The Coen Brothers are probably my favorite filmmakers. They're snide, manipulative, and, with this film, frighteningly prescient:
In the opening scene of the movie, we see The Dude writing a check for (heh) sixty-nine cents for a quart of half and half. He looks up at a TV monitor, and we see President George Bush, father of our current prez, talking about war in the Middle East. The Dude then bends back down to continue writing his check.
The date on his check?
September 11, 1991
I don't know about you, but this movie turned from comedy to horror once I'd seen it enough times to actually catch that detail. Art imitating life, or vice versa? Mere coincidence, yeah, but don't tell me you don't get a little *shiver* up your spine next time you see this flick.