Monty Python's Life of Brian

Rating: 8/10 (12 September 2005)

The first time I saw it, I thought Holy Grail was a lot funnier, now I like them both equally. The film starts on Christmas night, with the birth of Brian, where the three wise men mistake him for Jesus Christ. Later, when Brian (Graham Chapman) has grown, he is only known as a stadium snack seller, but it is there that he meets and joins the Peoples' Front of Judea, who do nothing, but really hate the Romans. Later, after carrying out a job for them, and escaping from lisping Pontius Pilate (Michael Palin) ("Welease Wodewick"), he says wise words to some pilgrims on the streets. It is after this that suddenly people start following him, believing he is the Messiah. The film concludes with the controversial crucifixion of Brian, and many other characters. Also starring John Cleese in many of the cooperative roles, Chapman also playing some small roles including lisping Biggus Dickus ("Thomething I Thaid?"), Terry Gilliam playing ugly cooperatives, Eric Idle playing cheerful, questioning and reasoning roles, Terry Jones as the Pepperpot mother of Brian and other smaller roles, Palin takes quite a lot of the supporting roles, Sue Jones-Davies as Judith, and a cameo by Spike Milligan. The highlights for me are Brian opening the window (naked) to a crowd, and his mother says "He is not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy", and Idle asks "Are you a virgin", and of course, the great end to the film with the song by Idle, number 6 on 50 Greatest One Hit Wonders, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life". It may have been controversial at the time, but it is now no match for The Passion of the Christ. John Cleese was number 14 on The 50 Greatest British Actors, John Cleese was number 14 on The 50 Greatest British Actors, Eric Idle was number 21, and Cleese number 2 on The Comedians' Comedian, the film was number 13 on The 100 Greatest Christmas Moments, it was number 1 on The 50 Greatest Comedy Films, and it was number 23 on The 100 Greatest Films. Very good!