Fade in. Slowly, the camera edges closer on a man in glasses, looking fidgety and depressed as he smokes a cigarette. A funky jazz version of A Whiter Shade of Pale booms loudly as we get to see the state this man lives in. Champagne and beer bottles everywhere, and a sink full of dirty dishes and mugs. The kettle then starts to boil in the foreground while the man gets ready, putting on his coat, before leaving the kettle and the room. He shouts through a door "Do you want a cup of tea, Withnail?" And a deep, uncaring voice calls back "No". These two men are Withnail and "I".
There are many movies that I am yet to watch that make others question if I actually do like films or not. While I claim to have seen a good number of quality comedy films, I was told I'd be watching another in the form of Withnail & I when I got the chance to watch it. Yesterday was that chance, and it has immediately shot straight up to one of the finest comedies I've ever seen, and also one of the best films to come out of Britain.
Starring Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann as Withnail and I respectively, the film sees the two unemployed actors in need of their big break. They are made to wait for this while living their lives in the hell hole they've made for themselves in the heart of Camden, so because of this, decide they need to take a holiday, which is where the film really gets into its comedy element. Both Grant and McGann play their parts very well, and there is clear chemistry between the two, which is very important in this type of "buddy" comedy. It worked in Planes Trains and Automobiles and it sure as hell works here. They are completely different characters, with Withnail being a drunken oaf throughout, scared of what's happening in the dark but not afraid to get his hands stuck into the dirty work while on holiday, while "I" is a more relaxed companion, before having to deal with a bull that's about to charge at him of course. The characters are well written and performed perfectly, and the minor parts fill in the gaps well, with Richard Griffiths (now known for his portrayal of Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter franchise) as a horny (to say the least) homosexual and uncle of Withnail, Monty. The scenes with him are very funny, and show the comedy doesn't just come from the lead two of the film.
The direction is perfect, from the great opening scene to the King Curtis rendition of A Whiter Shade of Pale, to the fantastic end credits. I said in a previous post about the director, Bruce Robinson, as he is the man behind the camera on the adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson novel The Rum Diary, which I am even more excited to see thanks to this film. I will also be checking out his other films How To Get Ahead In Advertising and Jennifer Eight.
Like I've mentioned, the fantastic opening sees King Curtis' A Whiter Shade of Pale layered over the top, and this is just the first in many great songs in this film. Withnail & I also features a couple of Jimi Hendrix numbers, The Beatles' While My Guitar Gentle Weeps, and also some classical music in the form of Schubert. Everything fits well and with the graininess of the film, the dreary weather, the countryside backgrounds and type of humour, it is very British. And that's probably why I love it. My favourite television comedy shows are all British, and most of my favourite comedy films are too, with the likes of Shaun of the Dead and The Ladykillers.
I'm going to end this post not on Withnail & I but on some news about my own blog. On August 4th it was feature on The LAMB, a blog showcasing and highlighting all other movie blogs around the Internet. I was so happy to see my blog on there and hopefully I can get some more readers around the globe to hear my ramblings. Thank you people of The LAMB!
You can see the post here: http://largeassmovieblogs.blogspot.com/2010/08/lamb-652-richard-j-moirs-film-blog.html
0 comments:
Post a Comment