Withnail & I (1987)
A big cult film in Britain but not as well known here. Like most cult films, it's got fans who can quote every single line, and also like most films I"m aware of as being cult films, I didn't quite get what made it so cult-y on first viewing. Then I went on Google and found everyone quoting every line.
What did appeal to me, though, was the depiction of bohemian starving-artist-alcohol-addict living at the end of the '60s, which reminded me of a much seedier version of post-collegiate bohemian living in the middle of the '00s. Not that I actually did it, but I know a lot of people who did, and it looked a lot like this, though Withnail and Marwood take it to hilarious lows.
It's pretty hard to say much about what's great about this movie without lapsing into quotes, but you can root around for all of that awesomeness. It's a very dark, British sort of humor.
What did appeal to me, though, was the depiction of bohemian starving-artist-alcohol-addict living at the end of the '60s, which reminded me of a much seedier version of post-collegiate bohemian living in the middle of the '00s. Not that I actually did it, but I know a lot of people who did, and it looked a lot like this, though Withnail and Marwood take it to hilarious lows.
It's pretty hard to say much about what's great about this movie without lapsing into quotes, but you can root around for all of that awesomeness. It's a very dark, British sort of humor.
Labels: movies
posted by Jon @ 7:53 AM
2 Comments:
At 11:24 PM,
Jienan said…
oh man, richard e grant rules that film... the best of wine line? classic!
i think its popularity also has a lot to do with the particular cultural moment it covers... i mean, i really think it's transcended a quotable film like 'knocked up' or something because of it's seriously melancholy ending...
otherwise, it'd just be about two bohemians who go to the countryside... i think it nails something down about friendship... like how withnail is the one really close friend almost everyone had/has for a short, memorable amount of time that drives them insane (or is probably insane) and yet you remain friends with them... and even after you move on, the friendship is still there but you know, you've moved on...
i actually read richard e grant's autobiography and it said that his character was based on bruce robinsons best friend in the 60's who eventually drunk himself to death... sad but this film was a tribute to his memory...
deep! as atlantis!
At 11:24 PM,
Jienan said…
oh man, richard e grant rules that film... the best of wine line? classic!
i think its popularity also has a lot to do with the particular cultural moment it covers... i mean, i really think it's transcended a quotable film like 'knocked up' or something because of it's seriously melancholy ending...
otherwise, it'd just be about two bohemians who go to the countryside... i think it nails something down about friendship... like how withnail is the one really close friend almost everyone had/has for a short, memorable amount of time that drives them insane (or is probably insane) and yet you remain friends with them... and even after you move on, the friendship is still there but you know, you've moved on...
i actually read richard e grant's autobiography and it said that his character was based on bruce robinsons best friend in the 60's who eventually drunk himself to death... sad but this film was a tribute to his memory...
deep! as atlantis!
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