Plot in a nutshell: A chap called Brian is mistaken for the messiah, complications arise and in the end he’s crucified.
As it’s the only one of the 100 on the list that I actually own, I figured there was no better place to start than with Monty Python’s The Life Of Brian. As I own it you can assume that I quite like it and therefore this will not be a scathing attack upon its surreal comedy, supposedly blasphemous content or political messages. I haven’t watched it for a little while though so armed with my popcorn I settled down to watch....
If you’re unfamiliar with this film or indeed the work of Monty Python in general I’d be shocked but this is the basic premise. Set in Jerusalem in 33AD it focuses on Brian, product of a chance meeting between a Centurion and a bonkers mother, who hates the Romans and joins the People’s Front of Judea (PFJ) a revolutionary group who wish to overthrow the Roman Empire and hatch a plan to do so. This involves kidnapping Pontius Pilate’s wife and holding her to ransom, on the night of the kidnap however things go wrong and Brian is captured. He manages to escape and to hide from the Romans who are pursuing him he disguises himself as a preacher in the town square where he unwittingly draws an intrigued audience with his nonsensical babblings. The crowds (who were hooked by his words and now believe him to be the Messiah) follow him everywhere convinced that everything he does is “a sign” which leads his mother to address the masses which have gathered outside her door with the infamous line “he’s not the messiah he’s a very naughty boy”. Unfortunately for Brian, he is recaptured by the Romans and taken –despite his pleas that this is just one big misunderstanding- to be crucified. The hope of rescue comes in numerous forms including the PFJ (who tell him he’s actually being martyred not rescued), Judith (his love interest who is so impressed by his dedication to the cause of the PFJ she too leaves him to be a martyr), Pontius Pilate who agrees to pardon Brian (except Eric Idle in a Spartacus moment claims to be the real Brian and is released instead) and even his own mother who goes to see her son on the cross only to give him an ear bashing about what a disappointment he is. But as the credits roll and the camera moves out to show several other characters suffering the same fate we are reminded in song (how else) to Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.
It’s easy to see why there was such a furore on its release, comedy and Jesus aren’t an obvious match and its satire of those who blindly follow religion without question or thinking for themselves is obvious; the crowds who believe that everything Brian does (such as losing a shoe) is a “sign” and Brian telling his followers to “just think for yourselves” would make uncomfortable viewing for many who have devoted their lives to their beliefs. BUT as I don’t weigh myself down with such restricting moral or religious views I just enjoyed the film for what it was....a comedy. Scenes at the stoning where the women all have to wear fake beards because stoning’s were men only events and the nativity almost going horribly wrong as well as other subtler moments such as the PFJ mockingly questioning “what have the Romans done for us?” and then coming up with a long list of brilliant Roman innovations, are highlights for me. But even when it’s not trying to be funny, it just is. There are one liners and sketches you’ll remember and repeat (Biggus Dickus anyone?) and exchanges which take place purely to move the plot along are delivered so amusingly it’s easy to see why the Python’s are hailed as comedy genius.
Written by John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Graham Chapman, directed by Terry Jones, all the main roles are also played by the 6 Python’s who adopt many guises throughout, my favourites being Terry Jones brilliantly playing Brian’s mum Mandy (who gets all the best lines) and Eric Idle as Stan a member of the PFJ who actually wants to be a woman called Loretta so he can have babies. Filmed in Tunisia, The Life of Brian is slightly less surreal than other offerings from the Monty Python team although the plot is ridiculous and there is a bizarre moment with an alien spaceship, if you’re expecting silly walks, killer rabbits and bizarre animations in every other scene you’ll be disappointed. But if you’d like a laugh, aren’t too offended by joking around Jesus Christ and have a desire to see some full frontal nudity I’d recommend.
