Brazil (1985) was written and directed by Terry Gilliam (Tom Stoppard also co-wrote) and was his second non-Python feature film. Jonathan Pryce stars, and the movie is full of huge names in smaller roles. (Robert DeNiro, Bob Hoskins, Ian Holm, and Michael Palin, among others). I rented it on iTunes.

For the plot summary, I’ll once again defer to IMDB, because they’re just so damn good at it:

Sam Lowry is a harried technocrat in a futuristic society that is needlessly convoluted and inefficient. He dreams of a life where he can fly away from technology and overpowering bureaucracy, and spend eternity with the woman of his dreams. While trying to rectify the wrongful arrest of one Harry Buttle, Lowry meets the woman he is always chasing in his dreams, Jill Layton. Meanwhile, the bureaucracy has fingered him responsible for a rash of terrorist bombings, and both Sam and Jill’s lives are put in danger. Written by Philip Brubaker <coda@nando.net>

Brazil is one of those films that everyone should see. It’s 1984 for the 80s. Gilliam creates a world that is both hilarious and terrifying at the same time, and the film’s pace never lets up for a second. Again, it’s not a really Christmas-y film. Christmas is taking place in the background and I think it’s simply meant as a touchstone for us, to let the audience know that consumerism is still going strong (and in fact is one of the building blocks) in this dystopian society.

As I mentioned, the film is funny, but it’s also dark and depressing and not a great film to watch during the Christmas season. Again, my own cleverness seems to have gotten the better of me as I wallow in the sadness that comes at the end of Brazil. (Kidding, it’s not that bad.)

But I have hope. I absolutely know that Trading Places will be full of Christmas hilarity. And Jamie Lee Curtis.