"I'm not the Messiah"" I say you are Lord, and I should know. I've followed a few."
A motion picture destined to offend nearly two thirds of the civilized world. And severely annoy the other third.
Brian Cohen (Chapman) has suffered from mistaken identity all his life. He was born in the stable next to Jesus and the Wise Men visited him first thinking he was the Messiah, but then took back their gifts. As an adult he actually hears Jesus (Kenneth Colley) speak, but he and his mother Mandy (Jones) are too far away to actually hear him, " I think it was "Blessed are the cheesemakers"."
Brian hates the Romans and joins the Peoples Front of Judea (not to be mistaken with the Judean People's Front, splitters!). Their leader Reg (Cleese) sends Brian on an important mission: the write "Romans go home!" in Latin in the square. As Brian writes it he is interrupted by the Centurion (Cleese) who corrects his Latin grammar and makes Brian write "Romans go home" in Latin 100 times before daybreak, to teach him a lesson. Of course this gets him into trouble. He is thrown in jail and taken to see Pontius Pilate (Palin). Pilate has difficulties saying his "R's" and makes his guards laugh hysterically everytime he tries to say something with an "r".
After escaping from Pilate (the guards were on the floor laughing) he tries being a stand-up prophet and gains an enormous following (even though he doesn't want them). They all believe he is the Messiah, although his mother tells them "He's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy!" Will Brian outshine the real Messiah? Will his followers find more objects to carry around for him (they have a sandal and a gourd)? Will he have to haggle for more items? Will groups of women dressed as men try to stone him? Will the crowds ever take Pilate seriously?
Very funny. I can understand why this film was not as commercially successful as it's predecessor "The Holy Grail (see my review)". There are 3 different nude characters, it mocks followers (of really anything, but particularly people who can't think for themselves and blindly follow "Messiah's"), and there is more swearing... However, it is still funny. The best scene is the stoning. Women are not allowed to attend the stonings, so they buy beards and attend the stonings. However, they get a bit overzealous and starting throwing stones at whoever says Jehovah, including the Centurion who is presiding over the event. It is quite obvious they are women, but when the Centurion asks if there are women present they all deny it. The funniest part is all of these women are played by men...so its men, acting like women, pretending to be men. And Terry Jones is wonderful as Mandy, Brian's mother. I watched this film with a friend who didn't realize Mandy was a man until I mentioned who was playing her. Also, this film has the best ending of a Monty Python film. I love the song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" and it is particularly excellent in this film. The scene with the Gladiator is also noteworthy and so is the Latin grammar scene (which I mentioned in the actual review).
Dude, it's quotable: "Cast off the Shoes, follow the Gourd!" O yes, it's funny!
Rent it: Not quite as good as "The Holy Grail" it is still hysterical. And watch for the numerous times they discuss Crucifixion (it's not too bad). And the scenes with Pilate are funny because the guards were instructed not to laugh no matter what Palin says...which he did not know. The names he uses to get a laugh are the best!
Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) 94 minutes
Rated: R for nudity and language
Director: Terry Jones
Starring: Graham Chapman as Brian Cohen / Biggus Dickus (and others)
John Cleese as Reg / Centurion (and others)
Terry Gilliam as Jailer (and others)
Eric Idle as Stan (Loretta) / Mr. Cheeky (and others)
Terry Jones as Mandy Cohen / Simon the Holy Man (and others)
Michael Palin as Pontius Pilate / Ex-Leper (and others)
Brian Cohen (Chapman) has suffered from mistaken identity all his life. He was born in the stable next to Jesus and the Wise Men visited him first thinking he was the Messiah, but then took back their gifts. As an adult he actually hears Jesus (Kenneth Colley) speak, but he and his mother Mandy (Jones) are too far away to actually hear him, " I think it was "Blessed are the cheesemakers"."
Brian hates the Romans and joins the Peoples Front of Judea (not to be mistaken with the Judean People's Front, splitters!). Their leader Reg (Cleese) sends Brian on an important mission: the write "Romans go home!" in Latin in the square. As Brian writes it he is interrupted by the Centurion (Cleese) who corrects his Latin grammar and makes Brian write "Romans go home" in Latin 100 times before daybreak, to teach him a lesson. Of course this gets him into trouble. He is thrown in jail and taken to see Pontius Pilate (Palin). Pilate has difficulties saying his "R's" and makes his guards laugh hysterically everytime he tries to say something with an "r".
After escaping from Pilate (the guards were on the floor laughing) he tries being a stand-up prophet and gains an enormous following (even though he doesn't want them). They all believe he is the Messiah, although his mother tells them "He's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy!" Will Brian outshine the real Messiah? Will his followers find more objects to carry around for him (they have a sandal and a gourd)? Will he have to haggle for more items? Will groups of women dressed as men try to stone him? Will the crowds ever take Pilate seriously?
Very funny. I can understand why this film was not as commercially successful as it's predecessor "The Holy Grail (see my review)". There are 3 different nude characters, it mocks followers (of really anything, but particularly people who can't think for themselves and blindly follow "Messiah's"), and there is more swearing... However, it is still funny. The best scene is the stoning. Women are not allowed to attend the stonings, so they buy beards and attend the stonings. However, they get a bit overzealous and starting throwing stones at whoever says Jehovah, including the Centurion who is presiding over the event. It is quite obvious they are women, but when the Centurion asks if there are women present they all deny it. The funniest part is all of these women are played by men...so its men, acting like women, pretending to be men. And Terry Jones is wonderful as Mandy, Brian's mother. I watched this film with a friend who didn't realize Mandy was a man until I mentioned who was playing her. Also, this film has the best ending of a Monty Python film. I love the song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" and it is particularly excellent in this film. The scene with the Gladiator is also noteworthy and so is the Latin grammar scene (which I mentioned in the actual review).
Dude, it's quotable: "Cast off the Shoes, follow the Gourd!" O yes, it's funny!
Rent it: Not quite as good as "The Holy Grail" it is still hysterical. And watch for the numerous times they discuss Crucifixion (it's not too bad). And the scenes with Pilate are funny because the guards were instructed not to laugh no matter what Palin says...which he did not know. The names he uses to get a laugh are the best!
Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) 94 minutes
Rated: R for nudity and language
Director: Terry Jones
Starring: Graham Chapman as Brian Cohen / Biggus Dickus (and others)
John Cleese as Reg / Centurion (and others)
Terry Gilliam as Jailer (and others)
Eric Idle as Stan (Loretta) / Mr. Cheeky (and others)
Terry Jones as Mandy Cohen / Simon the Holy Man (and others)
Michael Palin as Pontius Pilate / Ex-Leper (and others)
same comments as Life of Brian. I used to love Monty Python but somehow Ive lost that type of humour as ive grown older. Didnt like this at all as nothing made me laugh, all rather boring really
ReplyDeleteI used to love Monty Python but somehow Ive lost that type of humour as ive grown older. Didnt like this at all as nothing made me laugh, all rather boring really
ReplyDelete