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'Withnail & I' Special Showings At FACT Picturehouse

 

Withnail & I

‘Listen, we’re bona fide.  We’re not from London…’

So goes one of the many quotable extracts from Withnail & I, a comedy as hilarious and watchable as The Big Lebowski or Monty Python & The Holy Grail.  Widely acclaimed as one of the greatest British films of all time, shooting was nearly cancelled less than a week in as Denis O’Brien, co-founder of HandMade Films (with George Harrison being the other half) felt that it was badly lit and had ‘no discernable jokes’.  Now, twenty-seven years after its original release, Withnail has received a lavish 2K HD restoration from the original camera negative, supervised and approved by original director of photography Peter Hannan.  Scratches, dirt and dust have been cleared off the original acetates, while the audio has been given similar attention.

If you haven’t seen this film already, we recommend you remedy this at your earliest convenience.  Set in 1969, the story begins in Camden, where two ‘resting’ actors ‘Withnail’ (Richard E. Grant) and ‘I’ (Paul McGann) spend a great deal of their time drinking their social security cheques and melodramatically bemoaning wtheir squalid flat, their unappreciated thespian genius, and the state of society in general.  Without giving too much away for those lucky folk who have yet to discover this gem, the pair decide that they need a holiday, and repair to the country to recuperate.  Things do not turn out the way they expected, in the cottage owned by Withnail’s plummy, camp Uncle Monty (Richard Griffiths), and with the countryside and its inhabitants in general.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT5qhPoRS9g]
An outrageous amount of booze, outrageous behaviour and some brilliantly-conceived characters combine to make an absolute cinematic treat made all the better for a chance to see it on the big screen.  A dark and emotionally prescient affair, the plot is less important than the overall experience, with the bittersweet, gentle relationship between Grant and McGann ensuring that this is a truly endearing film that will never get old.  As with many great comedies, the set pieces are the main attraction, but they occur with such frequency that its iconic status is unarguable.

The restoration has not pushed Withnail into a gaudy action film Technicolor, but remains faithful to the washed-out palate of the original which added so much to the gloomy, apocalyptic outlook of our heroes.  ‘Withnail’ and ‘I’ are painfully loveable, living embodiments of the Shakespearean tragedy.  The dynamic between the two is a perfect balance for their outlandish and over-the-top exploits, and provides an sensitive, poignant note that gives the film added depth and appeal.

Noise couldn’t help but notice that a few people in the audience had sneaked some of the red stuff in, and were matching Withnail drink-for-drink.  We are amazed they managed to find their way out of the building.

This is an exceptional, heart-warming and genuinely funny piece of British cinema.  Keep your eyes peeled for the special edition DVD/Blu-Ray Box Set with more goodies than you could shake a Camberwell Carrot at.

You can catch Withnail & I on the big screen at FACT this weekend, click here for times.

Paul Riley

Editor

Founder and Editor, Clare Deane, shares her passion for all the amazing things happening in Liverpool. With a love of the local Liverpool music scene, dining out a couple of times a week and immersing herself in to all things arts and culture she's in a pretty good place to create some Liverpool Noise.

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