"I have a heart condition. If you hit me, it's murder"

I had the pleasure of watching Withnail and I for the first time yesterday, and I could only wish that I've known of its existence sooner, because it is one of the best movies ever made. Seriously.

The year is 1969. Two unemployed actors, Withnail and "I" (real name Marwood), who share a filthy run-down apartment in Camden Town, decide to "rejuvenate" by taking a trip to a country house which belongs to Withnail's eccentric relative, Uncle Monty. Faced with bad weather, shortage of food, unfriendly locals and the unexpected visits (and advances) of Uncle Monty, their friendship and wits are put to the test.

The movie was adapted from an unpublished novel by Bruce Robinson, who is also the director. Withnail is played by Richard E. Grant and Marwood is played by Paul McGann.


What appealed to me the most were the characters: Withnail, with his dramatic antics, almost-puerile cowardice, and highly quotable lines, is easily my favorite character. He constantly lies to other people, and is a raging alcoholic. He has a somewhat negative view on life, though he only laments for his own misfortunes and not for others.

Marwood, on the other hand, is slightly more sane, level-headed and responsible. He may not have the same fireworks as Withnail, but he is often the one who sets up the laughs for both of them, and he is just as entertaining to watch.

Although the movie has plenty of hilarious quotes and scenes, it is overall quite melancholic. Towards the end of the movie, Marwood finally gets a job as the lead actor in a play. He cuts his hair short and prepares to depart to the train station, and to a hopefully more mature phase of his life. Withnail insists that he accompany Marwood at least halfway through the trip, bringing a bottle of Monty's wine ("53 Margaux, best of the century") to drink. Marwood then leaves Withnail in the rain at the park. Withnail, all alone, delivers a soliloquy from Shakespeare's Hamlet ("... What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculty ..."). The film ends with a shot of him walking away, swinging his wine bottle.

I like this movie so much, that I actually wrote something short of a lengthy, over-worked review of it. I don't know why I wrote this thing.

Thanks to Allysha and Ican for introducing me to this movie, you guys are awesome (y)