Review of Withnail & I (1987) by Kimberley F — 15 Jan 2011

I lived in England (Oxford and Wheatley) right around the time this film was made. And I lived like this. Farm houses talking till dawn, bleary-eyed mornings, music. Gentle Giant, The Pogues, Kate Bush, you name it.

A lot of intake, no money, bizarre work, and yes, green fields filled with sheep and walking through, Melton Mowbray pork pies, pasties, pints. Fortunately no gropers, unless you count me and the barmaid.

I was only too happy to befriend the barmaid, easy access to needed supply. Lovely. And a lovely funny film! Probably my favorite from Handmade, autobiographical, captures time and place, and state of mind.

Some call it a cult film, but that status is often reserved for films whose appeal is not understood. The appeal here is a strong story in the literary style with some beautiful shots and overall delirious performances.

We laughed so much watching this together, my sons and I. To laugh as much is to live as kings of all we survey, large in ourselves and happy to know we share the world with madcap others like ourselves.