Review of Withnail & I (1987) by Christopher S — 14 May 2009

I should start of by saying that to me trying to review this is like trying to review the mona lisa or don Quixote- I donâ??t think I could ever do it justice . Itâ??s also a very deep and intelligent film, and I donâ??t want you tinking Iâ??m a perfumed ponce.

Itâ??s probably the greatest British film of all time, and itâ??s certainly the most loved. So, Iâ??m writing this for people who I gues have seen it and love it, and people whoâ??ve never heard of it before as well. Itâ??s a very funny film, and itâ??s also very moving. Great characters, great actors, and of course, itâ??s got a script thatâ??s got more great lines than almost any movie in history.

The story is deceptively simple- 2 people go for a weekend in the country then go home. Thereâ??s no action, no adventure. Almost no story. But my god is it entertaining, and itâ??s also a very deep film, on a par with a stage play (indeed, with only 4 or 5 characters and a few locations it would work well on stage, though no one could match the original cast), and itâ??s many layers come through with repeated viewing. Bruce Robinson is trying to say something important about life. It has a great poety to it, a beautiful sadness. Itâ??s not for everyone, but I could almost say if you donâ??t like, you have no soul.

Itâ??s November 1969, weeks before the end of the 60â??s. Our heroes are 2 young out of work actors, Withnail and the narrator, whoâ??s name we never learn. They share a house in London, and at the start of the film it feels like the morning after a great party. One that ended months ago.

Withnail is the star of the movie- a glorious coward, rake and drunkard, burning with indignation and lighter fluid. A trained actor reduced to the status of a bum, washed up before 30. One of the greatest characters in cinema, a real 3 dimensional character, exceedingly well written and acted. â??Iâ?? is calmer, less unhinged, but at the edge of his nerves from too much speed and grass.

Realizing they are drifting into the arena of the unwell, they persuade Withnailâ??s eccentric Uncle Monty to let them use his cottage in the Lake District for a weekend. The two are pathetically unsuited to the country- especially Withnail, who at one point attempts to shoot trout with a shot gun out of hunger. Uncle Monty arrives, and itâ??s then we learn the meaning of the film, as they walk the moors.

â??There is no true beauty without decayâ?? Monty says. Anything that is good, that is beautiful, must eventually decay and be destroyed, and change is inevitable. We can try to hold on to something, but we canâ??t. It is an elegy, for the sixties, a lament for England- a country where royalty comes in droves and people are throwing themselves in front of cars to escape the hideousness. And itâ??s about death, and friendship, and love. The endless drinking and drug taking is what people remember, and it can be dismissed as a drugs/alcoholism movie. But itâ??s about why Withnail drinks. This all makes the film incredibly sad, maybe too sad for non-british audiences, who might not realise itâ??s actually a comedy.

But what a comedy- withnail is the cinemaâ??s greatest drunk, roaring across the screen. Itâ??s to write this without wanting to real off the best lines, but I donâ??t want to deny people whoâ??ve not seen it the pleasures.

And the supporting cast are amazing- many a night out in England ends with people quoting Uncle Monty the bizarre fat old homosexual, who epitomes the heart of the film, and Danny the dealer, who lurks reptile like in their house at the start.

When they leave to country and get home, they find Danny has moved in, and â??a huge spade in the bathâ??. Danny gets them very very high, and they lament the end of the sixties. The greatest decade in the history of mankind is coming to and end, and as Presuming Ed points out, they have failed to paint it black. But Danny too is getting out, moving into the toy trade. Only Withnail will remain, and only the wolves get to see his Dane.

You should watch this, itâ??ll blow your minds, even if this review is total shit. Just roll up a camberwell carrot â?? never less than 12 skins. And if it does blow your minds, find your neutral space. You got a rush. Itâ??ll pass. Be seated.