Classic scandal-mongering from the Pythons

Rating: 9/10 (6 March 2001)

An awesome achievement from the Monty Python team, creating a biting yet hilarious satire on religion and politics and getting exactly the response hoped for - the film was condemned by godbotherers at the time as blaspheming the life of Christ, when in fact it is quite respectful towards the actual story of Jesus, but uses the life of an ordinary man living in the same time and place to lambast religion as a whole. Right-wing christianity thereby condemned itself as reactionary and unable to take any hint of criticism without the cries of 'Unbeliever!?Persecute him!' that greet the first critic of the fledgling Brian religion in the film. The Life of Brian is a plea for tolerance and common sense in all things, and although religion is its main target, it hits on many other human failings, particularly in politics and bureaucracy, without ever losing sight of the fact that it is above all a comedy. Packed with visual and verbal hilarity in the best Python style, and carrying a vital message that people should think for themselves and not take things too seriously, this is a great and important film which could, if enough people watched it properly, and took in what it has to say without mindlessly condemning, make the world a kinder and happier place. Damn funny too.