So much weird, wonderful culture has built up around The Big Lebowski—the annual Lebowski Fest, a religion called Dudeism—that you can easily get distracted from how good the movie really is. Lebowski can probably claim the world’s most perfect screenplay, a Raymond Chandler spoof that’s also a criticism of the first Gulf War that’s also a lyrical comedy with no line out of place. Sure, the acting and directing and production design are dazzling, but The Big Lebowski is most importantly a bracing reminder that every great movie begins with a brilliant piece of writing. (Central Cinema, 1411 21st Ave, central-cinema.com, 9:30 pm, $7 adv/$9 DOS, Aug 29–Sept 3)