Rent Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)

4.2 of 5 from 414 ratings
1h 30min
Rent Monty Python's Life of Brian Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
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Synopsis:
Monty Python delivers a scathing, anarchic satire of both religion and Hollywood's depiction of all things biblical with their second film. The setting is Judea 33 A.D., a time of poverty and chaos, with no shortage of messiahs, followers willing to believe in them, and exasperated Romans trying to impose some order.
At the centre of it all is Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman), a reluctant would-be messiah who rises to prominence as a result of a series of absurd and truly hilarious circumstances providing ample opportunity for the entire ensemble (John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Chapman) to shine in multiple roles as they mock everyone and everything from ex-lepers, Pontius Pilate, and the art of haggling to crazy prophets, Roman centurions, and crucifixion.
Actors:
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Directors:
Producers:
John Goldstone
Writers:
Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
Studio:
Columbia Tristar
Genres:
Classics, Comedy
Collections:
10 Films to Watch if You Like: Monty Python's Life of Brian, A Few More Screen Princes, A History of The Classical World In Cinema, And Now For Something Completely Python, And Now For Something Completely Similar: Solo Pythons, Films & TV by topic, Films to Watch If You Like..., Spring On Screen: Films to Watch This Season, The Beatles in Film, The Golden Age of British Pop Musicals, A Brief History of Film..., Top 10 Films By Year, Top 10 Films of 1979, Top 100 BFI Films, Top Films
BBFC:
Release Date:
14/04/2003
Run Time:
90 minutes
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 5.1, German Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono, Hungarian Dolby Digital 5.0
Subtitles:
Arabic, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, English, English Hard of Hearing, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Slovenian, Swedish, Turkish
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.85:1
Colour:
Colour
Bonus:
  • 'The Pythons' documentary
  • Theatrical trailer
BBFC:
Release Date:
03/12/2007
Run Time:
93 minutes
Languages:
English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, English LPCM Stereo, French Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Hungarian Dolby Digital 5.0
Subtitles:
Arabic, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, English Hard of Hearing, Finnish, French, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Mandarin, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.85:1
Colour:
Colour
Bonus:
  • An All-New Hour-Long Revelation “The Story of Brian? from Monty Python
  • An original illustrated 110 minute recording by The Pythons of their early screenplay in progress
  • Commentary by Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle & Terry Jones
  • Commentary by John Cleese & Michael Palin
  • Original Radio Ads by Mrs Cleese, Mrs Idle, Mrs Gilliam & Michael Palin’s Dentist
  • Deleted Scenes

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Reviews (6) of Monty Python's Life of Brian

Quite possibly my favourite all time film - Monty Python's Life of Brian review by AM

Spoiler Alert
16/03/2017

I can quote whole screeds of this film. It is, simply, the greatest comedy of all time, and I have watched it countless times in the last 25 years.

Of course, there is controversy around it. A friend from university initially refused to watch it, understanding it to be a satire on the life of Christ. Eventually persuaded to 'try it', after I assured him that the film makes it very plain that Brian is NOT Christ, he ended up on the floor in tears of laughter.

3 out of 3 members found this review helpful.

Their Best Work. - Monty Python's Life of Brian review by Steve

Spoiler Alert
29/02/2020

A great stroke of luck for Monty Python was that they got the sets from Franco Zeffirelli's 1977 tv epic, Jesus of Nazareth which allowed this film to look a whole lot more authentic than Up Pompeii. Life of Brian is a series of sketches harnessed to the story of (an alternative) Christ. Its attraction is mainly twofold: it is an inspired and intelligent skewering of the characteristics of religious fundamentalism; and it is very funny. There is little characterisation save Graham Chapman's Brian, but there are some inspired performances, such as Michael Palin's Pontius Pilate, and John Cleese's Reg, leader of the Judean resistance. Brilliant comical scenes keep on coming, like the pessimistic, equivocal prophet, or the Roman soldier correcting the Latin of Brian's graffiti. I'm not usually an admirer of the work of Monty Python as a collective, but this is their absolute peak, and the hyperbolic reaction to the film's release (the BBC discussion between Palin, Cleese and Malcolm Muggeridge and the Bishop of Southwark was lamentably witless on the part of the offended Catholics) indicated that a national, or global conversation was long overdue.

2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.

Dated - Monty Python's Life of Brian review by CP Customer

Spoiler Alert
28/11/2005

Really enjoyed this when I was young. It has dated a lot for me. The kids thought it was "pants".

1 out of 3 members found this review helpful.

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