Withnail and I (1987)

Original title

Withnail & I

Directed by

Bruce Robinson

Genre

buddy film, comedy drama, black comedy film

Country

Australia, United Kingdom

Runtime

1h 47m

Rated

R

Rating

7.2 of 10 from 631 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

Two out-of-work actors in 1969 London live in squalor and drink heavily. Desperate for a break from their miserable flat, they borrow a relative's cottage for a weekend in the country. The trip turns into a series of awkward, uncomfortable disasters.

bleakly comicgrimydrunkenmelancholicquotablecultishbittersweetsozzled

What happens

Withnail and I is a 1987 British black comedy film written and directed by Bruce Robinson in his directorial debut. Loosely based on Robinson's life in London in the late 1960s, the plot follows two unemployed actors, Withnail and "I" (Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann, respectively), who share a flat in Camden Town in 1969. They plan a weekend holiday at a Lake District cottage owned by Withnail's wealthy eccentric uncle Monty (Richard Griffiths), though the holiday proves less recuperative than expected. Withnail and I was Grant's film debut and breakout role. Featuring supporting performances by Griffiths, Ralph Brown and Michael Elphick, the film is notable for its 1960s soundtrack and many quotable lines. It has been described as "one of Britain's biggest cult films". The character "I" is named "Marwood" in the published screenplay but goes unnamed in the film credits. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

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