Advantages: Classic film perfect in every way Disadvantages: Some swearing and references to drugs
...this old favourite of mine. Withnail and I is the semi autobiographical tale of Bruce Robinson, the films’ writer and director. The extra features include a documentary on the making of the film, including interviews with the crew, cast and even the great man himself. For this reason, I snapped up a copy at the bargain price of £7. Was it worth it? Well, read on and I’ll tell you more!
The story
***********
It is the end of the sixties and the ... ...on the film called “ Withnail and Us”, optional commentary from actors Paul McGann and Ralph Brown and behind the scenes stills from Ralph Steadman.
As for being the uncut version, well I guess that there are not really any spectacular changes from the original film. Except perhaps that there is more scenery to look at and the occasional extra line fitted in here and there. So nothing particularly special added here, but as the original is near ...
Judgee 26.10.2002
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Withnail And I (DVD)
Withnail and I has not only become one of the classic films of underground British cinema, it also launched the careers of two up and coming actors who are today household names. At the time Paul McGann was beginning to get noticed for his work, and was cast in the role of "I ", we never find out the characters name. Along side him the virtually unknown Richard E Grant was cast as Withnail and the coupling produced one of the best double acts in ... ...that have become the norm. Withnail persuades his rich uncle Monty to let them have use of a holiday cottage in the country and so the two city boys head off into an adventure of utter chaos as they find themselves even more out of their depth than usual. Add to this the arrival of Uncle Monty who has designs on his nephews young friend and you have the basis of the film.
Although the plot seems to be nothing out of the ordinary, what makes this ...
steerpyke 19.09.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Withnail And I (DVD)
Advantages: Probably the best British situation-comedy ever. Disadvantages: Trying to live the dream and waking up in the gutter.
...my life is far more Withnail than it is Tom Cruise (probably with a dose of “Forrest Gump” thrown in too…)
The film is available on both DVD and video. If you’re like me, you’ll have both, just in case one breaks. But I would recommend the DVD if you’re a first-time buyer- the inclusion of “Withnail & Us”, a superb documentary about the making the film, is worth the few extra quid alone. If there is a disadvantage to “Withnail & I”, it’s that it ... ...thing, it reveals most of what we’ve turned out in recent years to be the inadequate test-reel it is. A personal gripe perhaps, but one that’s not easy to dispute. Otherwise, I’d say be careful because this film makes the descent into total dysfunctionalism seem so damn appealing that you’ll be rubbing your self in Deep Heat, donning a dirty coat and heading off to the country with a case of vintage chardonnay in no time! ...
Bodd 03.11.2003
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Withnail And I (DVD)
Advantages: You'll watch again and again and again..... Disadvantages: You'll want to be Withnail
...of lines that has made Withnail a classic for just about everyone born since 1960.
What makes the film is not the plot. A pair of drunken out of work actors decide to 'get away for a while' after a particularly arduous binge and end up in a dilapidated old cottage in the middle of the Lakes. Throw in Withnail's perverted old uncle, Danny the 'purveyor of rare and prescribed substances', a psychotic poacher and various add ons and there you have ... ...just what is it about Withnail & I, well with all these things taken into consideration, it has, as Uncle Monty says a certain 'Je ne sais quoi' sheer brilliance that can only be defined by someone much cleverer than me: Bruce Robinson perhaps??
The Main Characters:
Withnail: the lead of this piece and it seems to be the only lead he will ever play. He is a fool, arrogant, has aristocratic pretentions, believes he is infinitely more talented, good ...
eljefe 08.02.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Withnail And I (DVD)
Advantages: Excellent classic film of the 80's - becomming a cult film Disadvantages: Not suitable for children because of swearing, etc.
...refuse the offer of a Withnail evening at one of my new friends’ flats? The scene was set as I arrived, armed with a bottle of wine (unfortunately not a ‘53 Margaux) and an open mind; the table was filled with an array of wine bottles, cider by the gallon, bottles of gin and whisky and a bottle of Sherry that looked quite out of place.
Like a lamb to the slaughter, I accepted this initiation into the wonderful world of Withnail and I.
... ...end of the 1960’s. Withnail and I (although the “I” character’s name is never mentioned in the film, the cognoscenti know his is Peter Marwood) are a couple of unemployed actors from different ends of the social spectrum.
Withnail is a Harrow educated dilettante, and rather upper crust; his flatmate Marwood is a grammar school boy with a slightly more serious outlook on life. To escape from the squalor of their grim, unemployed, ...
TrueChristian 04.12.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Withnail And I (DVD)
...it, they are missing out! Withnail and I is one of the all time classic British cult films!
The Cast
********
Richard E Grant – Withnail
Paul McGann – "I"
Richard Griffiths – Uncle Monty
Ralph Brown – Danny
Michael Elphick – The Poacher
The story
*********
Withnail and I are two drunken, drugged up out of work actors. Living in squalor in a Camden flat. They wake up one day and realise it is just 90 days until ... ...can help them, a holiday. Withnail comes from a rich family and is convinced by "I" to contact his Uncle Monty. Monty has a holiday cottage in the country and agrees to let the two stay there for for a while. Little did "I" know that Monty has an alterior motive for his generosity, a penchant for young actors!
