MoeFOH's Movie of the Week... Week #6

[MoeFOH]

MoeFOH's Movie of the Week 🎥

Each week we're going to spotlight a movie... be it a classic, new release, hidden gem, or outright turd... and open it for discussion: i.e. post up your favourite quotes, clips, memories... or dive deeper and give us a critique on why you think it's great, overrated, or a complete train wreck... And finally score it for us...  

All contributors go into a monthly prize draw for a 3-cigar sampler! 

PM me with suggestions if there's a movie you want to nominate for next week's discussion. 

 

Week #6: Life Of Brian

This week, very fittingly after the Easter break, we're resurrecting the 1979 film Life Of Brian. Monty Python's satirical comedy is simply a masterpiece in my book. One of my favourite films of all-time. God (or Brian) bless good ol' George Harrison for providing the coin to get this one over the line. I think it's the Python's best effort in film, and Graham Chapman's leading role performance is top shelf - he may well have went on the be a seriously great actor had he lived longer. Cleese and Palin displaying their comic genius as usual, and the other Pythons tipping in brilliantly as always... Jones as Brian's mother is a performance no one can forget . Eric Idle's song Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life another gem to come out of this piece.  For me, just a truly wonderful film - chuck it on for a laugh if you find your spirits flagging a wee bit. Always a great tonic. 

 This film was suggested by @Chas.Alpha - Cheers, Chas!

Anyhow... Over to you...

Have you seen it? Do you rate it? Why or why not?

Best moments?... etc, and so on... post 'em up!!

If you've seen it, give us your score out of 10!

[MoeFOH]

Possibly my favourite scene... 

 

[Çnote]

Definitely the best of Python. I've been watching this regularly for 30 years and always find a new joke.

[Chibearsv]

Yep, that’s a good one. Love the stoning scene  

 

[JohnS]

This movie is great, but I think Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a little better (for my preference). I can unequivocally say that this Python film would no doubt have the best and most memorable lines. I still quote the famous question, "What did the Romans ever do for us?"

[Chas.Alpha]

2 minutes ago, JohnS said:

This movie is great, but I think Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a little better (for my preference). I can unequivocally say that this Python film would no doubt have the best and most memorable lines. I still quote the famous question, "What did the Romans ever do for us?"

John, when I post my review of this movie, please have your hand on the ‘edit’ button. There is a reason that this is my favorite Python movie and my opinions are rarely popular... 😳

[JohnS]

1 minute ago, Chas.Alpha said:

John, when I post my review of this movie, please have your hand on the ‘edit’ button. There is a reason that this is my favorite Python movie and my opinions are rarely popular... 😳

Haha...for you, I'll only tidy up the grammar and spelling mistakes! 😂

[joeypots]

 I don't know why but I just about busted a gut when Brian's mother, Terry Jones, came out with this.

[Chas.Alpha]

The Life of Brian: I think this movie should have started off with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi; I like your Christ, but I don’t like Christianity...

When pondering the follow up film to “The Holy Grail”, both Terry Jones and Eric Idle thought it would be funny to make light of Jesus, but after reading into his life and teachings, they decided that his message was pretty spot on and there wasn’t much of anything funny about him. Thus became Brian.

Borne to a single mother, maybe not the one the Christians hold dear, she was holed up in a manger right down the block from another baby born at the same time. The single mother reference is something that has long been debated within Christian circles, somehow the Pythons got ahold of it. And we’re off!

Brian soon comes to learn that he is actually the bastard son of a Roman centurion named “Biggus Dickus.” Outraged, he seeks to join one of the political factions that oppose the Roman occupation of Judaea. Working as a snack vendor, he comes across the leadership of “The Judaen People’s Front.” A very clever bit which is so relevant to today’s political theatre. It is there that he meets the love of his life, Judith Iscariot. Funny on 17 levels. 

This might be folklore, but it is my understanding that during the Biggus Dickus scene, the centurions were extras that had no idea what the script was, only that whatever Micheal Palin did they were instructed not to laugh, under penalty of not getting paid! Can you imagine having Michael Palin nose to nose with you saying “Biggus... DICKUS???” 🤣😂🤣

Brian escapes his captors by falling out a window on top of what would be today a fake Christian televangelist. Not wanting to be recaptured, he begins weakly reciting what he had heard another man say on a mount (✝️) just before his mother dragged him out to attend a stoning. He leaves his meager audience with a question and they begin to follow him... Chasing him...

In his haste, he drops the gourd that he was carrying and loses a shoe. The mob pauses for a moment to ponder the significance of this and splits between the followers of the gourd and the followers of the shoe. This humor is not lost on me. The crowd is convinced that Brian IS the messiah, despite his objections.

Of course, in the end, the masses attribute all sorts of ridiculous miracles to him and he is carted off to be crucified. Judith Iscariot praises him for his sacrifice and bravery and blows him a kiss. Eric Idle sings a song that I know in MY deep faith George Harrison didn’t write...

This movie hits at all levels. Best MP film. 10/10

p.s. When asked about the claims whether this film was Blasphemy, Terry Jones replied “It’s not blasphemy. Heresy for sure, but not blasphemy...