Not the Messiah: He's a Very Naughty Boy

Oh we are humble shepherds and our flocks we keep

There's nothing we like better than just watching sheep

We count them every day and night until we fall asleep

And then we count them once again cuz we love sheep

Brian Cohen has always been in the wrong place at the wrong time.  He was born in a stable nearby on the same day as Jesus Christ.  As a young man he is mistaken as a prophet, and is named as the Messiah, complete with crowds of adoring fans.  But all he wants is to fight the Romans, with the People's Front of Judea, and date / marry the pretty, outspoken Judith.

Told as a comic oratorio, based on "The Book of Brian" as narrated by Mrs. Betty Palin.  The story follows five performers, as they act out the narrative.  Beginning with the background and Brian's conception, the story follows the life of Brian Cohen.


After successfully transforming Monty Python and the Holy Grail into a Tony Award winning Broadway musical, collaborators Eric Idle and John Du Prez set their sights on Monty Python's Life of Brian.  The result is an impressive feat: the BBC Symphony and Chorus (several hundred musicians and singers), and four opera singers performing a musical retelling of the film.  It won't work for everyone, but any Python fan should check it out.

The film version (available through Netflix), is the October 23, 2009 performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.  This performance is special: not only is it the opening night at the Royal Albert Hall, it is also the Ruby Jubilee Anniversary of Monty Python, and features guest appearances by Pythons Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, and frequent collaborators Neil Innes and Carol Cleveland.

The songs and plot make more sense if you know the basic plot of The Life of Brian and some familiarity with the other works of Monty Python, including the BBC television show Monty Python's Flying Circus.  For example, during the song "The Temptation of Brian" his mother  wants to go to a stoning, and Brian calls her "father"... which makes more sense if you have seen the film.  Other songs have little references to Python sketches.

Most of the songs are available on YouTube.com.  Check out the song "You're the One."

It's not a musical, it's "a comic oratorio."

Not the Messiah: He's a Very Naughty Boy (2010) 92 minutes
Rating: PG for suggestive material and language
Director: Aubrey Powell
Starring: Eric Idle as Barton / various characters
Michael Palin as various characters
Terry Jones as various characters
Terry Gilliam as various characters
Carol Cleveland as various characters
Neil Innes as various characters
William Ferguson as Tenor / Brian Cohen
Shannon Mercer as Soprano / Judith
Rosalind Plowright as Mezzo / Mandy Cohen
Christopher Purves as Bass / various characters
John Du Prez is the Conductor

The King's Speech

"Why are you here then?"
"Because I bloody well stammer!"

The second son of King George V (Gambon), Prince Albert (Firth) known as Bertie, has a problem: he stammers.  As the second in line to the throne, it is necessary for him to speak in public, but he struggles through speeches.  After going through a long line of speech therapists, Bertie is convinced no one can help him.  Unbeknownst to Bertie, his wife Elizabeth (Carter), contacts unconventional therapist and aspiring actor, Lionel Logue (Rush).

Despite their reservations, Lionel and Bertie agree to work together.  Lionel wants to address the root of the problem: what caused the stammer, in addition to overcoming the stammer.  When the king dies, Bertie's rebellious brother, Edward (Pearce) ascends the throne.  But Edward is not the king the officials expect, especially with his divorced American mistress (Even Best).  Can Bertie step up and be the king, in spite of his speech problem.


An excellent, well-made film... worth all the accolades and awards that it received.  It manages to tow the line between history and historical narrative, using the known facts about King George VI and his struggle with speech and his relationship with Lionel Logue as the core of the story.  Apparently, excerpts from Logue's case notes were used in the story to keep the scenes between the King and Logue realistic.

The core cast of Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter have excellent chemistry.  Firth is a strong lead, making you feel his speech struggles.  He commands the screen and deserves the Oscar he received for this part.  Geoffrey Rush is a formidable co-star, making each scene a little stronger.  Firth and Rush have believable chemistry and play off each other well.  I don't tend to like Helena Bonham Carter... she's overrated.  But in this case she isn't too overbearing, much of that could be because she isn't in much of the film.

This film has no sex (or implied sex) or violence.  The film has an "R" rating due to language, which is only used in therapy sessions, which they explain in the film.

Check it out, you won't regret it.

The King's Speech (2010) minutes
Rating: R for some language.
Director: Tom Hooper
Starring: Colin Firth as King George VI
Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue
Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Elizabeth
Guy Pearce as King Edward III
Michael Gambon as King George V

The Majestic

"Do you remember me?"
"No, but I'll sure try."

