Withnail and I

Perhaps the best example of a cult movie, with equal numbers of fans to haters, Withnail and I began as a semi-autobiographical script by Bruce Robinson. Two out of work actors in London at the end of the sixties, Withnail and his friend 'I' (who is never properly identified in the film but is generally known as Marwood to fans) are living in desperate poverty in a freezing cold flat where the kitchen is overflowing with dirty crockery to the point where something may be growing or even living there. In order to survive, the two live on strong alcohol or whatever's cheap, stretching their dole as far as it will go - Withnail even drinks lighter fluid to try and get warm!
 
Sick of London, Withnail decides it's time to get out and sweet talks his eccentric Uncle Monty into letting them stay in his country cottage for the weekend. Arriving in the Lake District in pouring rain, they find the building has no electricity, no food and is just as cold as their flat in the capital. Furthermore, the locals aren't exactly friendly.
 

 
After encounters with a poacher, a farmer with one leg wrapped in polythene and a bull, they realise that they've gone 'on holiday by mistake' and still want to be in contact with their agents in case a job has turned up. As if the holiday couldn't get any stranger, Monty's impromptu arrival ensures that it's not only the locals they have to worry about!
 
As far as I'm concerned this is just about a perfect comedy: sharply scripted, directed with flair, beautifully acted by Richard E Grant, Paul McGann and Richard Griffiths. The support players are also superb with star turns by Michael Elphick and Ralph Brown. It helps that this is semi-autobiographical and there is a lot of Robinson in the writing and direction so it feels very personal and real. I can't imagine that he went through everything that Marwood did but he certainly identifies with the character (he was Marwood, living with a man who drank himself to death) and that helps the viewer.
 

 
I've seen this many times and will see it many more - the best was at the cinema when it was packed and everyone laughed at the same times, all in on the jokes and having a great time. Hardcore fans imbibe what the characters do, when they do,  but I'm satisfied with knowing the lines and mouthing along as the characters speak. It's a testament to the quality of the film that no matter how many times I see it and how well I know the material, it always seems fresh and the lines don't lose their impact.
 

The Disc

 
Extra Features
Most of these are repeated from the various DVD releases but it doesn't hurt to have them all under one roof.
 
First off are two commentaries, one a solo effort by Bruce Robinson and the other by Paul McGann and Ralph Brown.  Both are very easy to listen to and add much to your understanding and enjoyment of the film; there is a little duplication but they complement each other well.
 
The retrospective interview with Bruce Robinson is revealing and funny as he talks about the inspiration for the film and how he made it. This is complemented by the Withnail and Us featurette which is a fascinating documentary from 1999 with contributions from Richard E. Grant,
 
The Postcards from Penrith documentary follows a group of über fans in their quest to track down all the shooting locations in the Lake District and re-enact their favourite scenes and lines.
 
The Drinking Game is hosted by an actor who goes through what is necessary to successfully follow (and survive) following the actors' exploits with alcohol throughout the film - I wouldn't recommend it!
 
There is a brief Swear-a-Thon which is a fantastic montage of all of the expletives in the film.
 
You also get the original theatrical trailer and a series of behind the scenes photographs taken by Ralph Steadman.
 
The menu is wonderfully designed, with a list of what they drunk appearing if you leave it and Ralph Steadman's superb illustrations and script form the background and text for the menu.
 

 
The Picture
Withnail and I is such a dark film that I didn't expect it to be pin-sharp and it's not.  It wasn't that great in the cinema, so why should it be different on Blu-ray?  It's certainly better than the DVD with improved colours and overall clarity but is nowhere near reference material.  The location shooting in the Lake District and London pays dividends with some gorgeous scenery juxtaposing well with the squalor in Camden.
 
*The pictures contained in this review are for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect the image quality of the disc.*
 
The Sound
I had yet to find an audio track that I actually liked with this film, after a couple of DVD purchases and my hopes were raised when I saw that this had a DTS-HD Master Audio track.  However, the surround track again fell short with some muddiness and overall distortion and lack of clarity but all is not lost as the Linear PCM track is wonderfully sharp, doing a great job with the dialogue, score and terrific soundtrack - I don't think I've heard All Along the Watchtower sound so good!
 
Oddly there are no subtitles, which is a shame as this is almost a karaoke film!
 

 
Final Thoughts
Withnail and I has long been a favourite of mine and is a perfect example of a cult film - I lent it to my parents and they gave up after half an hour and it's in the 101 Movies to Avoid book by an industry insider.  What do they know?  It's such a beautifully written and directed film that really captures what it must have been like to be out of work in London, living on Dole money, alcohol and drugs in the hope that a part will come along.
 
The film has such a fan base that I've no doubt this will sell as it looks and sounds better than it ever has done and, whilst not a huge leap forward from DVD, is the best release so far.