My top 30 films - No.1

1. Monty Python's Life Of Brian (1979) - "See the movie that's controversial, sacrilegious, and blasphemous. But if that's not playing, see the Life of Brian."

"The film that is so funny it was banned in Norway". And Aberystwyth. Out of all the 30 film I have reviewed, and subsequently recommended, this is the one I would recommend the most.

As we all know, the three wisemen from the east came to Bethlehem to visit the baby Jesus when he was born. However, they initially went to the wrong stable and paid homage a baby called Brian. 33 AD, Brian (Graham Chapman) is told by his mother (Terry Jones) that his father was actually a Roman, but he wishes to deny his Roman roots and joins a Terrorist group called the People's Front of Judea. Soon afterwards, Brian escapes from Pontius Pilate (Michael Palin), but then is mistaken for the Messiah after talking about pseudo-religious truisms. He develops a group of followers who believe that everything he does is a miracle, including standing on someone's foot. The story follows the reluctant Brian through numerous biblical stories, including the Sermon on the Mount, a leper (more like an ex-leper), the feeding of the five thousand (more like a small mob with a juniper bush) and crucifixion, which itself refers to Spartacus.

.The Pythons have a reputation as one of Britain's most cherished and successful comedy troupes and Life of Brian certainly does not disappoint. The film mixes downright silliness (only Monty Python would dare to give Pontius Pilate a lisp and a friend called Biggus Dickus) with clever jokes relating to the biblical story and the that period of history (such as women going undercover as men to a stoning, from which they were banned). Despite being a regular occurrence in Python comedy, the sight of men dressed as women (in this instance themselves disguised as men) never gets old. The growing exasperation of Brian as he desperately tries to persuade his followers that he isn't the Messiah is also hilarious:

Brian: I'm not the Messiah! Will you please listen? I am not the Messiah, do you understand? Honestly!
Girl: Only the true Messiah denies His divinity.
Brian: What? Well, what sort of chance does that give me? All right! I am the Messiah!
Followers: He is! He is the Messiah!
Brian: Now, f*** off!
[silence]
Arthur (John Cleese): How shall we f*** off, O Lord?

Similar to Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the Pythons play numerous characters, about 40 between the six of them. However, it's important to acknowledge that it isn't just them. One of the mad preachers during the midpoint of the film was originally intended for Keith Moon from The Who, before he unfortunately passed away before they started shooting. The script was dedicated to him and he was looking forward to it. After the opening titles, Jesus is seen giving the Sermon on the Mount; John Cleese admitted that he originally wanted Jesus to be played by George Lazenby, just so the film could have the tagline "George Lazenby IS Jesus Christ". There are cameos in the film from Spike Milligan (who was on holiday in Tunisia whilst they were filming) and George Harrison, who actually financed the movie because EMI Films rejected it.

There is no point denying that it is one of the most controversial films ever, the 29th most according to Total Film. It was considered blasphemous and was banned in certain areas of the UK, including Aberystwyth, and various countries, including Norway and Ireland.
It inspired a debate on the BBC Two programme Friday Evening, Saturday Morning shortly after the film's release; on one side, Malcolm Muggeridge and Mervyn Stockwood, the Bishop of Southwark; the other, John Cleese and Michael Palin. Muggeridge said "I don't think, in the eyes of posterity, it will have a very distinguished place." In particular, the crucifixion scene at the end is regarded as perhaps the most controversial as the prisoners jollily sing Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. In fact, throughout the film, there is a sense of there being worse things in life than crucifixion.

I would argue that the film is not particularly blasphemous, compared to other films that do deal with the life of Jesus (for it is emphasised time and again, including by Brian himself, that he is not the Messiah). As for Malcolm Muggeridge's comments, I'm right now watching this film in the year 2012, three decades after its release. And indeed Always Look on the Bright Side of Life remains a popular funeral song. Clearly Monty Python's black sense of humour is shared by more than just me! And...if you are going to watch a controversial religious film, have the taste to make it this rather than The Da Vinci Code.

In 2007 readers of the Radio Times voted this the best British film of all time, beating the likes of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Trainspotting, The Wicker Man and Shaun of the Dead. Terry Jones said that you would not be able to make a film like it in this day and age of extreme political correctness. You can get away with far less. However, Monty Python and their films are still treasured by the British public and continue to inspire a new wave of British comedy. This film best sums me up, because, like Brian, I'm not the Messiah; I'm a very naughty boy...