Peter is a new screenwriter in Hollywood.  His first film "Sand Pirates of the Sahara" is in theaters and he is dating the leading lady.  Life is good, until he is named as a communist: he is fired from the studio, dumped by his girlfriend, and facing a court date with the "Committee for American Activities (check name)."  That night, he gets drunk and has an accident.  When the car falls into the river, he gets knocked out and is swept down the river.

When he wakes up, he has no memories.  He is taken to the small town of Lawson, where the people mistake him for one of their own, Luke Trimble.  Luke has been missing since the WWII (9 years ago), and was presumed dead.  Lawson gave a great deal to the war, losing most of their young men in combat.  Every window has a plaque honoring the memory of a lost son.  Luke / Peter's return brings hope to the town.

Luke's father, Harry (Landau), embraces the return of his "son" and decides to fix up their movie theater.  As the town starts to come alive again, Peter starts a relationship with Luke's girlfriend Adele (Holden) and finds a place in the town.  What will happen if his memory comes back?


I first saw this film at the theater in 2001.  My friends and I went to a refurbished old theater, a single theater with the screen on a raised platform covered by curtains until the show started.  It felt like the perfect place to watch this film... sitting in an old theater, watching as the people try to fix up "The Majestic."

Until reaching Lawson, the film is slow paced and doesn't really work... yes it is necessary to set up the rest of the story, but it could have been done better.  The cast is good, and the chemistry works.  It is a good film, although it received mixed reviews.


The Majestic (2001) 152 minutes
Director: Frank Darabont
Starring: Jim Carrey as Peter / Luke Trimble
Laurie Holden as Adele Stanton
Martin Landau as Harry Trimble
David Ogden Stiers as Doc Stanton

My Top Cancelled TV Shows: #9

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

"Into each generation, a Slayer is born. One girl in all the world, a choosen one. One born with the strength and skill to hunt the vampires..."  

"To stop the spread of their evil blah, blah, blah, I've heard it, okay?"

Strange things always happen in Sunnydale.  That happens when your town was built on top of a Hellmouth.  There are vampires, werewolves, witches, etc. and several near apocalypses.  The Slayer, a teenage girl with superhuman abilities, Buffy Summers (Gellar) lives in Sunnydale and has a destiny to save the world.

She is joined by her Faithful Watcher, the school librarian Mr. Rupert Giles (Head), her friends, and the mysterious Angel (Boreanaz).


And finally the great Joss Whedon makes an appearance on my top TV shows list.

In 1992, Whedon wrote the script for a film called Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  However, the script was rewritten to make the film lighter and more of a comedy.  A few years later, FOX gave him the opportunity to continue his version of the story.  The show follows the continuity of the original version of the films storyline.

This story was a reflection of horror film norms, in which the pretty blonde girl that dresses well is killed first.  Whedon took that girl and made her the spunky heroine that rescues / protects the men in her life.  But the show thrived for more than just that...  It wasn't just a one woman show, it was an ensemble show, giving each character quirks and some memorable / interesting quotes.  It made stars of Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz, who got a spinoff show "Angel" (1999-2004), and it started the cult following of Joss Whedon.

Definitely check out the musical episode, "Once More With Feeling."  Also, all six seasons of Buffy and all five seasons of Angel are available to watch instantly on Netflix.  You won't regret it!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
Created by: Joss Whedon
Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg
Anthony Head as Rupert Giles
Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase
David Boreanaz as Angel
James Marsters as Spike
Emma Caulfield as Anya
Michelle Trachtenberg as Dawn Summers
Eliza Dushku as Faith

Whip It

"So, what are you, like, alternative now?"
"Alternative to what?"

Bliss Cavendar (Page) wants to escape her mediocre life.  She doesn't fit into the beauty pageant life, despite her mother's, Brooke (Harden), best efforts.  While on a shopping trip, she encounters roller derby girls, and talks her best friend, and ivy league hopeful, Pash (Shawkat) into going to a roller derby game.  Bliss is captivated by the women and plans to tryout for the team.

At the tryouts her skating skills impress the coach, Razor (Wilson) of the Hurl Scouts, the last place team in the league.  Her speed makes her ideal to be a jammer, pass all members of the other team first to get points.  Bliss is too timid to fight her way through the pack, so she chooses the moniker "Babe Ruthless" to help her get in the right mindset.  With some guidance from the team: motherly team captain Maggie Mayhem (Wiig), unhinged  / eccentric Smashley Simpson (Barrymore), etc, Bliss starts to take control of her own life.  She lies to her parents, lies about her age, and changes her work schedule to fit the team practices.  Can she keep up her double life, and get the guy (Pigg)?


