As we approach his birthday, what better cult film is there to look at than Monty Python’s Life of Brian.
When a bunch of crucified convicts singing Always Look on the Bright Side of Life is one of the weakest parts of a film, you know you are on to a classic.
That’s how Life of Brian ends and while Eric Idle’s song is probably the best remembered part of the infamous 1979 film, it doesn’t really sit well with the rest of the film, which mixes lots of very clever stuff about religion and politics in with lots of very silly stuff about fake beards and funny voices.
Looking at it now it all seems very harmless but at the time of its release, Life of Brian caused mayhem, and not just in England. Over there it was banned by many local authorities but here it was banned in the entire country until 1987 and it is still banned in a few countries in the Middle East.
And you can see why some religiously-minded folks might take offence. The story surrounds a fairly useless young fella called Brian Cohen (played by the late Graham Chapman) who is mistaken for the son of God after he was born in the stable next door to murky parentage.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, he contrives to get caught up in a bid to overthrow the Roman occupation of Judea and that’s what ultimately gets him in trouble.
The lads in Python had very strong ideas about the sheep-like nature of religions and they sent this up mercilessly with massive crowds following Brian as they were so desperate to believe he was the Messiah, sent back to save them. Think Tim Tebow in a loincloth.
They eventually mass outside his house where his mother, played brilliantly by Terry Jones, exclaims famously “He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy”.
Not the Messiah, just very naughty
The politics of the political group Brian joins, the Peoples Front of Judea, is more fodder for the team as they spend all their time either holding endless meetings or fighting with various other groups who have the same goals. Anybody who has ever had the misfortune to be a member of a committee, be it GAA or just in the office trying to organise something, will recognise the painful process of getting anything done except agreeing to more meetings.
But ultimately it’s the jokes that make this a great film, not the alleged blasphemy or the full frontal nudity (male and female so nobody is left out) that it contains. From women dressing up as men so they can take part in the stoning to the lisping Pontius Pilate and his friend Biggus Dickus the film has it all.
It even features cameos from the legendary Spike Milligan and George Harrison, who produced the film.
What other comedy film about a mistaken Jesus was paid for by a Beatle. None, that’s how many. Now go and watch it, but maybe not with your granny over Christmas.
For more cult films, check out the Jameson Cult Film Club.
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