About an hour ago, text messages started to fly around Park City, regarding an altercation between film critic John Anderson and producer (and Big Lebowski inspiration) Jeff Dowd in the restaurant at the Yarrow Resort. I’m staying in the hotel, so I went downstairs as soon as I heard to investigate. Here’s what I was able to put together:

John Anderson apparently had a negative opinion of Dirt! the Movie (I say “apparently” because I can’t get Variety’s web site to load right now so I can’t confirm whether or not Anderson published a negative review of the film; if you can find one, please post a link in the comments) (see update below). Dowd is the producer’s rep on the documentary.

Spotting Anderson eating in the Yarrow’s restaurant, Dowd approached him to argue the merits of the film. The producer tried to make the point that Anderson should acknowledge the importance of the environmental film’s subject matter. Anderson said he wanted to be left alone to eat breakfast, Dowd didn’t leave, and Anderson stood up and punched Dowd in the mouth.

I initially heard Anderson threw two punches; I then overheard Dowd tell a police officer that he was punched “two or three times.” The police officer said that he didn’t see any marks on Dowd’s face, and Dowd and a friend made a joking comment about Anderson’s punching abilities.

The officer said it was up to Dowd to decide if he wanted to press charges. The Dude was last seen in the Yarrow lobby on a cell phone, discussing the incident and apparently debating whether or not to do just that. More details as they come in!

UPDATE 3:59 PM MST: Anne Thompson has posted a detailed account of the incident, and it looks like not only has Anderson not written a review of Dirt!, but now he never will. Apparently, after a screening of the film, Dowd and Anderson walked over to the Yarrow together, and Anderson called the movie “poor, too simplistic, too redundant.” The argument escalated from there:

Dowd told him to listen to how the audience responded. “They’re sheep,” Anderson said. “You’ve got so much power,” said Dowd. “Before you write this we should have more discussion.” “I told you to get away from me,” Anderson responded. Dowd says he added, “‘If you don’t get away from me I’ll punch you out. Throw this riff-raff out of here!’”

Anderson told Dowd to “fuck off and get out” and Dowd did leave, but returned ten minutes later with Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling (The Howard Stern Show) to speak on behalf of the film…Dowd kept talking and Anderson got up and walked four steps, says Dowd, clenched up and hit him in the shoulder, chest and chin, and then his lip. Anderson remembers pushing Dowd away and says he “popped his nose.”…

“I didn’t want to hurt him,” says Anderson. “This was nothing close to a fistfight.”