Drew Barrymore's directorial debut.  This film was adapted from Shauna Cross' novel "Derby Girl," which is based on her experiences in roller derby.  I haven't read the book, but am interested in seeing how it differs from the film.

Barrymore does well behind the camera, coaxing great performances out of the cast, while still popping on screen in a small but memorable part.  Ellen Page continues to impress.  She does not default to overly girly, needy teenage girls, she keeps rocking the quirky, independent chicks.  Bliss is an interesting character, that adds to her film resume.  Kristen Wiig, best known for her numerous comedy characters on Saturday Night Live, shows enormous control as the motherly Maggie.  She is a tough woman, trying to make ends meet, not some crazy overblown comedy character.

The film is better than expected, and I look forward to seeing Drew Barrymore step behind the camera again.

Whip It (2009) 111 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for sexual content including crude dialogue, language and drug material.
Director: Drew Barrymore
Starring: Ellen Page as Bliss Cavendar / Babe Ruthless
Marcia Gay Harden as Brooke Cavendar
Kristen Wiig as Maggie Mayhem
Drew Barrymore as Smashley Simpson
Juliette Lewis as Iron Maven
Jimmy Fallon as Hot Tub Johnny Rocket
Eve as Rosa Sparks
Zoe Bell as Bloody Holly
Daniel Stern as Earl Cavendar
Alia Shawkat as Pash

1941

"This isn't the state of California, it's a state of insanity."

In the wake of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the city Los Angeles is in turmoil.  Panic sweeps the streets and everyone is worried that they will be the next place of attack.  Major General Stillman (Stack) is assigned to protect the coast.

Meanwhile, a Japanese submarine is lost along the California coastline.  Commander Akiro Mitamura (Mifune) and crew have orders to torpedo Hollywood, but their compass doesn't work, so the Commander sends a group ashore to find out where they are, much to the chagrin of Nazi Captain Wolfgang von Kleinschmidt (Lee).

Meanwhile, panic runs rampant in the Santa Monica / Los Angeles area.  The local club is now a USO spot, for military personnel only.  And the army puts an anti-aircraft defense battery in the front yard of a coastal home.  That evening, at the dance, all hell breaks loose...


Not your typical Steven Spielberg film.  Although the opening is reminiscent of Spielberg's Jaws: a woman on the beach alone at night strips down and dives into the ocean, swimming out into the water, and then the notorious "Jaws Theme" as the oblivious woman.  From there, the film embraces absurd characters and situations, featuring a slew of big name comedy actors. At the time of it's release, this film was considered Spielberg's first flop.  However, since then it has seen some success.

It is a unique movie... following several interlocking storylines.  John Belushi steals the show as the slightly off-kilter "Will Bill" Kelso.  Most of his screen time is confined to the cockpit of his plane, and he does not interact much with the rest of the cast.  Dan Aykroyd and John Candy are underused as the tank crew, but they do get a few laughs.  Slim Pickens is another scene stealer, as the prisoner aboard the Japanese sub.  The man is hilarious.  Tim Matheson does the usual "ladies man" route, which works.  Robert Stack's Major General Stillman is the voice of reason, the straight man amid the chaos.

And then there is the love story subplot.  Bobby Di Cicco's Wally and Dianne Kay's Betty are teens in love.  He just got fired from another job, and she is a new USO host.  It is supposed to be the night they win a dance competition, but Wally isn't a cop and isn't allowed in the club.  This plot has funny moments, but drags on.  Treat Williams is a good villain, but even the prospect of him isn't enough.

In spite of that, everything else works.  And the film culminates in the attack on the city, which brings in all of the subplots.  It is a great spectacle!

A decent comedy, in the vein of Animal House (which also features Belushi and Matheson).

1941 (1979) 118 minutes
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Dan Aykroyd as Sgt Frank Tree
Ned Beatty as Ward Douglas
John Belushi as Captain Wild Bill Kelso
Christopher Lee as Captain Wolfgang von Kleinschmidt
Tim Matheson as Captain Loomis Birkhead
Toshiro Mifune as Commander Akiro Mitamura
Robert Stack as Major General Joseph Stillman
Treat Williams as Corporal "Stretch" Sitarski

Stripes

"Soldier, I've noticed that you're always last."
"I'm pacing myself, Sergeant."

