Customer Reviews

Withnail & I (Widescreen)

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Written and Directed by Bruce Robinson (who would later go on to make the Uma Thurman movie JENNIFER 8) WITHNAIL & I is a semi-autobiographical black comedy about two struggling actors in Camdenton London during the last months of the 60s. The future is looking rather bleak for Withnail (Richard E. Grant) and I (Paul McGann). Both are out of work and in the midst of drug and alcohol problems. After hitting rock bottom the pair decide to take a peaceful vacation in the country and plan on how to re-establish some direction in their lives before the new decade begins.
However their stay in the country turns out to be anything but tranquil when the boorish, self absorbed Withnail manages to bring out the hostilities of the locals. Both reduced to the status of village pariahs, the unwelcome duo find themselves confined to the tiny cottage where they are forced to burn their own furniture to stay warm, and literally shooting fish in order to survive.
Though the movie is a bit plodding and self-important at times; WITHNAIL & I is nonetheless an absorbing and well-acted low key cult item that is worth a look for curiosity's sake. (Not something I'll have to point out to those people have seen the movie more than a dozen times! I've only seen it once.) The highlight of the movie for me is the scene in which Withnail concocts a novel way to get let off a drink driving charge.
The movie was Produced by the late George Harrison, and Ringo Starr also appears in the credits as "Richard Starkey M.B.E". Sadly, the DVD I watched didn't have any bonus features.

As a fan of both Paul McGann and Richard Grant, I looked forward to the Criterion Collection "Withnail and I". But perhaps I'm too American to appreciate the humor found within this film, which I understand has quite a cult following.

The film is mostly a series of vignettes between the alcoholic, acerbic Withnail and the softer Marlowe. Withnail is the sort of person who is intelligent and talented enough to be anything he wanted to if he'd crawl out of a scotch bottle long enough. Marlowe is alternately exasperated by and in awe of Withnail. These are early roles for both McGann and Grant, and they show remarkable talent that would be exploited in later roles.

Though touted as a dark comedy, I found more "dark" than "comedy". There were long periods between laughs while watching this film (mostly mundane things like driving cars, watching them walk to town, and chase a farmer down to buy firewood) and it never quite felt that the film was actually building towards anything until Uncle Monty shows up to the cottage to put the moves on Marlowe. Watching McGann squirm his way out of this was definitely worth watching, but took too long to get to.

Not a horrid film, but one that generally left me with a feeling of, "What was the point of that again?"

Criterion has done a wonderful job with this DVD release of WITHNAIL & I. The picture looks sharp, the sound is clear, and the extras are a lot of fun. The biggest difference for me was that the only video version of this film I owned was the full-screen version that contains numerous edits. Watching this film uncut for the first time in years really pointed out how much I had been missing with the video version. Getting this DVD is definitely worth the money.

The film itself is a joy to experience. While the plot cannot be accused of being overcomplicated, this simplicity is more than made up for in the wonderful characters and brilliant dialogue (virtually none of which can be quoted in an all-ages forum such as this). Loosely narrated by Paul McGann's "I" character, this film depicts a brief period in the life of two struggling actors as they attempt to find booze, drugs and jobs in the dying days of the 1960s. The movie covers a wide spectrum from some scenes featuring the funniest lines that you'll ever hear to small touching moments that are surprisingly moving. This is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys good moviemaking.

Every character in the picture is superbly acted and written for. It's a testament to Bruce Robinson's directing skills that the characters compliment each other so well instead of clashing and overbearing the others as could so easily have happened. The secondary characters work as well as the leads and each one adds their unique flavour to the mixture. Robinson doesn't make the mistake of giving the smaller parts too much on-screen time and having them overstay their welcome. Each character says and does no more than they need to and leaves everyone wanting more.

Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann are perfectly cast in their roles. Each bile-covered insult roles off of Grant's tongue as if he'd been swearing at McGann all his life. It's amazing that Grant is a teetotaler in real life and was relying on pure skill for most of his inspiration. Excellent acting.

The documentary that is included on the DVD is 30 minutes long and quite excellent. There are interviews with Richard E. Grant (Withnail), Paul McGann (...& I), Bruce Robinson (writer/director), Ralph Brown (Danny) and a host of other people related to the production. It's a funny and enthralling look at the people and ideas behind the film. Just fast-forward through the trainspotters.

I dunno, folks - you just gotta love England, eh? LOL...

I'll have to watch again, I missed some of the dialogue because of the English accents.

If you like dry English humor, as I do, you will LOVE this flick. Great movie to drink to you ponce. If you draw a Queen at Uncle Monty's you're doomed. See it, it's great. Also, it's produced by the Dark Horse himself!

