins
Production Designer: Rick Heinrichs
Editor: Roderick Jaynes, Tricia Cooke
Costume Designer: Mary Zophres
Original Music: Carter Burwell, Elvis Costello, Townes van Zandt
Cast: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi,
David Huddleston, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tara Reid, Philip Moon,
Peter Stormare, Flea, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, John Turturro, Ben Gazzara

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DVD
Street Date: October 18, 2005
Pre-Order Date: September 13, 2005
Copyright: 2005 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Price: $19.98 SRP; $49.98 Gift Set
Selection Numbers: 26741 (Anamorphic Widescreen); 27543 (Full Frame);
28380 (Gift Set)
Running Time: 1 Hour and 58 Minutes
Layers: Dual Layer
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1, Full Frame 1.33:1
Rating: R (For pervasive strong language, drug content, sexuality and
brief violence.)
Technical Info: English Dolby Digital 5.1/Captioned; Spanish Dolby
Digital 5.1/Subtitled; French Dolby Digital 5.1/Subtitled

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.

CONTACTS

Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Vivian Mayer
Senior Vice President, Publicity
(818) 777-3594

Craig Radow
Senior Manager, Publicity
(818) 777-4572

Michelle Oakes-Slavich
Manager, Broadcast Publicity
(818) 777-5344

Alexia Necoechea
Manager, Broadcast Publicity
(818) 777-0549

Source: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

CONTACT: Vivian Mayer, Senior Vice President, Publicity,
+1-818-777-3594, or Craig Radow, Senior Manager, Publicity, +1-818-777-4572,
of Michelle Oakes-Slavich, Manager, Broadcast Publicity, +1-818-777-5344, or
Alexia Necoechea, Manager, Broadcast Publicity, +1-818-777-0549, all of
Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Web site: http://www.universalstudios.com/

-------
Profile: intent