John (Murray) is having a bad day..."I've had an interesting morning. In the last two hours I've lost my job, my apartment, my car, and my girlfriend."  He convinces his best friend, Russell (Ramis), an English language teacher, that they should join the army.

They are placed under the command of Sergeant Hulka (Oates), a tough man with no tolerance for their shenanigans.  Hulka has the worst group of recruits, including stoner Elmo (Judge Reinhold), overweight comedian Ox (Candy), and psychotic Psycho (Conrad Dunn).  When Hulka is severely injured during basic training, this ragtag crew must pass inspection on their own, or Captain Stillman (Larroquette) will force them to start over again.  Their antics impress the General (Robert J. Wilke) and he gives them a special mission.  Can they survive the mission and get back to the attractive M.P.s, Stella (Soles) and Louise (Young), that keep getting them out of trouble?

The first film collaboration between Bill Murray and Harold Ramis.  Ramis and Murray have excellent chemistry and work well together.  A great cast and funny performances.  John Larroquette is the right amount of smarmy as Captain Stillman, who balances Warren Oates' hardcore Sergeant Hulka.

Apparently the film was made with the cooperation of the US Army.  "The U.S. Army was actually very helpful and cooperative during filming, which surprised Ivan Reitman since the script depicts the military as being made up largely of buffoons." (from imdb.com).  It isn't an anti-war or anti-military film, it is an anti-idiot film.

While the entire film is funny, the best sequence is graduation.  Check it out!

Stripes (1981) 106 minutes
Rating: R for sexuality/nudity, language and some drug use. (extended edition)
Director: Ivan Reitman
Starring: Bill Murray as John
Harold Ramis as Russell
Warren Oates as Sergeant Hulka
P.J. Soles as Stella
Sean Young as Louise
John Candy as Ox
John Larroquette as Captain Stillman

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

"You lied to me by telling me the truth?"
"Yes."
"Thats good! May I use that?"

When the King of Spain learns that the legendary Fountain of Youth actually exists, he sends a ship to claim the land for Spain.  The King of England wants to get their first, and turns to pirates for help.  Barbossa (Rush), now a privateer after losing a leg and the Black Pearl, is to lead the quest.  


Meanwhile, Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp), who is in possession of the map to the Fountain.  While looking for a ship and a crew, he is shanghaied by an old girlfriend, Angelica (Cruz), aboard her father's ship.  Her father is the ruthless pirate Blackbeard (McShane).  Blackbeard seeks the Fountain to avoid the prophecy of his death in a fortnight.


In addition to finding the Fountain, they need to perform a ritual to access the powers of the Fountain.  The ritual involves capturing a mermaid (Berges-Frisbey).  Can they survive mutiny, zombies, voodoo, mermaids, and each other:

The fourth film in the successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, based on the Disneyland ride, had a lot to overcome.  The original (Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl) was an instant success, due to great performances (particularly Depp and Rush) and word of mouth.  The second (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest) and third (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End) films took the characters and mythology, and built upon it, making each film longer and more confusing.  Each film had bigger budgets and cooler effects, but lost the magic and audience of the original.  With most of the plot lines resolved (at the end of the third film), and character arcs completed, who would be Jack's moral compass and who would be the new villain?

A new director, new cast, new mythologies are at the forefront of Jack's new adventure.  The film feels different from its predecessors, while trying to rekindle the joy of the original.

Does it succeed?  Some aspects work: the chemistry between Depp and Cruz, and Jack still trying to successfully captain the Black Pearl.  Some aspects miss the mark: the subplot with the missionary, the lack of Barbossa and Gibbs (where’s the rest of the crew?).  The beginning sequence with Jack at the palace (and escaping from it) is spellbinding.  The sword fights and other action scenes are done well.

A funny, engaging film ... I enjoyed the experience.  It works on it's own merits, as part of the family of the other 3 films.  It doesn't try to duplicate the formula of the others and doesn't try to piggy back on the story line of the original.  It chooses to stand on it's own, winking at aspects of the other films.  It isn't necessary to see the previous films to enjoy this one, but it certainly helps!

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) 136 minutesRating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action / adventure violence, some frightening images, sensuality and innuendo.

Director: Rob Marshall

Starring: Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow

Penelope Cruz as Angelica Malon

Geoffrey Rush as Barbossa

Ian McShane as Blackbeard

Kevin McNally as Gibbs

Sam Claflin as Philip

Astrid Berges-Frisbey as Syrena