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Monty Python's Life Of Brian | Year: 1979 Classification: Comedy Actors/Actresses: - Graham Chapman - John Cleese - Michael Palin Monty Python's finest film Determined Python fans have their preferences, and for some, LIFE OF BRIAN isn't the funniest. They might compare it to their favorite bits from HOLY GRAIL or MEANING OF LIFE. Yet this film is exemplary for sustaining the story of Brian, a young dissident who scorns Roman rule and is mistaken for the messiah, through to the end. Without any didactic aims, it pokes fun at the way human beings anoint and follow religious figures. The script is very strong, as are the performances. It remains their strongest movie. The charges of blasphemy are misplaced. The very first scene of the film establishes this: the three wise men make a mistake when they bring their gifts to Brian, catch their mistake, and take their gifts back (rather abruptly) when they discover the true Christ child in the stable next door. What follows is a comedy that makes no complaint against Jesus or God. It is all about religious behavior amongst the rest of us, as well as self-interested political activism ("We are NOT the Judean People's Front...We are the People's Front of Judea!"). Brian, our good-hearted hero, gets tragically caught up in the madness which, while exaggerated for Pythonesque comedic effect, feels very familiar. Get the Criterion edition of this marvellous comedy! To put it simple, this is one of THE funniest comedies ever made, and following the old Python tradition, it makes fun of everyone and anything. Also, if you didn't know it, this is the Python movie that also contains Eric Idle's now classic song, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life". I recommend you get the Criterion collection if you're going to purchase this DVD. I got it today, and it has tons of extra features, plus it is a high-quality-transfer widescreen (I don't think the standard DVD is widescreen, but I won't bet money on it). I haven't had time to hear the TWO, yes two, additional sets of audio tracks, with commentary from all of the five Pythons (sadly excluding Graham Chapman, for obvious reasons), but I can only imagine that they alone are worth the extra bucks you spend on getting the Criterion edition. Go get yourself this DVD right away -- you won't regret it! Is nothing sacred? NO! And that's why this is a riot! Irreverent, brilliant, ingenius... I'm getting all these words out of the way now before I forget them! Even though I'll probably use them a dozen times! The funniest thing to come from England since The Stamp Act, Monty Python's Flying Circus could always be depended upon to provide the world with brilliantly twisted humor. The LIFE OF BRIAN is no less a comic masterpiece than anything else these boys have done. Ostensibly a parody of the life of Jesus, LIFE OF BRIAN is a hilarious attack on liberalism, conservatism, colonialism, individualism, communalism, organized religion, disorganized religion, fanaticism, feminism... take your pick of any of a hundred topics. It doesn't matter, it's still brilliant. And the script and direction holds it perfectly all together, even if there's a space ship chase sequence thrown in for the hell of it. Once again, the members of MPFC each play several roles and every viewer has his or her favorites, so what the hell, I'll mention mine. Michael Palin, while playing a wonderfully foppy Pontius Pilate, is equally hilarious as a twitchy, hyperactive leper that Jesus had cured. Instead of being grateful, he complains that his rehabilitation has ruined his livelihood as a beggar. (Speaking of rehabilitation, Palin plays the part like a junkie in need of a fix.) John Cleese has several great moments, but his role as a Centurion turned sadistic Latin teacher is nothing short of genius. Everyone who has studied Latin will be beside themselves during this scene. And Terry Jones as Brian's mom still stuns me 25 years later. "My Brian is not the messiah! He's a very naughty, naughty boy." Monty Python's LIFE OF BRIAN is irreverent, brilliant, and ingenius and this edition, complete with outtakes, behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews make this package worth the price. Whether you are an individual or not, "Monty Python's Life of Brian - Criterion Collection" will save your comic soul. Buy Monty Python's Life Of Brian at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Monty Python's Life Of Brian Search with the Priority Search Engine on Monty Python's Life Of Brian This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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