Disc Reviews

Withnail & I Blu-ray Review

4th Nov 2014

For a film that is today regarded as one of the greatest home grown comedies ever made – even rivaling the likes of Monty Python – it might seem odd that Withnail & I suffered a lukewarm box office performance upon its original 1987 release despite favourable critic reviews at the time. However, strong home media sales coupled with regular high placements on various ‘Best British Films’ or ‘Best Comedies Ever’ and a massive base of ravenous devotees will prevent this reviewer from uttering the all too often used ‘C’ word in this review. Withnail & I deserves far more credibility than the term ‘cult’ implies (yes, that ‘C’ word).

This isn’t the first time that ‘Withnail & I’ has seen a Bluray release but this one, appearing courtesy of Arrow Films, has been fully restored to 2K and contains a wealth of new special features! So let’s dive in and see if we have the quintessential version of a film that I’ve owned on more formats than Sgt. Pepper.

‘Withnail & I’ is the perfect example of a comedy based around the topics of friendship, decline, decadence and the hopelessness of post-graduation youth all set against the backdrop of the end of “the greatest decade in the history of the world” (the 1960s) as drug dealer Danny (Ralph Brown) so eloquently puts it. The plot revolves around a ‘week in the life’ tale of two out of work twenty-something actors; Withnail (Richard E. Grant) and ‘I’ (Paul McGann – now credited as ‘Marwood’). Together they toil in a combination of cyclical drug and drink abuse, the overwhelming banality of unemployment and the harsh realities of residing in a borderline squat. Marwood’s solution is to coerce Withnail into convincing his eccentric uncle to part with the keys of his Lake District retreat so they can indulge in a holiday away from the hustle and bustle of Camden life.

To say that director Bruce Robinson has penned one of the most quotable and side-splittingly hilarious movies of all time would be akin to enquiring as to whether or not bears shit in the woods. This isn’t just a quirky piece of cinema complete with moderately funny scenes, it is literally pant-wetting. Within the ratio of 30 second intervals. For the entire duration.

Richard Griffiths is splendidly cast as Withnail’s lecherous uncle Monty whose interruption of the boys’ holiday makes for some of the funniest moments of the film. Although it is possibly his introductory scene at his London residence that takes the medal for me in which we’re treated to Griffiths lamenting over his own acting career ending with the realisation that he will “never play the Dane” (a reference to the character of Hamlet that would be revisited on later in the film during one of its more touching moments) and a painfully awkward innuendo-filled rant about the growing of root vegetables. Likewise, the aforementioned Danny (Ralph Brown) who effectively tops and tails the movie is worth a mention with his nonsensical monologs and musings on politics and philosophy. There is almost a sense of Ben Elton’s BBC Comedy ‘The Young Ones’ during these scenes due to the nature of the discussion and the surrounding squalid living quarters in which they take place.

However, it is Grant’s character, Withnail, who provides the lion’s share of the chuckles with an accomplished performance as a pompous alcoholic with delusions of grandeur – a surprising feat (the ‘alcoholic’ part, not the ‘pompous’ part) given Grant’s supposed allergy to booze. For the record I don’t believe him one bit, not after this performance which can only be described as the finest display of true drunkenness ever to grace the silver screen. Indeed, it is Grant who is given the golden nuggets of Robinson’s finest writing moments of which there are far too many to single out here. Besides I have no desire to cheapen this review with quotes from a character whom, whether you like it or not, has gone one to be mimicked by many a student since. I’m frankly in danger of losing critical objectivity here.

Whilst Grant steals the screen it would be unfair not to mention the film’s other main protagonist Marwood. McGann has the rather unfortunate role of playing the more ‘normal’ character who whilst is given the odd cracker of a line and is placed in a rather uncomfortable position with Monty is decidedly less flamboyant than almost everyone around him – even the supporting the cast. Despite this his role is very necessary as he not only provides an anchor for the audiences’ perspective but also to be the victim of Withnail (amongst others) insanity. Word is that Marwood is based on Bruce Robinson himself and that the various events throughout the film are semi biographical from his time living in Camden during the 1960s.

As for the man himself, Robinson appears to be a full-tilt maniac – and I do mean that in a good way – as is evident on the included documentary “The Peculiar Memories of Bruce Robinson”. He we are treated to Robinson’s philosophies on writing – which apparently cannot be successful without the inclusion of red wine – and a decent retrospective of his career prior to and after Withnail & I. Originally broadcast on Channel 4 in 1999, this feature is supplied on the disc alongside the other three ‘Withnail Weekend’ documentaries: “Withnail & Us” which describes the film’s making. “I Demand to Have Some Booze” in which a group of real life students attempt the now infamous ‘Withnail & I drinking game’ – the highlight of which involves one idiot drinking lighter fluid and “Withnail on the Pier”.

Other special features include two newly filmed interviews; one with production designer Michael Pickwoad and the second with ‘Peep Show’ creator Sam Bain expressing his undiluted admiration for ’Withnail & I’. There are also two audio commentaries with Bruce Robinson and Kevin Jackson.

Where the disc really shines however is in the 2K remastering. The picture is nothing short of stunning with clear night and day contrasting and superb depth and colour. There are details in night time sequences, for example in Monty’s cottage – ‘Crow Crag’ – that I literally have never seen before on previous Bluray versions and other formats.

There is little more to say. The film is obviously a 5 star from me as is the disc itself. Arrow have done an outstanding job with this release and have easily created the definitive Bluray version. I only hope that it’s a good while before formats change again prompting the need for yet another remaster and another purchase from yours truly!