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Jeff Bridges Just Gave His Blessing To A 'Big Lebowski' Theory That Donnie Isn't Real

Posted by brandonfrombrobible@reddit | lebowski | View on Reddit | 110 comments

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110 Comments

Thick_Ad3001@reddit

K A R L H U N G U S
View on Reddit #78857512

BongDong69420@reddit

If you will it, it is no dream.
View on Reddit #54366033

ComfortablyBalanced@reddit

What the fuck are you talking about?
View on Reddit #54366584

Hopeful-Balance8687@reddit

I’m talking about a million dollars
View on Reddit #65504342

starfleethastanks@reddit

Donnie! He is no dream!
View on Reddit #54367583

ANewMagic@reddit

I am the walrus.
View on Reddit #54404140

AlconTheFalcon@reddit

While also pointing out the flaws in the theory that make it utter nonsense. 
View on Reddit #54366183

Hopeful-Balance8687@reddit

Don’t be pedantic, Jeffrey
View on Reddit #65504315

PoliceChiefOfMalibu@reddit

That makes me fuckin' sick. Those rich fucks. This whole fuckin thing. I did not watch my Donny die face down in the muck so that this fucking strumpet, this fuckin whore could waltz around town...
View on Reddit #54432991

the-walter_sobchak@reddit

“…my buddies…”
View on Reddit #55010402

RobbyWausau@reddit

The Coen Bros have gone so far as to state there all imagined. One could stand to reason that only "The Stranger", the one who unfolds the story..
View on Reddit #54467404

dunnkw@reddit

How could he not be real if Dude and Walter both acknowledged him?
View on Reddit #54368538

ThrowDeepALWAYS@reddit

Coitus?
View on Reddit #54394933

dunnkw@reddit

I don’t see the connection
View on Reddit #54441674

ThrowDeepALWAYS@reddit

Well there isn’t a literal connection
View on Reddit #54449747

dunnkw@reddit

Face it there isn’t *any* connection. Your roll.
View on Reddit #54450859

ThrowDeepALWAYS@reddit

Yeah? Well, you know, that’s just like, uh, your opinion man.
View on Reddit #54451052

mayhem6@reddit

They’re both having the same acid flashback?
View on Reddit #54372974

thisoldguy74@reddit

Now I gotta watch it again...
View on Reddit #54446737

Kubliah@reddit

Well, then where did they get the ashes, man? You're not dealing with rank amateurs here.
View on Reddit #54422104

Benana@reddit

Maybe I’m misremembering but isn’t there a line in the movie that implies Walter never fought in Vietnam at all?
View on Reddit #54391240

handymel@reddit

Goodman has made the comment he always thought Walter was in the rear with the gear.
View on Reddit #54417086

radwrex@reddit

But in the beginning of the movie we hear “What tied the room together Dude?” “My rug.”
View on Reddit #54366140

polite_gorilla@reddit

And again when the portable phone is ringing and The Dude says, “thank you Donny”
View on Reddit #54366302

Holymyco@reddit

He basically said it’s fun to think The Dude could be playing along with Walter’s delusions the few times he acknowledges Donnie. The Dude abides.
View on Reddit #54366619

billybeat@reddit

Also of note…. Quintana and Liam are a 2-man team. Could the whole league be a 2-man squad? I’ve never noticed Smokey’s teammate/s. Just sayin
View on Reddit #54376772

sourdieselfuel@reddit

I thought this too until recently. They absolutely show their 3rd sitting with them in a shot.
View on Reddit #54414337

NukeDaBurbs@reddit

Except the mortuary scene completely debunked this idiotic theory.
View on Reddit #54367155

Peg_leg_tim_arg@reddit

And who's ashes fly in ol duder's face
View on Reddit #54367364

Mechanical_Monk@reddit

It was actually Walter who died of a heart attack during the fight with the nihilists. The Dude adopted Walter as an imaginary friend just like how Walter adopted Donny after Donny died by *his* side in battle. The ashes are Walter's.
View on Reddit #54401266

monoflorist@reddit

You want ashes? I can get you ashes. Believe me, there are ways (I also think this theory is absurd)
View on Reddit #54398575

Flora_Screaming@reddit

It's a ringer. Walter had his undies cremated. His dirty laundry. The whitesssss!
View on Reddit #54388360

vibrance9460@reddit

It’s over. Dude has spoken.
View on Reddit #54390367

Holymyco@reddit

If you read the article you’d know how Bridges explains that, you human paraquat. Why does everything have to be a travesty with you, man?
View on Reddit #54367993

ahoboknife@reddit

Well, there isn’t a literal connection, dude.
View on Reddit #54384086

polite_gorilla@reddit

The original article or the compromised second draft?
View on Reddit #54372175

NukeDaBurbs@reddit

![gif](giphy|tZ4QzCueTwh2g)
View on Reddit #54368191

ReconeHelmut@reddit

He’s said that for years. There’s an ancient interview where he says the same thing.
View on Reddit #54377231

