Life of Brian (1979)
Genre: Comedy
Duration: 94 minuten
Alternative title: Monty Python's Life of Brian
Country:
United Kingdom
Directed by: Terry Jones
Stars: Graham Chapman, Michael Palin and John Cleese
IMDb score:
8,0 (434.223)
Releasedate: 17 August 1979
Life of Brian plot
"He wasn't the messiah. He was a very naughty boy."
On the night Jesus Christ is born, Brian is also born in the stall next door. As an adult, Brian joins the Popular Front of Judea, an organization that opposes the Romans. However, by a twist of fate, Brian is mistaken for the messiah, and everything he says and does is canonized. This is much to the chagrin of Brian, who has no desire to lead a nation. The Romans are also not so happy with the arrival of this messiah.
Actors and actresses
Wise Man #2 / Brian Cohen / Biggus Dickus
Wise Man #1 / Reg / Jewish Official / First Centurion / Deadly Dirk / Arthur
Man Even Further Forward / Revolutionary / Jailer / Blood and Thunder Prophet / Frank / Audience Member / Crucifee
Mr. Cheeky / Stan 'Loretta' / Harry the Haggler / Culprit Woman / Warris / Intensely Dull Youth / Jailer's Assistant / Otto / Lead Singer Crucifee
Mandy Cohen / Colin / Simon the Holy Man / Bob Hoskins / Saintly Passer-by / Alarmed Crucifixion Assistant
Wise Man #3 / Mr. Big Nose / Francis / Mrs. A / Ex-Leper / Announcer / Ben / Pontius Pilate / Boring Prophet / Eddie / Shoe Follower / Nisus Wettus
Gregory
Mrs. Gregory
Jesus
A Weedy Samaritan
Reviews & comments
Film Pegasus (moderator films)
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- 31272 messages
- 5512 votes
The films of Monthy Python mainly stick in the memory because of some jokes that are brought out at parties or in cafes to be funny. And some of those jokes still work. But that doesn't mean the whole movie is still so good.
Life of Brian does have some good jokes, but also a lot of humor that is stale in the meantime. You mainly look at a lot of good ideas in an outdated whole. Progressive, not that. A special humor that influenced many comedy films. But as a film it is sometimes a bit less after so many years.
The starting point is Brian's life, which runs parallel to that of Jesus. The approach of Ben Hur actually, but worked out differently. That makes for a nice coat rack to hang the whole thing on. Just like with The Holy Grail, by the way, which ensures that the film does not become a clip show and the comparison with the better TV show of Monthy Python immediately applies.
But a few laughs here and there, it's not bad. There is also some nostalgia in it. The film is mainly supported by the 6 core actors, supplemented by some cameos and extras. I knew that George Harrison, as a major sponsor of this film, also got a small part in appreciation. So did a search and I think I found it. And when looking at the credits I saw at the very end the tip to see the movie 'La Notte'. Now I was curious as to why this film was tipped. Apparently a lost joke as La Notte is different from Life of Brian in every way. Until the joke...
Translated from Dutch · View original
Sergio Leone
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- 4461 messages
- 3144 votes
Mediocre.
I like The Holy Grail a bit better, although it is more coherent and feels less sketchy. But Monty Python is, for me at least, hit-or-miss. The absurdity is as often funny as it is not funny. The creative souls of the ensemble also seem to have been able to do their thing a little more with The Holy Grail.
2.5
Translated from Dutch · View original
Lovelyboy
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- 4059 messages
- 3041 votes
After The Holy Grail, continue with the next one from Messrs. Monty Python. The Grail didn't disappoint me very much and was quite doable. But the first word that comes to mind after Life Of Brian is: ouch!!!
What stands out in a positive way about Life Of Brian is the storyline that is less fragmented than in The Holy Grail. Once again, everything is poked fun at, not surprising, and what is also striking are the large sets and many extras. Then there are a few more humorous moments that succeed in my eyes. The stoning is fun, the conditions in the arena are funny, and especially Brian's denial and the reverse logic of his followers is precious. Everything Brian does, right or wrong, is linked left or right to the divine or a miracle.
But unfortunately that's it for me. The misery already starts with the endlessly lame discussion about the man with the big nose and the riot that ensues. As is often the case with the gentlemen of MP, such a 'joke' that is already not fun, but is subsequently milked for a long time. Same with the ex-leper who has a nice joke at the end of the scene with the charge against 'the benefactor' who has ruined his cash cow in that sense, yet the build-up with the leper who keeps begging takes way too long and adds nothing up. And so it goes on and on with moments that are not really fun in the base but are stretched to the max.
And that is quite a shame because there are really well thought out references in it, they are just too faint. Anyway, as I saw before in The Holy Grail, this bland aspect belongs to a Monty Python product and this is not my kind of humor.
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