you're out of your element donny

actually i don't know what the fuck i'm talking about. the dude totally talks to donny when donny says 'phones ringing dude'. carry on. thanks wes.

so, i didn't know this was out there, but according to steve buscemi there is an idea floating around that in the big lebowski donny is just a figment of walter's imagination. maybe he's one of walter's old war buddies who died and his spirit is following walter around.

so, when the guy who played the character comments on a theory it makes me kind of perk up and pay attention so i went back and watched the big lebowski this morning and here is what i noticed:

• though donny talks to the dude, the dude never talks to donny. not once.
  
• despite walter's obvious verbal abuse of donny no one ever comments on it
  
• no mention is made during the gathering or spreading of the ashes to when or how donny died

here is my assessment:

• walter is batshit (duh)
  
• donny is a figment of his imagination, an idealized version of the brothers he lost in vietnam
  
• his love for donny is apparent in the hold-up scene outside the bowling alley
  
• walter's fits and verbal abuse of donny take place solely in his head, as evidenced by the complete lack of reaction from those around him
  
• the dude knows walter has been damaged by the war and gives him a little leeway on his behavior, up to an including attending ash spreading ceremonies for people who might not exist
  
• donny missing the strike is a harbringer of the violence to come
  
• donny's death is symbolic in walter's brain, as this is the first encounter with real danger walter has faced since returning from vietnam, perhaps snapping him out of some of his delusions