A difficult film for me to remain calmly objective about and avoid hyperbolic hagiolatry for I am one of those classic sad cases who go through life forever quoting from this particular gem the first opportunity they get. Having said that I'll have a go. 'Withnail and I' is for all intents and purposes the archetypal stoned, student slacker movie (made years before that term became vogueish) and is the tale of two out of work actors who spend their days in a dishevelled flat consuming copious quantities of alcohol and amphetamines. One day they drive off into the country to'rejuvenate', and that's about it really. It's simplicity is it's beauty however and the almost episodic nature of the film only heightens the pleasure and the overall impression one is left with is of a series of beautifully crafted sketches neatly woven together into a thoroughly satisfying whole. Grant is superb and has quite simply never done anything to surpass his role here and both Paul McGann and Richard Griffiths give stirling performances but it is Grant's film really and as he staggers shambolically from one paranoid drunken rant to the next he seems to eclipse everything else on the screen. Whether it is roaring profanities at gay uncles "Monty, you terrible C**t!" or hurling salacious abuse at teenage schoolgirls "Scrubbers!", he is gloriously monstrous and lovable all at the same time. Having said that though the real star of the film is Bruce Robinson's script which throws any traditional plot conventions out of the window in favour of a charming (oh so very English) tale of a fading, outlived friendship set against the backdrop of a fading, outlived decade. It is a truly unique achievement filled with eccentricity, surreality and just a dash of pathos with Robinson's restrained direction leaving the dialogue and the flawless performances (honourable mention should go to Ralph Brown and Michael Elphick) to carry the film which they do effortlessly. The greatest British film ever? There's a few close contenders (Black Narcissus, Scum, Trainspotting to name but a few)but for my money there isn't even a debate. Course it is!
Review of Withnail & I