NeverBeNormalnbn@reddit

It would make sense too, it’s subtle but you can tell Walter has a bit of an anger problem and kinda overreacts sometimes.
View on Reddit #54367426

BadnameArchy@reddit

He has emotional problems, man.
View on Reddit #54369395

JustTheBeerLight@reddit

Beyond pacifism?
View on Reddit #54371796

beerrunner82@reddit

Not in Nam of course
View on Reddit #54374045

The_Crown_Jul@reddit

I did not know that.
View on Reddit #54371067

DubLParaDidL@reddit

That would work if he wasn't responding to Donnie saying phone's ringing. Saying thank you Donnie, would need a prompt. Same thing with I'm going home, it needs a prompt. So unless Walter is impersonating Donnie and saying the prompts, the occasionally responding to Walter's imaginary friend doesn't work with the dialogue.
View on Reddit #54369716

Humble_Turnip_3948@reddit

My ring tone reminds me every time I get a call Donny exists because he asked if where I'm going and I'm always going home. He is more real than the Easter Bunny or that pedderass.
View on Reddit #54373513

ImNotTheBossOfYou@reddit

There's no Kirby
View on Reddit #54366818

soontobecp@reddit

Where are you going Dude? I m going home Donny.
View on Reddit #54368275

polite_gorilla@reddit

Phones ringing dude Thank you Donny Ya! Was driving at the general dialog among them I guess. The dude smoked a J (hope you don’t mind) and probably was unclear.
View on Reddit #54372257

soontobecp@reddit

He also asks The Dude where he is going.
View on Reddit #54373699

michaltee@reddit

Uh dear? For your information the Coen Brothers have *roundly* rejected this false narrative!
View on Reddit #54413763

FanNo7805@reddit

Doesn’t Donnie physically knock the bowling pins over?
View on Reddit #54408526

Hour_Eagle2@reddit

That’s fucking interesting man. That’s fucking interesting.
View on Reddit #54407905

TonyWilliams03@reddit

It's all a big scam, man
View on Reddit #54403569

NiceMarmot__@reddit

What in gods holy name are you blathering about!
View on Reddit #54402613

Pimpstik69@reddit

Well , that’s just like his opinion, man
View on Reddit #54401489

sbowden99@reddit

I’m staying! Enjoying my Donnie.
View on Reddit #54366435

ThrowDeepALWAYS@reddit

He really tied the movie together, did he not?
View on Reddit #54394348

hefebellyaro@reddit

The coens are the only real authority
View on Reddit #54366676

Hefty_Win_8811@reddit

They've got their story, and I've got mine.
View on Reddit #54372553

ThrowDeepALWAYS@reddit

Yes, yes?
View on Reddit #54394280

marbotty@reddit

They told Brandt, Brandt told me: Donny’s real
View on Reddit #54379037

opopkl@reddit

Jesus and Liam are on a team of two, whereas the Dude, Wallet and Donnie seem to be a team of three. I don't know enough about bowling - can you play two against three?
View on Reddit #54390848

starfleethastanks@reddit

The ashes came from somewhere.
View on Reddit #54366775

pop_em5@reddit

I can get you a toe. Believe me, there are ways.
View on Reddit #54390583

safetycommittee@reddit

Bridges explained a way around this. The Dude preemptively visits the funeral home. This makes sense why Walter would be sooo upset about the modesty priced receptacle. He knows it’s just some random ashes. Just because his process is delusional doesn’t make him a sap. He hits on a couple other points to enforce the theory.
View on Reddit #54375681

starfleethastanks@reddit

Why is everyone so eager to erase Donny?!
View on Reddit #54375914

safetycommittee@reddit

He’s just entertaining the theory. Personally, I don’t think Donnie’s existence is in doubt. He is the character that ties the movie together.
View on Reddit #54379287

Grip-my-juiceky@reddit

The occasional acid flashback
View on Reddit #54367130

starfleethastanks@reddit

Also, The Dude runs over to Donny and goes "they shot him, man" just after the fight with the nihilists. DONNY IS REAL!
View on Reddit #54367408

uncle_fucker_42069@reddit

It's an interesting idea and a nice one on the endless list of reasons to watch it again. But it quickly falls on it face when you try. Instead, if you had not noticed: Pretty much all music plays in the actual movie, there is barely a soundtrack. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diegetic_music
View on Reddit #54388532

WizeDiceSlinger@reddit

That’s just like your opinion, man
View on Reddit #54386358

Ok_Television9820@reddit

He said it was interesting to think about. I guesss it sort of is?
View on Reddit #54383915

StOnEy333@reddit

I’ve never heard of this, but god damn it does seem to kinda work.
View on Reddit #54381807

AnotherFrankHere@reddit

Why does the Stranger talk about Donnie? And The Dude does address Donnie when Donnie says “Phone’s ringin, Dude.” And whose ashes are they spreading……..????
View on Reddit #54369106

Minimum-Helicopter40@reddit

Bridges says that the stranger is outside time and space, he could be referring him dying in Vietnam…just saying what was said
View on Reddit #54381007