The charcters
*************
Withnail is a classically trained actor slowly losing his mind from boredoom and the excesses that fill his ...
Judgee 15.10.2001 (16.10.2001)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Withnail And I (DVD)
...sharing his miserable existence with Withnail (Richard E Grant), an alcoholic dry tongued man, who despite his unfortunate situation, still holds some sort of nobility. In a desperate bid to escape their dishevelled life, 'I' proposes a trip to the country in Monty's cottage, with disastrous and hilarious consequences. The pair encounter inhospitable neighbours, near starvation, a randy bull and Withnail's homosexual Uncle Monty (Richard Griffiths). ... ...will never forget, even if Withnail does.
CHARACTERS/ACTING
The characters are brilliant, cultivated like pieces of art, each persona is perfectly crafted. The character of 'I' is a complicated mix of anxiety, seriousness and paranoia, thrown in are equal measures of love and dislike for Withnail. In contrast Withnail is selfish, witty and dry, disgusted he has come to this. Together they are the imperfect team. Paul McGann, a mostly unknown actor ...
apple_scruff 10.08.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Withnail And I (DVD)
Advantages: Hilarious performances all round, great soundtrack, one of the finest scripts known to humanity Disadvantages: Not for the easily-shocked...
...and two (lazily) struggling actors, Withnail (Richard E. Grant) and Marwood (Paul McGann), find themselves with 90 days to go until the end of “the greatest decade man has ever known”. Their London flat is one of supreme squalor and debauchery, their diet is alcohol (principally), cigarettes, drugs and the odd raw potato. The decision is made that they’ve got to get out for a while, and after introducing themselves to the flagrantly ... ...to hear about the legendary Withnail & I drinking game. Two teams of one or more people take part: one of the teams plays Withnail, the other Marwood. While watching the film, you must match your team’s character drink for drink. This includes Withnail’s downing of a bottle of lighter fluid, and Marwood’s eating a bowl of instant coffee with a spoon. It is guaranteed that by the time Withnail declares that “we’ll have ...
james.bridgeman 14.04.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Withnail And I (DVD)
Advantages: Superb humour, Richard E. Grant is top class Disadvantages: Not one for the kids, women don't seem to like it either
A friend of mine kept going on about the film “Withnail and I”, and on about it, and on about it and on about it some more. It got to the point where he actually bought it for me for Christmas, and as it turned out it was a fabulous present (especially when I needed something to cheer me up while having Glandular Fever).
It is set in the 1960s, but don’t let that sway you on either the good or bad side as it has very little to do with the plot in ... ...of which I’ll try and give you a taste of here.
First things first – Richard E. Grant is superb as Withnail, the drunken, lying figure of all laddish-humour. He makes a pretty poor excuse for a human being one you sympathise with, laugh with and hope for as he fails to land acting job after acting job. Grant should have gained greater recognition for his part, but as an unfashionable film that sadly will never happen.
Paul McGann is also superb ...
toneboy7 29.08.2000
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Withnail And I (DVD)
Advantages: A high point of British comedy. Disadvantages: ....
Everyone knows a Withnail quote, so I thought I'd open with one. This is a very English cult - I tried explaining it to the Americans, but they seemed to find it all as quaint as Ealing or Brief Encounter. However, this is the film that inspired the drinking games, caused carloads of students everywhere to wear long coats and scarves, shout things like "Fork it!", and menace old ladies in tea shops. The set up is simple: in the dying days of the ... ...Grant dominates the movie. His Withnail is bitter, manic, cowardly, acerbic, witty and pathetic. The film's original ending was to have him blowing his head off with a shotgun, but then Robinson realised it was sad enough as it is - a failed actor reciting Shakespeare to a pack of wolves in the rain. Almost every line of Robinson's script - based on his own experiences in the Sixties - is a finely crafted work of comic genius. There are no real jokes ...
Plissken 09.01.2001 (06.01.2001)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Withnail And I (DVD)
Advantages: Very witty Disadvantages: May bore action fans
...overlooked. This film is Withnail & I, starring Richard E. Grant (Withnail), Paul McGann (I) and Richard Griffiths (Monty Withnail). Most of the people I know have never even heard of this film, let alone seen it, and this is a great shame.
Withnail and I is a story, told from the point of view of I, about two out of work actors sharing a flat in late 1960’s London. Their lives revolve around drugs, alcohol and waiting for calls from their ... ...course, it doesn’t help that Withnail antagonises him in the pub. The nearby farmer gives them some food but unfortunately, the chicken he gives them is still alive. They do try to get some food themselves by shooting fish.
Uncle Monty arrives in the middle of the night. When he hears his arrival, Withnail climbs into bed with I, thinking that the poacher has come to kill them. Monty finds them together and assumes that they are homosexual ...
