Withnail and I (1987)

As is the case with many cult films, one is quite perplexed by the nature of ‘Withnail and I’. Directed by Bruce Robinson, ‘Withnail and I’ follows the lives of flatmates and unemployed Actors Withnail (Richard E. Grant) and Marwood (Paul McGann) in 1969 as they leave their flat in Camden, London, for an 'accidental' holiday in the country. Although this film would seem to have no strict plot, the chaotic series of events reflect the state of the pair’s lives, and gives the film an enjoyable and amusing sense. The two different types of melodrama presented by both Richard E. Grant and Richard Griffiths works in great contrast to the paranoid and anxious Paul McGann to create a balanced yet satisfying dynamic. Actors playing actors can lead to great comedic characters, and Richard E. Grant especially, with his Hamlet soliloquy, is able to satirise and reflect on his own profession. The comedy works well within the scenes, rarely seeming forced or out of place. It is obvious during the film that the actors, especially between Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann, that a relationship between them does not have to be forced, and the two play off each over with comedic ease. Because of this, an almost visual tete a tete is formed within the film, as the viewer can truly believe the friendship. Contrasts work with a purposeful but natural sense during this film. From the contrast between London and the Country, and the contrast between Withnail and Marwood. The antithesis gives the film an overall balance, not being too dramatic, and not becoming too immature. In my opinion, the experience of this film is overall an enjoyable one, with great chemistry between the actors. The range of setting from the cluttered London apartment to the beautiful landscapes, along with a subtle yet effective look into the end of an era, makes ‘Withnail and I’ a film remembered by those who watch it, and has helped it achieve the cult status it deserves.