Friends, Romans & ex-lepers

Rating: 10/10 (16 August 2006)

The greatest satire on film? Well IMO its between this and Dr Strangelove. The films are in any case linked by the two most influential irreverent British comedy teams - The Goon Show and Monty Python.
Python's previous film, The Holy Grail, was exceptionally funny. But with this film, the team stuck its neck out. A much bigger budget, more of a film than series of scenes/sketches and a very controversial social commentary and satire. It could have blew up in their faces, but of course became a triumph.
Actually it was never going to fail... Python had a great winning formula. They had 6 very talented people, and between them they knew how to get the best out of each of them individually, in front of and behind the camera. The casting as always was spot on, every character memorable. For bewildered & sensitive - get Chapman, for shouty & demonstrative - get Cleese, cheeky chappy - get Idle, big nose - erm..Chapman again, effeminate & snooty - get Palin... As well as roles in front of the camera, Jones and Gilliam did a great job in bringing the Holy Land 2000 years ago to life. and to top it off they had the had one of the best team of comedy script-writers going.
I could focus on a particular part of this film, but what's the point its all good. It maintains the its charm throughout and ends perfectly.
I would recommend this to everyone, even Romans..