Life of Brian
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James Joyner | Wednesday, March 24, 2004 |
Kevin Aylward passes on word that the 1979 Monty Python classic “The Life of Brian” is being re-released theatrically.
Coming back soon to a theater near you — a controversial film about a Jewish guy from Nazareth who is worshiped as the Messiah and crucified by the Romans.No, it’s not Mel Gibson (news)’s “The Passion of the Christ.” It’s Monty Python’s “Life of Brian.”
Inspired by the runaway success — and public furor — over Gibson’s portrayal of the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus, the creators behind the 1979 biblical satire about an anti-Roman activist who spends his life being mistaken for a prophet are planning a 25th anniversary re-release next month.
This is my favorite of the Python flicks, although it’s not the kind of thing I’d pay to see again on the big screen. While the film is, on the surface, a satire of Christian superstition (not of the faith itself), it pretty much skewers fanaticism of all stripes.
This one is a classic:
BRIAN:Are you the Judean People’s Front?
REG:F* off!
BRIAN:What?
REG:Judean People’s Front. We’re the People’s Front of Judea! Judean People’s Front. Cawk.
FRANCIS:Wankers.
BRIAN:Can I… join your group?
REG:No. Piss off.
BRIAN:I didn’t want to sell this stuff. It’s only a job. I hate the Romans as much as anybody.
PEOPLE’S FRONT OF JUDEA:Shhhh. Shhhh. Shhh. Shh. Shhhh.
REG:Schtum.
JUDITH:Are you sure?
BRIAN:Oh, dead sure. I hate the Romans already.
REG:Listen. If you really wanted to join the P.F.J., you’d have to really hate the Romans.
BRIAN:I do!
REG:Oh, yeah? How much?
BRIAN:A lot!
REG:Right. You’re in. Listen. The only people we hate more than the Romans are the f*ing Judean People’s Front.
P.F.J.:Yeah…
JUDITH:Splitters.
P.F.J.:Splitters…
FRANCIS:And the Judean Popular People’s Front.
P.F.J.:Yeah. Oh, yeah. Splitters. Splitters…
LORETTA:And the People’s Front of Judea.
P.F.J.:Yeah. Splitters. Splitters…
REG:What?
LORETTA:The People’s Front of Judea. Splitters.
REG:We’re the People’s Front of Judea!
LORETTA:Oh. I thought we were the Popular Front.
REG:People’s Front! C-huh.
FRANCIS:Whatever happened to the Popular Front, Reg?
REG:He’s over there.
P.F.J.: Splitter!
Heh.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
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Splitter!
Going from memory, my favorite part was:
Brian: I'm *not* the Messiah!
Woman: Only the true Messiah denies his divinity.
Brian: What? Well what sort of chance does that give me then? Alright, I am the Messiah!
Crowd: The Messiah! The Messiah!
Brian: Right. Now f*ck off!
*silence for a moment*
Man in crowd: How shall we f*ck off, oh Lord?
"He's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy."
Life of Brian is hilarious and brilliant. I will definitely pay to see it. My whole church is going to reserve a theater. Oh, wait, I don't go to church. Anway, I can't wait to see it again.
[hanging on the cross:] Life's a piece of shit/ When you think of it/ Always look at the bright side of life [whistling...]
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