203. Monty Pythons Life Of Brian; movie review

 

MONTY PYTHON'S LIFE OF BRIAN

Cert 12A

94 mins

BBFC advice: Contains infrequent strong language, moderate sex references, nudity, comic violence

I have watched Monty Python's Life Of Brian many times and it can still make me laugh.

That is surely proof that it is one of the best comedy films ever made.

I have reprised my review of its last re-release in 2019 because my verdict on it remains the same.

"He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!", "What have the Romans ever done for us?" and "Always Look On the Bright Side Of Life." 

I did not need to re-watch Monty Python's Life Of Brian, to remind me of its three most famous quotes. Instead, I merely bathed in the pleasure of one of the greatest satirical movies of all time. 

But it says much for the quality of its writing that the quotes and whole sketches are imprinted on the mind of anyone who has watched Terry Jones's movie. 

Times have changed since Life Of Brian hit cinema screens exactly 40 years ago. Back then the Bishop of Southwark and Malcolm Muggeridge locked horns with John Cleese and Michael Palin on national television, arguing that the film was a tenth-rate lampooning of Jesus Christ. 

In return, Cleese said that it was actually intended as an inspiration for people to challenge doctrine and 'find out for themselves'. 

Four decades later and Life Of Brian is being shown in Coventry Cathedral among other churches. Interestingly, when it was screened in Leamington Spa, the secretary of the Friends of All Saints Church, said: " It did cause quite a lot of controversy when it was released in the 70s, but I think everybody has grown up a bit since then. We’ve learnt to be able to smile at some things. Times have changed.” 

And yet I still found this the best of the Python films and didn't believe it had dated at all. 

If you are new to the Python team's movie, let me explain briefly... Graham Chapman plays Brian who is born on the same day as Jesus in a barn just across the way from the real Messiah. 

He grows up in a society which is desperate to cut loose from the shackles of the occupying Romans. Cleese, Palin, Jones, Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam play numerous different characters, both male and female, as the parallel story is traced before confusion reigns over whether Brian is the chosen one. Watching it again was a joy. 

Even though I must have seen Life Of Brian five or six times, I still found much mirth in its gags and sang and whistled to its finale... 

So, all together: "When you're chewing on life's gristle, Don't grumble, give a whistle! And this'll help things turn out for the best... and.... Always look on the bright side of life!"

Reasons to watch: Classic Python

Reasons to avoid: If you have no sense of humour

Laughs: Still five belly laughs after all these years

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: Yes

Overall rating: 9.5/10

Did you know? George Harrison created a production company, Handmade Films, to put up £5m for the making of Life Of Brian and it went on to produce or distribute classic films such as Time Bandits, Withnail and I, The Long Good Friday and Mona Lisa.

The final word.  Michael Palin: "Eric went to Hollywood and pitched it to George Harrison, who had been a huge Python fan since the first TV programme. He pawned his house and arranged a loan of $5m. When he was asked why, he just said: “Because I want to see it.” Not many people pay $5m for an admission ticket." The Guardian

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