The Dean of Cinema

Now Showing: Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979) – dir. by Terry Jones

He’s not the messiah…he’s just a naughty boy. Brian Cohen is an average young Jewish man, but through a series of ridiculous events, he gains a reputation as the Messiah. When he’s not dodging his followers or being scolded by his shrill mother, the hapless Brian has to contend with the pompous Pontius Pilate and acronym-obsessed members of a separatist movement. Rife with Monty Python’s signature absurdity, the tale finds Brian’s life paralleling Biblical lore, albeit with many more laughs.

Life of Brian is my favorite Python film by a mile. I love Meaning of Life and Holy Grail, but Life of Brian is absolute peak Python. For their first effort at following a single storyline versus various skits set was a massive success and one that almost didn’t happen. Due to issues with the religious material, funding was pulled at the last minute. It wasn’t until ex-Beatle George fucking Harrison stepped in and funded the film for his friends in Python. 

Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin are at the top of their game. The whole film is a riot from the Roman centurion’s lecturing Brian on his Latin grammar, the “what have the Romans ever done for us?” discussion and who can forget Michael Palin as Pontius Pilate interrogating his men about what they find funny about his friend’s name, Biggus Dickus? You can see him zero in on the laughing actors (who were jokingly told before filming not to laugh or they won’t be paid 😂 ) trying to get them to crack. It leaves me in stitches every time. An absolute masterclass in comedy.

Let’s not forget about “Always Look On the Bright Side Of Life,” which might be peak Python and one of the best things to come out of Britain.

The Life of Brian works so well because it doesn’t mock Jesus, Christianity or any religion. It mocks those who would blindly worship and follow false prophets like Brian. It’s a brilliant political satire as well, poking fun at the various revolutionary organizations that fought amongst themselves instead of uniting against the common enemy. It was controversial but those who hated it didn’t understand it. Jesus appears one time, during the Sermon on the Mount and played as real, not parody. 

Life of Brian is one I return to every year or whenever I’m in a bad mood. Always Look On the Bright Side of Life can lift me out of any depression.

My Python collection is almost complete. Only need the Flying Circus series next!