Life of Brian is the second feature film written, produced and performed by the Monty Python comedy troupe, the follow up to Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It’s not actually a Christmas movie, having been released in August of 1979. Brian stars (of course) Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Michael Palin. I haven’t seen this film in probably 20 years. I don’t remember much about it, but I do remember that at 18 years of age, I considered this to be my favorite Python film, and one of the funniest of all time. Today I rented it on iTunes, but the whole movie is also on YouTube for free. Who knew.
In order to move things along more quickly (and because I’m already behind a night!) I’m going to live blog this one. Here we go!
– Opening Scene: the Three Wise Men visit the wrong baby, in the wrong manger. Terry Jones plays the mother of Brian, who is born on the same day and in the same village as Jesus, hence the confusion. Jones was always my favorite when they dressed as women. His falsetto is so false, it’s hilarious.
– “Blessed are the cheese makers. And the Greek.” – ha!
– Half an hour in and I’m amazed at how quickly this moves, and at how densely packed the comedy is. Every scene is a new sketch, with new characters.
– Spoke too soon. Now we’re into this “People’s Front of Judea” thing. Still funny, but not quite as quick-moving as the first 25 minutes of the film.
– Palin is. Just. Awesome. In one scene he’s an old crazy prisoner shackled to the wall, in the next he’s a speech-impeded Pontius Pilate, defending the honor of his friend Biggus Dickus. Just awesome.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K8_jgiNqUc]
– This whole film is built on the foundation of Palin, Cleese and Idle, who all play multiple roles. Gilliam just has a few bit parts, Chapman plays Brian throughout, and Jones isn’t around much, as he was busy directing the film.
– I’m now at the part where they think Brian is the Messiah. Such clever satire. They make fun of Christianity without actually making fun of Christianity!
– Hey, was that George Harrison?
– It was! Apparently he financed the movie.
– And we finish up with Eric Idle’s classic “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” sung by him, Brian and the other crucify-ees. Perfect ending to an excellent film.
The comedy of Life of Brian is timeless, and absolutely still holds up. It’s so smart for Python to set their first two films in a time and place that doesn’t exist in the modern era of film. Thus, a 35-year-old movie is just as funny and relevant as it was on the day of its release.
Still, not much of a Christmas film. I think my desire to choose “cool, clever and different” film titles for this list is having an unexpected side effect – I’m not really feeling the Christmas spirit! Maybe The Long Kiss Goodnight will change that.