Withnail and I is one of those movies that you'd either love or hate. Fortunately, there's a better chance of you falling in love with the film---and no wonder why, thanks to the characters and the great dialogue.
While it will resemble Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (including Marwood's living quarters, messy enough to rival Hunter S. Thompson's hotel suites!), the film itself is more about two drug addicts (and not to mention jobless actors) who gets away from the pessismistic atmosphere of London---and drugs---by moving into a cottage in that wonderful English countryside, where it's as cold as Greenland and as sunny as England can get (read: RAINY) in order to "rejuvenate". And as one can guess, what they really do is far from rejuvenation.
The cast themselves are excellent, from our anxiety-ridden narrator, Marwood, who frequently gets paranoid about things, to the main star of the film, Withnail, an alcholic with a tendency to say insulting things... as well as to recite a few lines of Hamlet, along with a bottle of booze, of course. Also of notable mention is Richard Griffiths, who plays the delightful role of Withnail's old-fashioned, homosexual uncle who lends to our to characters; and Ralph Brown, who plays drug dealer Danny---picture your stereotypical American "Dude", and then add in a British accent, holding the infamous "Camberwell Carrot", a collection of cigarettes rolled into one giant one!
A fascinating, exceptionally funny (in a British sense, of course!), and ultimately engaging, if unconventional, film, filled with outstanding perfomances, and great (if at times insulting, which makes it even greater) dialogue. A definite cult masterpiece, and thoroughly British, too.

This is one of the best British comedies of all time, however many people are underwhelmed upon seeing it, and can't understand what the fuss is all about. You either get it or you don't.

I love it.

(Though obviously not as much as Withnail cultists who have seen the film 20 plus times)

Ok. Here's the story:

Two chronically and hopelessly unemployed actors, Withnail (Richard Grant) and "I" (Paul Mc Gann) are living in absolute squalor in the London of the late 60's.

Between booze, cursing their agents, and wonderfully witty banter they fight to keep their spirits up, but it's a losing battle.

They come to the conclusion that they must escape The City to the countryside, even if only for a short while.

Withnail arranges matters by sponging from his uncle, Monty, (Richard Griffiths) a raving homosexual queen who is also obviously insane.

Needess to say the vacation turns out to be somewhat less than idyllic.

But the real joy of watching this film does not come from the plot. The comedic situations arise out of the wonderfully nutty yet completely believable characters--perfectly acted by the cast. You really feel you've met these people, a sense of deja vu, especially if you were around in the late 60's.

As to the dialogue, to call it brilliant is not high enough praise, This is one of the most quotable films, ever.

At the end, Withnail, who clearly wants to die, delivers Hamlet's 'What a piece of work is man' speech. It's a touching moment in a comedy. Chaplin himself couldn't have made it more poignant.

A cult classic in Europe, virtually unknown in the U.S.
Don't miss out on this one!

This absolutely brilliant 1987 film was an instant cult hit in its native England and has slowly gained devotees on this side of the pond. Writer-director Bruce Robinson captures the zeitgeist surrounding the "death" of the 1960's with his story of two impoverished actors who slog through "swinging" 1969 London with high hopes and low squalor. Richard E. Grant's turn as the decadently wasted Withnail is unforgettable, ably supported by the "I" of the title, Paul McGann. Reminiscent of "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas", but with a more wry British approach to substance-fueled paranoia. The two flatmates, desperate for a break from thier cramped, heatless apartment, take a road trip to the "country" (remember the "locals" in "Straw Dogs"?), and harrowing hilarity ensues. There are so many great lines, you might as well put quotation marks at the beginning and end of the script! Despite what some whiney reviewers have said, the Criterion edition is the best print I've ever seen of this movie. Even director Bruce Robinson candidly admits that it was "badly filmed"-that's just the way the movie looks and sounds, folks, deal with it! By the way, Bruce Robinson can be seen in a rare acting role in the excellent 1999 film "Still Crazy", playing a mysterious Syd Barrett type guitarist (I didn't realize it was him until I saw the interview segment included on the "Withnail" DVD and recognized him right away as the founder of "Strange Froot"!).

...is what Withnail & I is all about. We follow the self-destructive Withnail on a never-ending bender of booze and drugs, as 'I' (Marwood) gets dragged along for the ride. The film follows these two as they confront their horror at the ending of the 70s and decide to get out of London and head "to the country". Two less-suited country dwellers than these could not be found in all of England, and their misadventures and eventual return to the city make up the plot.

Plot isn't where the genius of this film lies, however. The best moments come from the caustic tongue of Withnail, along with the befuddled willingness of Marwood, and the rampant campiness of Uncle Monty. All three have their weaknesses and peccadilloes, and these are revealed through some of the most wondrously amusing, creative scenes and lines of dialogue ever recorded. Quotes from the film stick in the mind as moments of sadness, illumination, hippy-wonder and humour. No "Three best lines from Withnail & I" lists would contain the same line.

As a comedy, a 'turn of an era' documentary and as a character-study (based on real people), this film succeeds on every level. To watch it is to love it.