"Withnail and I", (1987) written and directed by Bruce Robinson.
The first time I saw this film, I was 14 or 15. At the time, there was this incredible new TV channel that seemed to have come directly from "The Twilight Zone" or "Nightflight". It appeared out of the blue and it was broadcasting in a completely unorthodox TV broadcasting way (weird repeats, short animated films instead of ads). Thanks to this channel in 4 years (it was later bought by a network and became a weird, forgotten, no man's TV land) I was introduced to shows like "Blackadder", "Kids in the Hall", "The Twilight Zone", "Fawlty Towers" and other cult classics. It was like a weird cult pop culture marathon and I loved it.
So, one Saturday evening, I tuned in and there I was, watching the beginning of a film that I didn't know what it was, but, didn't have time to think about it, since, in the first 5 minutes I found myself laughing like crazy. I was completely sucked in and I remember panicking when the film ended, because this channel didn't have a broadcasting schedule like the rest of the "standard" TV channels, so I thought I would never find out the name of the film! (These were the days before Google, kids). I was so frustrated because this was an extraordinary film! It was just perfect: funny, sad, the actors were incredible, the script was hilarious and so on.
But, since this was such a weird channel, one late night they showed the film again! And that time I was paying attention and I found out it was called "Withnail and I". It wasn't until a few years ago that I bought the DVD and watched a Channel 4 documentary included in the extras, that I realized that this film is legendary in the UK..
I love this film. I have watched it so many times and yet it's still perfect every single time. Here is the trailer and 2 of my favorite scenes:
So, one Saturday evening, I tuned in and there I was, watching the beginning of a film that I didn't know what it was, but, didn't have time to think about it, since, in the first 5 minutes I found myself laughing like crazy. I was completely sucked in and I remember panicking when the film ended, because this channel didn't have a broadcasting schedule like the rest of the "standard" TV channels, so I thought I would never find out the name of the film! (These were the days before Google, kids). I was so frustrated because this was an extraordinary film! It was just perfect: funny, sad, the actors were incredible, the script was hilarious and so on.
But, since this was such a weird channel, one late night they showed the film again! And that time I was paying attention and I found out it was called "Withnail and I". It wasn't until a few years ago that I bought the DVD and watched a Channel 4 documentary included in the extras, that I realized that this film is legendary in the UK..
I love this film. I have watched it so many times and yet it's still perfect every single time. Here is the trailer and 2 of my favorite scenes:
"Withnail and I", theatrical trailer:
"Withnail and I", "Matter in the sink" scene:
"Withnail and I", "What's his name" pub scene:
