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
Based on the poem by Lewis Carroll, Jabberwocky is the story of a young cooper’s apprentice who founds himself dealing with a mysterious creature through some very accidental situations. Directed by Terry Gilliam and written by Gilliam and Charles Alverson, the film is a humorous take on Carroll’s poem as it plays Gilliam’s absurd approach to humor as the film stars his fellow Monty Python cohort Michael Palin in the lead role of Dennis Cooper. Also starring Harry H. Corbett, John Le Mesurier, and Warren Mitchell. Jabberwocky is a strange yet witty film from Terry Gilliam.
The film is an offbeat tale about a young cooper’s apprentice who leaves his village to make a new life for himself where he enters the city kingdom through accidental means as he reluctantly becomes a squire and the object of affection for a princess. Yet, the kingdom is still being haunted by the mysterious creature known as the Jabberwocky as merchants and bishops continue to profit from the fear of the creature while its king (Max Wall) is trying to figure out how to defuse the crisis as he holds a tournament so a champion can fight the creature. It’s a film that is about a lot of things such as a young man’s desire to make a good life for a woman who doesn’t really love him as he does have ideas to improve commerce despite dealing with the indifference of merchants and other people.
The film’s screenplay is very strange where even though it has a simple structure and a story about a young man who accidentally finds himself in situations where he would face the Jabberwocky. It’s a story that is often quite messy as the themes of bureaucracy and commerce are explored where in the former, it involves these merchants who are trying to ensure that the creature stays alive so that money can be made. For the character of Dennis Cooper, he has ideas that he believes can help efficiency in the work place only to cause trouble where some of his accidental encounters puts him in places he didn’t want to be as all he wanted a simple life.
Terry Gilliam’s direction is a bit uneven at times where it’s obvious that he’s trying to refine his vision in what he wants to create. While he does create a lot of strange set pieces and visual motifs that are amazing to watch that includes the climatic appearance of the Jabberwocky. He also tries to infuse a lot of humor that is very eccentric and offbeat that is reminiscent of his work in Monty Python. These elements don’t really mesh together though Gilliam creates some unique compositions and moments that has some dark humor as well as recurring gags that play to the absurdity of the Dark Ages. Overall, Gilliam creates a pretty inconsistent yet entertaining film about a man who unwittingly finds himself facing off a monster.
Cinematographer Terry Bedford does excellent work with the grimy photography style for much of the film‘s exteriors with its smoke and fog as well as the lighting schemes in the castle interiors. Editor Michael Bradsell does nice work with the editing as it‘s mostly straightforward with some rhythmic cuts for its humorous moments. Production designer Roy Forge Smith and art director Mily Burns do fantastic work with the set pieces from the castle the king and his people live in as it‘s in ruins to the merchant homes and pubs surrounding the castle. Costume designers Charles Knode and Hazel Pethig do fine work with the period costume as it‘s often ragged at times as well as the look of the king.
The hair/makeup work of Elaine Carew, Scott Rakison, and Maggie Weston do terrific work with the look of some of the characters in their ragged look. Monster creators Clinton Carvers and Valerie Charlton is superb for its imaginative look as it‘s terrifying but also strange. Sound recordist Garth Marshall does amazing work with the sound from the use of sound effects and the way the creatures sound. The film’s music consists of pieces by Modest Mussorgsky, Hector Berlioz, and Jacques Ibert is brilliant as it plays to the humor and horror that occurs in the film.
The film’s cast features cameo appearances from director Terry Gilliam as well as fellow Python cohorts Terry Jones as a poacher and Neil Innes as a herald late in the film. Other notable small roles include David Prowse in a dual role as two knights in the Red Herring and the Black Knight, Bernard Bresslaw as a landlord, Alexandra Dane as the landlord’s wife, John Bird as the first herald who annoys the king and his council, Derek Francis as the bishop, Paul Curran as Dennis’ father, Harry H. Corbett as a mischievous squire, and Deborah Fallender as the princess who mistakes Dennis as a prince.
Annette Badland is funny as Dennis’ dismissive girlfriend Griselda while Warren Mitchell is terrific as her father who agrees with Dennis’ ideas about commerce. Max Wall is excellent as the aloof king who tries to figure out what to do while John Le Mesurier is fantastic as his chamberlain who aids him in how to defuse the situation. Finally there’s Michael Palin in a marvelous performance as Dennis Cooper as a young man just wanting to make something of himself as he deals with a new world as well as accidental situations that has him baffled about his place in the world.
Jabberwocky is a good though meandering film from Terry Gilliam. While it features a funny performance from Michael Palin and some cool visual moments that Gilliam would refine in his later work. It’s a film that wants to be all sorts of things but doesn’t mesh together with the themes that Gilliam wanted to explore with humor. Still, it has moments that are enjoyable and witty. In the end, Jabberwocky is a messy though decent film from Terry Gilliam.
Terry Gilliam Films: Time Bandits - Brazil - The Adventures of Baron Munchausen - The Fisher King - 12 Monkeys - Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas - The Brothers Grimm - Tideland - The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus - The Zero Theorem - The Auteurs #38: Terry Gilliam
© thevoid99 2014
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
Written, produced, directed, and starring the Beatles with additional direction by Bernard Knowles, Magical Mystery Tour is the story of the Beatles going on a tour on the English countryside for all sorts of adventures. In this strange mixture of psychedelia and whimsy, the TV film is a showcase where the Beatles play songs from that album as well as going on strange adventures. The result is a strange yet fascinating film from the Beatles.
The film is essentially the story of a road trip across the country featuring the Beatles and various individuals including Ringo’s Aunt Jessie (Jessie Robins) as they encounter all sorts of strange events including marathon races, a psychedelic film, and other array of images while wizards are keeping an eye on the journey. While there isn’t much of a narrative as it’s just about a road trip with a group of people and some strange dream sequences mixed in with musical performances. It’s a film that doesn’t really need a narrative nor a plot since it’s just really about an adventure into the English countryside with a courier and a hostess leading the way.
The film’s direction is very loose as it somewhat has a cinema verite style to present something that feels naturalistic and real for many of the scenes set in the bus and in the English countryside. With the exception of the song performances by the Beatles and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band that would feature future Monty Python contributor Neil Innes. The film is played as if there was an air of unpredictability though the only aspect of the story in the narrative that is staged is the testy relationship between Ringo and his aunt as the latter falls for the bus conductor Buster Bloodvessel (Ivor Cutler) that would feature some weird dream sequences. The film also contains an air of psychedelia through some of the imagery set in the English countryside to maintain that air of mystery.
The film also have some strange inserts that has the Beatles play wizards as they’re keeping watch on where the bus is at. It’s all part of this approach of comedy where everything is meant to be absurd and off-the-wall. The musical performances by the Beatles does play to the sense of whimsy in songs like I Am the Walrus and Your Mother Should Know as they’re given some elaborate presentation. For the performances of Fool on the Hill and Blue Jay Way where it is presented with something more direct as the former has Paul McCartney wandering around the countryside while the latter has George Harrison singing the song while sitting on the road with cuts of the rest of the band playing around. Overall, the Beatles have crafted a film that captures the innocence of psychedelia as well as something that is just a whole lot of fun to watch.
Editor Roy Benson does wonderful work with the editing where it is emphasized on style through some transition cutting as well as playing to the rhythm of the music. Production designers Roger Graham and Keith Liddiard do amazing work with the look of the Magical Mystery Tour bus as well as some of the sets like the wizard‘s room, the secret tent, and the dance hall where Your Mother Should Know is performed. Sound editor Gordon Daniel does nice work with the sound to capture the atmosphere on the bus as well as the chaos that occurs in some scenes such as the marathon that happens.
The film’s cast largely consists of unknowns and comedians as standouts include Jessie Robins as Ringo’s aunt, Derek Royle as the tour director Jolly Jimmy Johnson, Mandy Weet as the tour hostess, Victor Spinetti as a drill sergeant, Ivor Cutler as the tour conductor, the Beatles’ longtime assistant Mal Evans as a fifth wizard in the background, and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band as themselves playing the song Death Cab for Cutie in a very weird scene involving a stripper that is just full of humor. Finally, there’s the Beatles themselves as they each give very comical and lighthearted performances with Ringo Starr being the standout in his scenes with his aunt Jessie.
Magical Mystery Tour is a remarkable yet absurd film from the Beatles. While it may not rank with their earlier feature films nor Yellow Submarine, it is still a very enjoyable film for the way it explores psychedelia and the Beatles’ fascination with it at that time. It’s also a very light-hearted film where the band isn’t trying to take themselves seriously while giving out performances that are just truly memorable. In the end, Magical Mystery Tour is a marvelous film from the Beatles.
The Beatles: The Albums: Please Please Me - With the Beatles - A Hard Day's Night - Beatles for Sale - Help! - Rubber Soul - Revolver - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Magical Mystery Tour - The White Album - Yellow Submarine OST - Abbey Road - Let It Be
Compilations: (1962-1966) - (1967-1970) - Past Masters - (Live at the BBC) - (Anthology 1) - (Anthology 2) - (Anthology 3) - (1) - (Let It Be… Naked) - (Love) - (Anthology 4)
The Films: (A Hard Day’s Night) - (Help!) - (Yellow Submarine) - Let It Be - The Beatles Anthology - The Beatles: Get Back
© thevoid99 2013
