Life of Brian

Next film in the 100 film bucket list challenge is Monty Python’s 1979 look at religion, cults and protest groups, the Life of Brian.

Directed by Terry Jones, written by and starring the Python cast, including Jones alongside John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Michael Palin and Graham Chapman as the titular Brian. Brian lives in Roman occupied Jerusalem, who finds his purpose in joining one of Judea’s revolutionary groups. When on the run from one mission he accidentally finds himself followed by 1000’s after been identified as a new Messiah. But in reality he is just a naughty boy!

Monty Python remain comedic greats and Life of Brian one of their most famous creations. The comedy remains sharp and strangely prescient for a film that is over 40 years old. Its take on organised religion still remains controversial in some places even now, but for most it’s a typical pythonesque take on both historical and contemporary affairs.

The core cast, as usual, play multiple roles, from centurions to crazed peasents and all in between. As with all Python films it is full of scenes and lines that have become cultural references across generations as well as one of cinemas most famous film ending musical set pieces.

Yes it feels a bit clunky at times, but that’s partly because of their irreverent nature and of course it has aged. Would it still work as well for a brand new younger audience? I’m not so sure as the comedy may be aged and is very much of the Oxbridge type of the 70’s and 80’s. But for me still works just fine.

Life of Brian is one of histories most quoted films and with a final musical set piece that has become part of popular culture. And while its comedic approach is of its time, the target of that comedy, religious zeal and the hypocrisy of “protest” groups is still as accurate today as it was then. Life of Brian is and remains a classic.