Monty Python's Life Of Brian DVD > Reviews > "Nice one centurion, like it, like it."

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Standard
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	The Pythons' finest hour .  The funniest film of all time?
Disadvantages:	None basically .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I have no doubt that this is a film / dvd that has been reviewed countless times by other ciao members, but having just watched this yet again and seen the price for which it can be bought, my all time favourite film had to be reviewed once more. A controversial film that treats religion and its followers with a sense of humour, this is a highly entertaining production which is all the more enjoyable and pertinent in the humourless modern climate of extremism. How many of today's comedies will be remembered so vividly, quoted so often and still enjoyed 27 years after their release?

TECHNICAL DETAILS
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RUNNING TIME.... 1 hour 30 minutes
RATING.... 15
FORMAT.... Widescreen
YEAR.... 1979
LANGUAGE.... English, Hungarian and German
SUBTITLES.... 22 languages. Majority of major European countries (except Spain) along with Hindi, Hebrew and Arabic.

The RATING is sensible as there is some strong language, moderate nudity and some comic book violence, but these are very mild examples compared to many of today's films.

THE CAST AND CREW
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This is a team effort where the Pythons play several characters apiece. I will list their most prominent roles below.

GRAHAM CHAPMAN.... Brian , Biggus Dickus
TERRY JONES.... Mandy Cohen , Simon the Holy Man
JOHN CLEESE.... Reg , Jewish leader at stoning
MICHAEL PALIN... Francis , Ex leper, Pontius Pilate
ERIC IDLE.... Stan , Cheeky
TERRY GILLIAM... The animations , Jailer , Prophet

SUE JONES-DAVIES.... Judith

There is a large ensemble cast, but the show belongs wholesale to the Python team with very brief appearances by notably SPIKE MILLIGAN and GEORGE HARRISON.

THE STORY
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In the face of the criticism this film generated, the Python team were quick to assert that this film was not actually about Christ. As can be seen from the first sequence, with the three wise men visiting Brian's manger in Nazareth, before realising that in fact they had come to the wrong place, this is about Brian Cohen (CHAPMAN) not Jesus as such. It is of course naive to mistake this for anything other than a parody of the life of Christ and a comment on those that pursue their ideals, both religious and secular.

The film really begins with Brian as a young man standing in a crowd alongside his mother, Mandy Cohen (JONES), listening to a prophet (presumably Christ) in a very funny sequence before going off to watch a stoning. However, before they leave Brian sets eyes on Judith (JONES-DAVIES). Whilst working as a snack cellar at some Roman games, Brian encounters her again, sitting with her comrades of the People's Front of Judea, led by Reg (CLEESE). His hatred for the Roman oppressors, coupled with his desire for Judith, leads to Brian joining the PFJ. First he must prove himself, which he does with an example of very early graffiti. Spotted by the Romans he is now constantly on the run, but has gained the trust of the pedantic PFJ.

I will not go in to detail, so as not to spoil the film for the minority who have not seen it, but Brian becomes increasingly involved in the PFJ's hopelessly ineffective activities and bungled operations leading to conflict with the highest of the Roman authorities in the form of Pontius Pilate, (PALIN). However Brian's efforts to evade capture by the oppressive Romans ('what have they ever done for us'), inadvertantly leads to him being mistaken for the messiah. This development follows encounters with a wonderful turn from PALIN as an ex-leper, the same actor as an insane prisoner, a not-so-amusing brush with a gourd salesman (IDLE) and a trip in a spacecraft, to name a few as Brian continues to evade Roman capture.

Eventually Brian's following reaches multitudinous proportions, and the attentions of these misguided souls means that capture by the authorities looks inevitable. The climax of the film sees echoes with the last days of Christ in a very amusing conclusion, fanfared by the timeless singalong 'Bright Side of Life'.

This is a film that travels at a great pace with many a humorous cameo, subsequently there is far more to the film than the outline given here. But the skeleton of the story should be fleshed out by the enjoyment of the spectacle..

OPINION
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General
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Terry Gilliam's hugely impressive and imaginative artwork of the opening titles, accompanied by SONIA JONES'S powerful rendition of 'Brian Song', immediately confirm that this is a more polished Monty Python production. This initial impression is sustained throughout the entire film, which is why it is so remarkable because even at their funniest, the Monty Python team were guilty of inconsisitencies in the quality of their comedy. If you were to compare 'The Life of Brian' with the generally excellent 'Holy Grail', for example, there are some notably weaker sequences in the latter, a fault that is avoided here. The pace moves too quickly as well to dwell on any moments of lesser quality (not that there are many).

There is a further difference in that other Python films have the feel of a series of linked sketches, whilst 'Brian' is a more cohesive story. This may have something to do with the fact that 'Life of Brian' was directed by JONES, with GILLIAM in charge of design. For 'Holy Grail' they had been co-directors. GILLIAM'S influence as designer is obvious, as from the Shirley Bassey-Bond like theme tune to the scale of cast and sets, this film has a truly cinematic feel.

The characters, acting and writing
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GRAHAM CHAPMAN plays the lead, and he is excellent with a wonderful sense of increasing exasperation with his ever more complicated predicament, but PALIN steals this for me. Every character and cameo he plays in this film is memorable. The ex-leper, Big Nose, Pontius Pilate, the boring prophet, the camp prison guard - all these are absolute joys. Though his performance is the best, this is a production where the whole team is in fine form. JONES is very funny as the formidable Mandy Cohen and also as the unfortunate Simon the wise man, whilst CLEESE is always at his best playing sarcastic and grumpy. Even ERIC IDLE plays characters suitable to his disposition, which is a treat as I have to admit I often find him a little irksome at times. Finally GILLIAM portrays the mad prophet and simple guard with relish.

The characters in the film are so well drawn, with such great lines, that this is another reason why it is far superior to anything else done by the team. The quality of these caricatures and their throw away lines make the typical Python humour really shine here. There are so many quotable lines and scenes that you lose count, and even the briefest of cameos is a gem. The documentary outlined below shows the Pythons off screen as such, where they are meant to be more relaxed, but it is the actual film itself which gives the impression that this multi-talented group are having an absolute ball.

THE SPECIAL FEATURES
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Though limited to theatrical trailers and a documentary, the latter is very interesting. Captured during the making of 'Life of Brian' in Tunisia, the 50 minute documentary covers a lot of material. There are interviews with the Python team individually and together, and with the minmum of fuss you get a real insight in to their respective characters. PALIN, IDLE and JONES are very self -deprecating and affable, whilst GILLIAM is a likeable enthusiast. CLEESE and CHAPMAN are the two who are the more surprising, their wit very dry and their disposition pretty serious at times. Their transformation while performing is therefore all the more remarkable, particularly Chapman.Yet all are interesting as individual interviewees and also when seen interacting with their colleagues.

The documentary does not stop there, delving in to a brief history of the Monty Python phenomenon as well as the individual projects of each member. The intelligence of each performer makes for an interesting programme and also makes you wonder how such clever men can produce such anarchic characters and humour which is often extremely childish but so funny.

OVERALL
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This film does contain bad language and themes that some may find offensive, but taken in the correct light then this is a wonderful piece of comedy which hasn't been surpassed. Yes there are points being made, but these are of secondary importance. This is primarily, a very cheeky and very funny classic which is enjoyed to the full, if allowed to simply entertain. If you like the Monty Python humour, and you have not by any chance see this, it is recommended without the slightest reservation.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
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PLAY.COM
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5.99

AMAZON
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5.97 + post and packing

 

Pictures for the review

Display pictures

Cleese, Palin and Chapman