Life of Brian
Life of Brian

Life of Brian

1979 1h 34m 7.8 Released

Brian Cohen is an average young Jewish man, but through a series of ridiculous events, he gains a reputation as the Messiah. When he's not dodging his followers or being scolded by his shrill mother, the hapless Brian has to contend with the pompous Pontius Pilate and acronym-obsessed members of a separatist movement. Rife with Monty Python's signature absurdity, the tale finds Brian's life paralleling Biblical lore, albeit with many more laughs.

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Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) - Trailer

Life of Brian ≣ 1979 ≣ Trailer ≣ Remastered

Monty Python's Life of Brian composers André Jacqu...

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TMDB

7.8/10

4,980 votes

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TMDB Reviews

TMDB

3 years ago

4/10

This isn't Monty Python's best. In fact, it's very ordinary humor for the most part. The story of another man living a life parallel to Jesus could have been much funnier than this. However, people who love "dry humor" may appreciate this one more. It isn't the slapstick humor that we usually get from Monty Python that leaves a person nearly dying of laughter. It's very low key humor. The only memorable scene is the suicide squad that comes to save Brian, which lasts a few seconds. It's not totally boring, but it comes close. 4/10

Filipe Manuel Neto

Filipe Manuel Neto

TMDB

2 years ago

7/10

It's an excellent comic film, but much inferior to “The Holy Grail”.

There is consensus on the impact that Monty Python had on humor, and on the way comedy is seen and performed. After a bombastic television series and a highly successful first film, they decided to make this film which, in essence, is a satire on the great biblical epics of the past. In this film, we follow Brian, a man who was born a short distance from Jesus and is constantly confused with him.

I'm not conservative enough to not appreciate a religious joke if it's good, and there are a lot of good things in this film, starting with the incredible performances by the Pythons, in particular Graham Chapman and Terry Jones. The humor is what they have accustomed the public to, and the film does not disappoint the group's fans. Even so, I couldn't help but have the feeling that this film was quite inferior to “The Holy Grail”.

On a technical level, I believe it is worth highlighting the costumes and sets, which are at the best level and set the story very well in time and space. And the final scene, where the crucified sing a well-known and very positivist melody, cannot be more surrealist than it is.

misubisu

misubisu

TMDB

8 months ago

10/10

Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) Review: A Blasphemous, Brilliant, and Utterly Human 10/10

If Holy Grail was a shotgun blast of medieval absurdity, then Life of Brian is a precision laser guided by satirical genius. Arriving four years later amid a whirlwind of anticipation and pre-release outrage, this is not merely a follow-up; it is an evolution. It is the pinnacle of Monty Python's craft—a film so sharp, so intelligent, and so uproariously funny that it doesn't just earn a perfect score; it defines what a perfect satire can be.

The Plot: A Case of Mistaken Messiah-ship

The premise is sublime in its simplicity: what if a man named Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman), born in the stable next door to Jesus on that fateful night, is mistaken for the Messiah his entire life? Brian is an everyman—a reluctant rebel, a bewildered participant in history, and a victim of cosmic irony. Through his eyes, we are treated to a scathing, hilarious, and surprisingly humane deconstruction of organised religion, political factionalism, and the sheer absurdity of blind faith.

Why It's a 10/10: Beyond the Gags

  • The Satire is Razor-Sharp: Holy Grail parodied history; Brian eviscerates dogma. Its targets are not the teachings of Christ (whose "Sermon on the Mount" is presented with reverence, albeit with jokes about the crowd in the back having trouble hearing), but the bureaucratic, squabbling, and often ridiculous institutions that spring up around them. The People's Front of Judea (not the Judean People's Front!) is a masterclass in lampooning militant political in-fighting, and the scene where Brian is forced to repeat his "prophecies" to a crowd of his own followers is a timeless critique of how messianic figures are created by their audiences, not themselves.

  • The Pythons at their Peak: The ensemble has never been better. Every member delivers career-highlight performances. From John Cleese's regal, stuttering Pontius Pilate to...

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