Life of Brian
The funniest and most daring of the Monty Python screen adventures, Life of Brian represents the team of Chapman, Cleese et al taking on Christianity and Judaism after their excellent effort with The Holy Grail.
The plot: Brian Cohen is born in the stable just down the lane from Jesus and, after initially being mistaken for the messiah by the 3 wise men, ends up with the same fate but less of the subsequent glory.
The adult Brian interacts with several of the Jewish groups and Roman rulers of Judea, all of whom mimic the Python team's views of comparables in Middle East politics in the late 1970s (the movie was released in 1979). The Jews are subjugated and form various splinter terrorist groups; the Romans are the rulers and govern by threat of crucifixion. This all sounds rather harsh, but isn't really - most would totally miss the pseudo-political undercurrent.
Brian becomes involved with the People's Front of Judea (or is it the Democratic Front? It's definitely not the Popular Front) led by Reg (John Cleese - they all play multiple characters). He's not really committed to the cause of the group, which functions more like a leftist student commune. Brian joined because of Judith, the hottish PFJ chick who just spouts whatever Reg says as if its the gospel from Marx. Judith exists for a rather gratuitous frontal nudes scene (both her and Brian) but doesn't really mean anything else.
Fortunately for Brian, his efforts at least result in him getting her into bed, but ultimately he ends up along with most of the others with who he was standing when we first meet him - on a cross, waiting for death. Of course, in typical Python contra-point his fellow crucifixees (?) start singing "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life".
In summary: A very funny movie that created controversy among Christians when it was first released, but that actually doesn't make fun of Christ at all (well at least not until the saviour is suckered into carrying the cross near the end of the film). A really witty premise turned into a worthwhile film. The previous Python effort The Holy Grail, was more of a long skit and ended unsatisfactorily. Life of Brian is better written and ends perfectly.
The Casablanca comparison: Given the easy life of the underground in Casablanca, one could easily mistake the Vichy French administration for the bumbling Romans who sent a mass of centurions into a small room where a dozen PFJ members were hiding (twice), only to find none. The 'round up the usual suspects' method comes to mind, particularly at the end of Life of Brian.
The rating: 9 out of 10.
The plot: Brian Cohen is born in the stable just down the lane from Jesus and, after initially being mistaken for the messiah by the 3 wise men, ends up with the same fate but less of the subsequent glory.
The adult Brian interacts with several of the Jewish groups and Roman rulers of Judea, all of whom mimic the Python team's views of comparables in Middle East politics in the late 1970s (the movie was released in 1979). The Jews are subjugated and form various splinter terrorist groups; the Romans are the rulers and govern by threat of crucifixion. This all sounds rather harsh, but isn't really - most would totally miss the pseudo-political undercurrent.
Brian becomes involved with the People's Front of Judea (or is it the Democratic Front? It's definitely not the Popular Front) led by Reg (John Cleese - they all play multiple characters). He's not really committed to the cause of the group, which functions more like a leftist student commune. Brian joined because of Judith, the hottish PFJ chick who just spouts whatever Reg says as if its the gospel from Marx. Judith exists for a rather gratuitous frontal nudes scene (both her and Brian) but doesn't really mean anything else.
Fortunately for Brian, his efforts at least result in him getting her into bed, but ultimately he ends up along with most of the others with who he was standing when we first meet him - on a cross, waiting for death. Of course, in typical Python contra-point his fellow crucifixees (?) start singing "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life".
In summary: A very funny movie that created controversy among Christians when it was first released, but that actually doesn't make fun of Christ at all (well at least not until the saviour is suckered into carrying the cross near the end of the film). A really witty premise turned into a worthwhile film. The previous Python effort The Holy Grail, was more of a long skit and ended unsatisfactorily. Life of Brian is better written and ends perfectly.
The Casablanca comparison: Given the easy life of the underground in Casablanca, one could easily mistake the Vichy French administration for the bumbling Romans who sent a mass of centurions into a small room where a dozen PFJ members were hiding (twice), only to find none. The 'round up the usual suspects' method comes to mind, particularly at the end of Life of Brian.
The rating: 9 out of 10.
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