Financial-Mastodon81@reddit

Precisely! I hate this made up fake conspiracy crap!
View on Reddit #54378511

Additional-Ad8632@reddit

![gif](giphy|F3G8ymQkOkbII)
View on Reddit #54380116

Zer0daveexpl0it@reddit

No he didn't this is a heavily edited by omission piece of shit clickbait. Sorry dude you've been scammed man.
View on Reddit #54379552

Low-Marionberry-4430@reddit

I watched it last night with this theory in mind and I’m now a believer
View on Reddit #54378941

SokkaHaikuBot@reddit

^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^Low-Marionberry-4430: *I watched it last night* *With this theory in mind and* *I’m now a believer* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
View on Reddit #54378949

Financial-Mastodon81@reddit

With all due respect, the great Jeff Bridges can’t say what the Coen Bros were thinking unless they specially told him. Which he hasn’t said was the case. Donnie was real.
View on Reddit #54378462

audiate@reddit

If Donny didn’t exist the scene in which we meet The Jesus doesn’t work. The Jesus interacts with Donny by blowing Donny a kiss, which is a very character appropriate interaction for the two of them. The scene is shot and cut as to demonstrate that the kiss is to Donny specifically. If Donny didn’t exist then the scene would have to be deliberately deceptive, intentionally making us think it’s to Donny when it isn’t. Personally, I think it’s a really fun theory to entertain, and it almost works, and does work at times, but I don’t think it’s true. True isn’t the point though. It’s a fun idea to entertain on repeated viewings. 
View on Reddit #54378116

TalkShowHost99@reddit

His imaginary life is in your hands dude. Mr. Lebowski asked me to repeat that.
View on Reddit #54375930

imjustmos@reddit

![gif](giphy|t7g01MOwdS3yo) Forget it Donny you’re not real
View on Reddit #54374894

audiate@reddit

The theme of the evening in Santa Barbara was, “That’s just like, your opinion man.” He entertained the idea and asked the audience what they thought, while allowing everyone to come to their own conclusion.
View on Reddit #54374587

SlatheredButtCheeks@reddit

Ok but that’s just like, Jeff’s opinion man
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purplevisuals2@reddit

Well dude, we just don’t know.
View on Reddit #54373324

Main_Parking4816@reddit

The entire movie is one continuous plot hole - why not?
View on Reddit #54373075

mayhem6@reddit

If Donny isn’t real then both Walter and the Dude are having the same hallucination because they both interact with him. It’s not like the Dude never speaks to him. “Your phone’s ringing Dude!” “Thank you, Donny!”
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TDKarabotsos@reddit

I am the walrus.
View on Reddit #54371990

no_bender@reddit

Sir, this is a mortuary, not a rental house.
View on Reddit #54370706

Ghosts_of_the_maze@reddit

Got weirdly upset about Walter talking about Vietnam during the eulogy for a guy who was only going through the motions of a fake service for a man who doesn’t exist.
View on Reddit #54368878

dudes_rug@reddit

Thats fuckin interesting man…
View on Reddit #54368767

DudeAshes@reddit

THE GODDAMNED PLANE HAS CRASHED INTO THE MOUNTAIN
View on Reddit #54368262

mjp31514@reddit

Crazy that people still argue this whole point when it's so obvious that Donnie is the only real character of the trio.
View on Reddit #54368073

Blueberry_Mancakes@reddit

Just because we’re bereaved doesn't make us saps!
View on Reddit #54366245

YouMissedWithACannon@reddit

**GOD-DAMNIT**
View on Reddit #54367331

Blueberry_Mancakes@reddit

Is there a Ralph’s around here?
View on Reddit #54367593

cassimiro04@reddit

But "Donnie really tied the film together."
View on Reddit #54367587

ProfessorrFate@reddit

My advice to you is to do what your parents did: get a life, sir.
View on Reddit #54366050

Ack_Pfft@reddit

This is a very complicated case, Maude. A lot of ins, a lot of outs. Fortunately, I’m adhering to a pretty strict drug regimen to keep my mind limber.
View on Reddit #54367504

Zarniwoooop@reddit

Donny fixed the cable
View on Reddit #54366549

__cursist__@reddit

Don’t be fatuous, Zarniwoooop
View on Reddit #54367213

Awwwphuck@reddit

Well he can fucking un(re)post it!
View on Reddit #54367196

drewbaccaAWD@reddit

What?! No.... Shut the fuck up!
View on Reddit #54366910

Turbulent_Ad9508@reddit

I need my fucking Johnson! What do you need that for dude?
View on Reddit #54366672

mrbeck1@reddit

He doesn’t have all the information.
View on Reddit #54366635

jjames34@reddit

It's Donny
View on Reddit #54366466

Alternative-Cash8411@reddit

Yeah, well, that just, like, your opinion, man.
View on Reddit #54366293

AbruptMango@reddit

Lotta ins, lotta outs.  And a lotta strands to keep in my head, Man.
View on Reddit #54365887