Jesus Christ's Lust For Glory, Or How We Learned that Brian was a Fake Prophet

LIFE OF BRIAN (1979)

Reviewed By Jerry Saravia

Monty Python's style of comedy doesn't hit you in the head with a ton of bricks - it is more like a delicate slap on the face. Their inarguably most famous work, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," is uneven in spots, has many bloody gags and yet has a great many comic lines. The definition of Monty Python, for me anyway, is complete absurdity. That is probably why "Life of Brian" caused some controversy back in the day - it poked fun at the Biblical epics. Of course, that is what people may have missed - it doesn't poke fun at the Bible itself, only the Bibical epics that somehow escaped criticism of sacrilege. Not to say there isn't one or two digs at the Holy Book itself.

"Life of Brian" focuses on Brian Cohen, one who was born a few stables away from Jesus's manger. The three wise men follow the star to Brian's stable, showering the mother with gifts. Once they realize their mistake, they take their gifts back. Brian later grows up to become a vendor at those bloodthirsty games selling Wolf Nipple Chips, Dromedary Pretzels, Jaguar Ear Lobes, Tuscany Fried Bat and Otter Noses. He overhears a group called The People's Front of Judea (headed by John Cleese) as they chatter in their seats about the Roman occupation of Judea. Brian wants to make a change, joins the group and, as part of his entrance into the group, paints Latin phrases on the walls that a Roman guard corrects - I know that the correct tense of Latin phrases is very important especially when you are exclaiming that the Romans need to leave Judea.

The People's Front of Judea spend all their time chattering and plotting but not actually doing. Brian inadvertently becomes a fugitive and is seeking refuge from the Roman guards. At one point, he climbs a pillar (in true "Simon of the Desert" fashion) only to fall and land in a spaceship! Eventually Brian is back in Judea, faces Pontius Pilate (Michael Palin) who speaks with a lisp that makes the guards uncontrollably laugh, and is sentenced to a crucifixion. Prior to the eventual crucifixion, Brian mistakenly spouts some jibber jabber that listeners take as the New Gospel from the New Messiah. And where is Jesus in all this? Delivering his Sermon on the Mount that few can hear from a distance.

"Life of Brian" is pretty damn close to my favorite Monty Python film. There are many classic scenes, not the least of which is the Sermon on the Mount (which may be more accurate in theory since Jesus had no megaphone in those days). I also love the stoning sequence with female onlookers and stone throwers wearing beards - in those days, you would get stoned if you mentioned the name of God. We just can't say it here. No, seriously. Oh, Jeh---nope. Moving along, I also love the whole notion of Brian being followed by hundreds of people who give significance to every word he utters as if it was a profound message. When Brian says, "F*** Off!," the followers merely ask, "How shall we f*** off, O Lord? " And I can't leave out the "Spartacus" crucifixion climax that ends with Eric Idle singing the poignant song, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." A pure howler of a scene is when one man is carrying his cross and a passerby lends a hand only to have the man originally carrying it to run off!

"Life of Brian" is not for all tastes but it should be. It is really an inoffensive, hardly crude and extremely funny movie. I came away from it with a deeper respect for Monty Python's satire and their acerbic lampooning of their targets. It also chooses not to have the cliche of a character stepping on feces - the character avoids it.  Always Look on the Bright Side.