Shanksey 16.11.2002
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Withnail And I (DVD)
Advantages: A Classic than can be watched over and over again Disadvantages: Sound quality - Not available on DVD
...looks like a carrot”.
Withnail and I has found its way into modern culture; it is a part of life for many people, and in common with Monty Python, can be quoted line-for line by many of the cognoscente.
This low-budget 1987 film has captured the imagination of at least two generations, and is reaching cult status, but why?
There is no doubt that the strong characters, portrayed by some fine actors, of Withnail (Richard E. Grant), “I” ... ...makes this film work.
Withnail and I are two unemployed actors who escape the oppression of 60’s London for a break in the country cottage of Uncle Monty, near Penrith.
This is a tale of their hilarious journey, and how their stay in Penrith contrasts with their lives in London.
The drink and drugs have done them no favours, and when they arrive at the cottage it too is depressing, cold and damp.
The two main characters produce some of ...
john.sw 12.02.2001 (17.02.2001)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Withnail And I (DVD)
Advantages: SO quotable and very funny. Disadvantages: you may start annoying people with your constant script!!
...with student culture, after all, Withnail (Richard E.Grant) epitomises how the rest of the world sees students!! Living in squalor, jobless and either stoned out of their brains or as pissed as a lord.
Funny thing is folks, Richard E. Grant, who gives one of the most memorable and greatest performances of his life, is allergic to alcohol!! indeed, he had to neck a bottle of booze for the audition (legend has it) and was given the part before spending ... ...(Paul McGann), to do this withnail must convince the owner of the cottage, his Uncle Monty (Richard Griffiths) , that "I" is, like Monty, a homosexual. Things are bad enough what with the problems of no food, no fuel, and a psychotic local poacher after them without Monty popping in to get more familiar with "I".
All the cast pull off a memorable performance and at the end of the film, although you don't like him, you can't help but feel pity and ...
doctorwho 02.02.2001 (22.02.2001)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Withnail And I (DVD)
Withnail and I is a drama/comedy film directed and written by Bruce Robinson. The film was released in 1986.
The film is based on the life of Bruce Robinson in the late 1960s. It follows the adventures of Withnail (Richard E Grant) and "I" (Paul McGann), two struggling and unemployed actors. Withnail is flamboyant and alcoholic and "I" is anxious and more level-headed. "I" is also the narrator of the film.
They both start to suffer the effects ... ...drug dealer and Michael Elphick as a poacher.
Withnail and I is often described as one of Britain's biggest cult films. I really enjoyed this film and always love watching it. There are so many brilliant and memorable scenes. This is one of those films that everyone must see. ...
mozzie76 16.05.2009
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Withnail And I (DVD)
Advantages: it is funny and brilliant Disadvantages: can not watch this film enough times
I really love the film Withnail and I. It has 2 great actors in it Richard E Grant and Paul Mcgann.
The film is set in the swinging 60's and both characters are unemployed actors. Withnail (Richard E Grant) is an alcoholic. They share a flat that is untidy and dirty. My favourite part of the film is when they are having a discussion in the flat over there being no food or drink and Withnail goes into a tangent and yells "I demand to have some booze"
... ...to get this for free Withnail says that I really likes him. This adds to more humour when his uncle turns up unexpected at the country house.
The pair have to struggle to find food while they are there alone and also go to the local farm. By the end of the film I finally gets a well paid acting job and Withnail is left alone. I can not describe how funny i find this film and it is definately worth a watch. I have not explained too much about it ...
marmy1 10.11.2007
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Withnail And I (DVD)
Set in 1969, the year in which the hippy dreams of so many young Englishmen went sour, ... more
1986's Bruce Robinson'sWithnail and Iis an enduring British cult. Fellow enthusiasts cry immortal phrases from the endlessly brilliant script to one another like mat...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Set in 1969, the year in which the hippy dreams of so many young Englishmen went sour, ... more
1986's Bruce Robinson'sWithnail and Iis an enduring British cult. Fellow enthusiasts cry immortal phrases from the endlessly brilliant script to one another like mat...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
London. The '60s. two unemployed actors - acerbic, elegantly wasted Withnail (Richard E. ... more
Grant) and the anxiety-ridden I (Paul McGann) - drown their frustrations in booze, pills, and lighter fluid. When Withnail's Uncle Monty (Richard Griffiths) offers...
Set in 1969, the year in which the hippy dreams of so many young Englishmen went sour, ... more
1986's Bruce Robinson'sWithnail and Iis an enduring British cult. Fellow enthusiasts cry immortal phrases from the endlessly brilliant script to one another like mat...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Production Year: 1992 - Comedy - Director: Tim Robbins - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Ray Wise, Alan Rickman, Giancarlo Esposito, Tim Robbins
Production Year: 2004 - Comedy - Director: John Hay - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jimi Mistry, Kate Miles, Dougray Scott
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst