Directed by Terry Jones and written and starring Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin), Monty Python’s Life of Brian is the story of a young man who is born on the same day as Jesus Christ at the hut next door where he is later mistaken to be a messianic figure. The film is a satire of sorts that discusses some of the fallacies of religion as well as ideas of faith and life itself. Also starring Python cohorts Carol Cleveland and Neil Innes along with Terence Blayer and Sue Jones-Davies. Monty Python’s Life of Brian is an outrageous yet hilarious film from Monty Python.
It’s 33 A.D. Judea where a young man whose disdain for the Romans has him join a group only to get himself into a series of misadventures where he is mistaken to be a messiah as people listen to him and misinterpret what he’s saying. That is what the film is about as it play into people trying to find some meaning in life while creating their own interpretations into its ideas as a young man is caught in the middle of all of this chaos as well as a conflict between Romans and various anti-Roman factions. The film’s screenplay by the Monty Python troupe focuses largely on this young man in Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman) who was born on the same day at a hut next to Jesus Christ where three wise men mistake him for the Messiah on his birth date only to realize it’s the wrong baby.
Brian is smitten with a young woman in Judith Iscariot (Sue Jones-Davies) who is part of anti-Roman faction in the People’s Front of Judea who spent more time coming up with ideas and arguing amongst with one another and other separate factions rather than fight the Romans. Brian would prove himself for PFJ yet an attempted invasion of the home of Pontius Pilate (Michael Palin) would go wrong with Brian get himself into these misadventures involving aliens and all sorts of shit. The script play into these ideas of faith and religion and how they can be misinterpreted and used for the wrong reasons with Brian being a martyr and scapegoat of sorts when he never did anything wrong. Even to the point that his mother (Terry Jones) tries to tell his followers that he is not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy.
Terry Jones’ direction definitely plays with the ideas that is expected with religious iconography and imagery while infusing it with some humor. Shot on location in Tunisia, the film does play into the period of those times where it opens with the three wise men going into a hut where Brian’s mother is watching after her newborn baby thinking it’s the Messiah only to realize it’s at the next hut. The film would also feature Jesus Christ’s Sermon on the Mount where it is presented in a medium shot and then the camera pulls back into a wide shot as it play into this historical moment yet there’s people shouting “speak up” as they misinterpret what he’s saying leading a funny moment of confusion. While much of Jones’ compositions in the close-ups, medium, and wide shots are straightforward with some long takes to play into the humor. It still add to this offbeat humor where scenes such as an old man being stoned for saying Jehovah’s name with women dressed up as men wearing fake beards or an argument among the PFJ about the Romans where some reminded that Romans brought many things to Judea.
Jones’ direction also play into this air of absurdity about the idea of messianic figures where there’s a street in Judea of a row of messiahs trying to spread their ideas while Brian is trying to hide from the Romans at the PFJ’s secret compound. Jones also play into some of the silliness of the Roman empire as Pontius Pilate is a man with a bad speech impediment while there’s other things that do make the Romans somewhat incompetent. It is all about these ideas of people trying to follow an idea or look for something to be guided by yet Brian is trying to say some of the most sensible things out there in a world where no one has any common sense. Overall, Jones crafts a witty yet whimsical film about a young man who is mistaken as the Messiah.
Cinematographer Peter Biziou does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography in its usage of natural lighting as well as some stylish bits for some of the scenes at night that help play into the atmosphere of the locations. Editor Julian Doyle does excellent work with the editing as it uses rhythmic cuts to play into the humor as well as some of the absurd aspects of the film. Animation/production designer Terry Gilliam and art director Roger Christian do amazing work with the look of the homes of a few of the characters as well as some of the exteriors of the Roman buildings while Gilliam’s animation for the film’s opening credits and a sequence of Brian briefly meeting aliens is just hilarious. Costume designers Charles Knode and Hazel Pethig do fantastic work with the look of the Roman uniforms and robes to the more ragged look of the common folk including some of the more posh look of some of the rich people in Judea.
Hair/makeup designers Elaine Carew and Maggie Weston do terrific work with the look of the wigs and hairstyle of the characters as well as the fake beards the women wear to participate in the stoning. Sound recordist Garth Marshall does superb work with the sound in capturing the atmosphere of some of the sermons as well as the chaos that goes in involving large crowds. The film’s music by Geoffrey Burgon is wonderful for its mixture of bombastic orchestral music that is synonymous of biblical films while it features a couple of original songs including its theme presented in a style similar to James Bond films and the playful Always Look on the Bright Side of Life that play up into the idea of existence and life itself.
The film’s incredible cast include some notable small roles and appearances from Spike Milligan as a prophet speaking with other prophets, John Young as the watchmen for the PFJ, Neil Innes as a weedy Samaritan, Gwen Taylor as the wife of Big Nose, Terence Bayler and Carol Cleveland as a rich couple in Mr. and Mrs. Gregory respectively, Kenneth Colley as Jesus Christ, and one of the film’s executive producers and financiers in George Harrison in a cameo appearance as a mount owner in Mr. Papadopoulos. Sue Jones-Davies is fantastic as Judith Iscariot as a member of the PFJ who falls for Brian as she tries to make sense of all of the chaos while believing that Brian is doing some good for the world.
In multiple role, the members of Monty Python all do tremendous work in the multiple characters they play with Terry Gilliam as a man misinterpreting what Jesus said as well as small roles as a dirty prophet, a follower of Brian, a jailer, and a deaf aide of the crucifixion ceremony. Terry Jones’ performances as a silent holy man who fails his vow of silence, a saintly passerby who stupidly carries someone else’s cross, and Brian’s mother is hilarious with him being at his funniest as Brian’s mother. Eric Idle is great in the various roles as PFJ member Stan who wants to be a woman named Loretta, a Jewish prankster, a haggler, the woman who threw the first stone, a dumb youth, a member of the crucifixion ceremony, and a man crucified who leads the sing-a-long.
Michael Palin’s performances as a man named Big Nose, an ex-leper, one of the wise men, a prophet that doesn’t say anything exciting, a member of the PFJ, and other various roles including Pontius Pilate with a speech impediment is just so funny in the way he makes Pilate look like a fool. John Cleese is amazing in the roles of one of the wise men, a high priest who organizes the stoning, a centurion leader, an overzealous follower of Brian, and PFJ leader Reg who tries to get some ideas going only to not go through with them. Finally, there’s Graham Chapman in a phenomenal performance as the titular character as this young man who is mistaken as a messiah while trying to rebel against the Romans while Chapman also does some funny brief roles as one of the wise men and Pilate’s friend Biggus Dickus.
Monty Python’s Life of Brian is an outstanding film from Monty Python. Featuring gorgeous visuals, soaring music, amazing set design, a great cast, and compelling themes about faith, religion, and the faults of humanity using faith in the worst ways. It’s a film that isn’t afraid to take shots at some of the ideas of religion and do it in a way that is extremely funny. In the end, Monty Python’s Life of Brian is a tremendous film from Terry Jones and Monty Python.
Monty Python Films: (And Now for Something Completely Different) – Monty Python and the Holy Grail - (Live at the Hollywood Bowl) – Monty Python's the Meaning of Life - (Almost the Truth (Lawyer’s Cut))
© thevoid99 2018
Directed by Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam and written and performed by Jones, Gilliam, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, and Michael Palin, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a parody film that explores the story King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table in their quest for the Holy Grail. The film is the first proper film by the Monty Python comedy troupe that is composed of entirely new material under the control of the group as it plays to the Arthurian legend plus ideas of death, mystique, coconuts, swallows, and all sorts of silly things. Also starring Python cohorts Carol Cleveland, Connie Booth, and Neil Innes. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a very ridiculous, absurd, idiotic and… on second thought, it’s one of the funniest films ever made.
The film is an absurdist take on the legend of King Arthur and his quest for the Holy Grail where he and his Knights of the Round Table go into this quest to seek the Grail. While it sort of plays true to the legendary story, the Monty Python troupe decide to add a lot of inane things into the story. Some of which involve a lot of historical inaccuracies, dramatic liberties, coconuts, theories about politics, and of course, swallows. The first act of the script is about King Arthur forming the Knights of the Round Table and going on the quest to find the Grail. The second act involves the Arthur and his knights each venturing on a separate journey where they endure all sorts of things from a castle full of virginal women, a wedding, a three-headed knight, and the Knights who say “Ni!” The third act has the group reuniting to face more mysterious forces and face the Bridge of Death. It’s a script that has a lot of humor that is offbeat while being very loose in its tone and dialogue.
The film’s direction by Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam definitely showcased a contrast of two very different styles of presentation as the former was about the humor and its timing while the latter was more about the visuals. Gilliam’s approach to the fogginess of some of the scenes as well as the way some of the visual aspect of the film does give it a richness that isn’t seen much in comedies. That is balanced by Jones’ approach to humor where things are very loose as he would find ways to put Gilliam’s animation sequences to help play into the story. Much of the direction not only use some wide and medium shots as well as close-ups while finding ways to give the humor the chance to be off the wall. Even as it includes scenes where the fourth wall is broken in some places as it would add to the absurdist humor of the film. Overall, the Monty Python troupe creates a film that is absolutely insane in terms of the way it told the story of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.
Cinematographer Terry Bedford does amazing work with the cinematography from the look of the scenes in the fog to the scenes where King Arthur treks into a small, muddy village. Editor John Hackney does excellent work with the editing with its unique rhythmic cuts to play into the film‘s humor and musical numbers. Production designer Roy Forge Smith does brilliant work with the set pieces from the look of the castles to the design of the Trojan Rabbit, the dark cave, and the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch. Costume designer Hazel Pethig does wonderful work with the costumes from the look of the robes and costumes of the King Arthur and his knights as well some of the other characters in the story. Makeup artists Pam Luke and Pearl Rashbass do fantastic work with the makeup for the look of some of the characters like the knights, Tim the Enchanter, and the Bridgekeeper.
The special effects work of John Horton with additional photography by Julian Doyle are terrific for the mixture of animation and live action in some scenes as well as some of the weirder moments in the film involving rabbits and other crazy things. Sound mixer Hugh Strain does superb work with the sound to create some sound effects and some scenes on the film’s locations. The film’s music consists of classical music to play into that period along with some original songs by Neil Innes like the Camelot musical number and the songs that Sir Robin’s minstrels sings.
The film’s cast includes some notable small performances from John Young as a historian and a dead body who isn’t dead, Rita Davies as the historian’s wife, and Connie Booth as a woman accused of being a witch. Other funny small roles from Python cohorts include Carol Cleveland as the castle Anthrax leader Zoot and her twin Dingo and Neil Innes in various roles as Sir Robin’s singing minstrel, a laughing French knight, a baton minstrel, the head of chanting monks, and a page who gets constantly injured. Terry Gilliam is excellent in his various roles as King Arthur’s page Patsy, the Bridgekeeper/soothsayer, the Green Knight, the film’s animator, and a knight who is killed by a treacherous creature. Terry Jones is amazing in his lead role as Sir Bedevere while also playing the mother of a very political man, a three-headed knight, a French knight, and the effeminate Prince Herbert who just wants to sing a song about… stop that, stop that!
Eric Idle is superb as the Not-so-Brave Sir Robin who is always acting like a wimp as Idle also plays a dead collector, a singing knight, Sir Lancelot’s squire, a monk, Roger the Shrubber, and a confused castle guard. Michael Palin is brilliant as the pure Sir Galahad whose purity is his gift while he also plays the role of a political theorist, a three-headed knight, a king who hates music, a monk, and the head knight who says “ni”. John Cleese is fantastic as the very brave but over-doing Sir Lancelot as well as notable small roles like the Black Knight, Tim the Enchanter, and the taunting French knight. Finally, there’s Graham Chapman in a phenomenal performance as King Arthur as he has that gravitas to play the role he also has some small roles in one of the three knights and the voice of God.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a magnificent… no, it’s a stupendous… no it’s a… no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no you stupid blogger, you stupid critic. This film is not very good. It is terrible. It is…. Shut up!!!! *cuts the arm off of someone* It’s just a flesh wound! *scuffle* You stupid American writer! Your mother smells of elderberries and… I’m sorry. Let’s try this again. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is one of the greatest comedies ever and see it now or that Frenchman will taunt you a second-timer!
Monty Python Films: (And Now For Something Completely Different) - Monty Python’s Life of Brian - (Live at the Hollywood Bowl) - Monty Python's The Meaning of Life - (Almost the Truth (Lawyer’s Cut))
© thevoid99 2014
Directed by Terry Jones and written and performed by Jones, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Graham Chapman, and Michael Palin, Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life is a film that consists of various sketches performed by the Monty Python comedy troupe about life itself. Through various subjects matters in the evolution of living, the film spans through different styles musicals and satire. Also starring Python cohort Carol Cleveland. The Meaning of Life is a rip-roaring and witty comedy from Monty Python.
The film is an exploration through a series of sketches about the meaning of life from birth to death. Most of it is presented in forms of absurd humor from the ideas of birth control, war, adolescents, and even death. It’s a film that is quite loose in its presentation where it’s all based on sketches and such to play into the ideas of existence and what does it all mean. Though the film doesn’t give out any answers, it does provide a lot of questions as well as ideas about life and all of its absurdities. Though some of the sketches that the Monty Python troupe doesn’t really work, it is balanced by some fantastic sketches that play into some of the flaws about how life works and such. The film opens with a 17-minute short film written and directed by Terry Gilliam called The Crimson Permanent Assurance about a group of aging employees of a British firm who rebel against their new and younger corporate bosses as they fight against corporations as if they’re pirates.
It’s among the many aspects of the film that showcases a sense of ambition in not just the troupe’s presentation but also in Terry Jones’ direction as he is going for something that is pretty big. Most notably the sequence for the song Every Sperm is Sacred as it is this lavish musical number with children and adults singing about birth control with some critiques towards religion such as Catholicism and Protestants as the latter makes critiques towards the former over not wearing condoms during sex. Much of the segments are structured in a narrative from birth to death as the first sketch is about a baby’s birth where doctors are more concerned about machines and such instead of the actual birth. It’s among these very offbeat sketches that plays into life’s evolutions such as a scene where a teacher showcases his students how to perform sex with another woman as it is later followed by a brutal rugby match where young kids are playing against adults.
Most of the sketches do play into silly ideas of war and such as well as a sequence in which Gilliam’s short tries to be in the main film at one point. Though some like the ones about conflict doesn’t entirely work as well as one very strange sketch about an American couple eating at a dungeon-themed Hawaiian resort as well as a talk-show sketch. The ones that do work do push the envelope of what can be done in comedy such as a man choosing his idea on how he would like to die. Yet, it is the Mr. Creosote sketch in which Terry Jones plays an obese man who vomits continuously and eats a massive meal at a posh French restaurant. The overall result is a messy yet very whimsical comedy about life and existence through the good, the bad, and the downright strange.
Cinematographer Peter Hannan does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography in providing many different palettes for the different sketches in the film with Roger Pratt providing the photography from Gilliam‘s short. Editor Julian Morris does terrific work with the editing in playing to the rhythm of the film‘s humor as well as create some stylish cuts for some of the sketches. Production designer Harry Lange, with art director Richard Dawking and set decorators Sharon Cartwright and Simon Wakefield, does fantastic work with much of the film‘s lavish set pieces from the look of the Every Sperm is Sacred sequence to the finale as the look also includes contributions from art director John Beard for the set pieces in Gilliam’s short film.
Costume designer James Acheson does brilliant work with the different array of costumes for the film for the actors to wear in the many different characters they play. Hair and makeup designer Maggie Weston does wonderful work with the look of the different characters the actors wear including the look of Mr. Creosote. Special effects supervisor George Gibbs does nice work with some of the film‘s visual effects such as the troupe playing fishes in a fish tank commenting in the film. Sound mixer Garth Marshall does superb work with the sound to play into some of the sound effects in the film while Debbie Kaplan does much of the sound for Gilliam‘s short. The film’s music by John du Prez is definitely delightful in terms of its playfulness along with some of the darker moments as well as it features some original songs written by the troupe.
The casting by Michelle Guish and Debbie McWilliams is great as it features some notable small appearances from Matt Frewer as a corporate executives attacked by the people of Permanent Assurance firm, Patricia Quinn as a woman who would have sex with a teacher for his class, and longtime Python cohort Carol Cleveland in a number of small roles including a receptionist and some voice works in Gilliam’s animated sketches. Finally, there’s the Monty Python troupe as they all give very exemplary performances in the many different characters they play. Terry Gilliam provides some pretty funny moments in his role as a Rastafarian getting an illegal liver transplant and a restaurant hostess along with some other small characters.
Terry Jones brings in some very memorable performances such as the wife of a million children, a priest, an army captain in battle, and most of all, Mr. Creosote. John Cleese plays the roles of the sex teacher, a priest, the grim reaper, an illegal organ dealer, and the waiter serving Mr. Creosote as he is just hilarious. Eric Idle plays the role of a Protestant housewife, a “meaning of life” singer, a posh restaurant waiter, a one-legged officer, and a Noel Coward-like singer that just showcases his talents as a singer and funny-man. Michael Palin is amazing in the many roles he plays such as a hospital administrator, a father of millions of kids, an army base sergeant, a female TV presenter, and a chaplain at the choose your death sketch. Finally, there’s Graham Chapman who is just superb in the different roles he plays such as a Protestant man, a doctor, a transvestite, a lounge singer, and the man in the choose your death game.
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life is an extraordinary film from Terry Jones and the Monty Python troupe. While it doesn’t have the consistency of their previous films, it is still a fitting bow from the troupe as they at least create something that is compelling and funny about life in all of its mysteries. In the end, The Meaning of Life is a sensational film from Monty Python.
Monty Python Films: (And Now for Something Completely Different) - Monty Python & the Holy Grail - Monty Python’s Life of Brian - (Live at the Hollywood Bowl) - (Almost the Truth (Lawyers Cut))
© thevoid99 2014
