Yes, Monty talking about how “the night bruises and soon we shall be forced to camp” is gold. And yes, we all love him saying “as a boy I used to weep in butcher shops.” And Withnail demanding “the finest wines available to humanity” is a joy. Yes. Yes. Yes.
However, a good sommelier doesn’t settle for merely expensive spirits. He wants to go deeper and find something with a little more “Oomfska” as Monty would say, something that conveys depth and meaning. This delicate jewelness is not found in the obvious knee slappers but in a facial expression towards the end when Withnail realizes the party is over. His “Congratulations” is so exquisitely insincere, it has to be watched at least 7 times in a row to truly appreciate. Trying to duplicate this is as difficult and fun as trying to say “humeur” in French without a detectable accent. TTFN.
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7x – still prefer butcher shop line.
02.10.09 at 1:39 pm
“Tell him if you must, I no longer care. I mean to have you even if it must be burglary”
02.10.09 at 1:54 pm
um.. buggery?
I’m partial to Withnail’s laugh after the “You should never mix your drinks line”.. priceless.
02.10.09 at 3:01 pm
i can hardly piss straight with fear… “i fuck arses?” maybe he fucks arses…
02.10.09 at 3:14 pm
I have watched this movie more times in the last 4 years than any other. Probably about 6 times a year or so.
I always die at, “What fucker said that?” with the bits of food in Withnail’s mouth.
02.10.09 at 3:53 pm
‘he’s had more drugs than you’ve had hot dinners!’
02.10.09 at 4:56 pm
Sherry!
Sherry.
Sherry?
Sherry.
Sherry.
02.10.09 at 7:51 pm
“This place has become impossible. Nothing to eat, freezing cold and now a madman on the prowl outside with eels.”
02.10.09 at 7:59 pm
“Here hair, here.”
And….
“I feel UNUSUAAL”
Genius.
Oh, and “There’s a spade in the bath?!”
02.10.09 at 9:30 pm
OH WAIT:
Withnail: (Looking hungrily at a live chicken.) We must kill it quickly before it tries to make friends with us. How do we make it die?
I am going to watch this again tonight.
02.10.09 at 9:33 pm
That’s genius acting isn’t it. Even the less subtle lines in that film rule:
“GET IN THE BACK OF THE VAN!!!”
“SCRUBBEEEEERRRRRRSSS!!!!! They LOVE IT!!”
Not to overlook the whole “If I medicined you… ” bit.
02.10.09 at 11:59 pm
“they love that, the little girls.”
02.11.09 at 12:19 am
http://www.megavideo.com/?v=CNPF0R7N
02.11.09 at 12:47 am
I MUST HAVE SOME BOOZE … I DEMAND TO HAVE SOME BOOZE!!!!
02.11.09 at 2:24 am
grab it’s ring!
02.11.09 at 4:40 am
“if i medicined you, you’d think acid waz a birrfday present!”
“balls. i’d swallowthat’an run a mile.”
02.11.09 at 12:37 pm
WHY, oh WHY can I watch this movie over and over and over?? It’s like a warm bath and a beer and a hug.
02.11.09 at 2:55 pm
You misunderstand the dialogue in the clip. By far it’s the only sincere thing Withnail says to “& I,” clearly because he realizes his only friend is about to move on to better things. The scenes following detail the bittersweet parting these two men share, and it’s obvious that Withnail’s “congratulations” to his partner was a precursor to their separation. The reason why it may seem insincere to you is because he’s high out his mind in the scene. That might imply a certain amount of unintended facetiousness in speech or body language, and those who have ever been inebriated and tried to have a serious conversation are sure to understand.
02.11.09 at 10:39 pm
Harry Black you pompous git, he’s read the scene perfectly. Yes Withinail feels a pang of sorrow for I’s impending departure, but he’s also TOTALLY jealous of his mate’s success. This, of course, is right on the money – have you never met any actors, or for that matter, other humans?
02.12.09 at 1:09 am
“Those are the kind of windows faces look in at”
03.28.09 at 5:07 pm
My brother and I watched this on X mas one year but my Brit mum made us turn it off- she said it was depressing. Then we showed her the Camberwell Carrot scene and converted her to its wonders.
05.20.09 at 3:20 am
“Of course he’s the fucking farmer”
06.21.09 at 2:43 am
this is the best movie.
07.03.09 at 9:09 pm
“And as Presuming Ed has so consitently pointed out… we have failed to paint it black.”
07.29.09 at 6:47 pm