WITHNAIL AND I | REBEL YELL BMX | FEATURE 12.2007

Withnail and I is a film that is actually deserving of its cult classic status and it's an odd, surreal slice of the '60's that seems it was filmed using a filter of dirty, scotch stained underpants and nicotine.

Withnail is a vain and jaded out of work actor who shares a London flat with his fellow actor I. One morning in the middle of winter, coming down from a mixture of stimulants and hallucinogens they discover their kitchen piled so high with dirty dishes and indefinable matter that they decide to have a holiday in the countryside. Cue main subject matter of the film: The country house is owned by Withnail's fruity uncle Monty (who throws vases at his own cat) and decides to spring a surprise visit on the pair, trying to seduce them while he's at it. Fantastic scenes of paranoid delusion follow, along with tantrums, lies and shoes made out of plastic bags. Other highlights include Withnail's boozy attempt to stay warm by drinking Zippo fluid and a scene where he almost avoids being arrested driving drunk with a tube full of child's wee attached to his pants. Think of the young ones on acid and you get the idea about how fantastically rotten this film is.

Richard E Grant shines as Withnail doing a particular brand of manic vitriol that only he can do so well. He is complemented by Paul Mcgann as a saner and quieter I along with a series of characters that flit in and out, all iconic and fluorescent in their English paranoia and charm. Danny, the rare purveyor of herbs and chemicals is perfect as the drug dealing rock pig and a 70 year old couple who throw the boys out of a tea house for being drunk at 11am are pure upper class gold.

Bolstered by a soundtrack that includes Hendrix, The Beatles and King Curtis,  Withnail and I captures the last chapters of an unhealthy friendship set to the backdrop of a grimy and unforgiving England. It's messy and dark and it's a classic well worth your attention simply because it is so utterly debauched.

-Amanda Laver