Wednesday, August 4, 2010

The 100 Best Movies: #29

29. Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)



This is my absolute favorite Monty Python film and I think that is because I saw it at a very early age. The concept of this movie is what if someone lived a somewhat parallel life to Jesus Christ...but just off to the side. The Python boys lampoon everything from Roman epics (like Ben-Hur) to Christ pictures (like The Greatest Story Ever Told) to even space films (which were very popular at the time). The story begins with a great parody of the Christmas birth and the arrival of the three wisemen (one of the many hilarious scenes in the film). They jump forward a decade or so and we meet Brian, who is fascinated with joining the Judean People's Front, a renegade organization against the Romans (and not to be confused with the Judean Popular People's Front). What ensues is his many run-ins with the Roman centurions and his being mistaken for the Messiah, culminating with his very own crucifixion (SPOILER!). Each Python member is at their best and it is one of the funniest films that pokes fun at religion (always my favorite subject to take one on the chin!). It is a great comedy that brings a smile to my face every time I see it. NOTE: The finale song "Always Look On the Bright Side of Life" written and performed by Eric Idle was recycled for the Tony-winning 2005 musical Monty Python's Spamalot (the musical version of #64: Monty Python and the Holy Grail).

Next Post: #28

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