Terry Jones directs his fellow Pythons in this still sharp satire
Monty Python’s Life of Brian remains one of cinema’s most irreverent biblical comedies, a film that gleefully pokes at the edges of faith, fanaticism, and human absurdity without ever losing its off‑beat charm. Rather than retelling the life of Jesus, it asks a cheekier question, what about the baby born in the manger next door? That child, Brian Cohen, grows up not as a savior but as an ordinary man swept into extraordinary (and gleefully farcical) circumstances by a society desperate for meaning.
Brian (Graham Chapman) is introduced as a naïve, overwhelmed young man living under the thumb of his overbearing mother and the oppressive yolk of the Roman Empire. Judea is a place where the Romans have their foot firmly on the throat of the local populace, and Brian longs to break free, from his mother, from the Empire, and from the suffocating expectations of everyone around him. His attempt at rebellion leads him to the People’s Front of Judea, where he becomes entangled with their cause and with Judith, one of their most passionate members. In trying to impress her and ingratiate himself with the group, Brian inadvertently stirs up a fervor that spirals into a flawed belief in his divinity. What follows is a relentless series of comedic misadventures as he tries, and fails, to convince the masses that he is not the messiah.
Shot in Tunisia for around $3 million, a budget made possible by reusing sets from Jesus of Nazareth and financing from George Harrison’s HandMade Films (the former Beatle also popping up with a cameo), the production has a scrappy authenticity that suits its irreverence. Upon release, the film unsurprisingly courted controversy, with boycotts and accusations of blasphemy following it closely. Yet its impact on pop culture has been undeniable. It remains endlessly quotable and memeable, with immortal lines like “What have the Romans ever done for us?”, “He’s not the messiah; he’s a very naughty boy,” “Welease Wodderick,” and (my personal favorite) “I’m Brian and so’s my wife.”
The film’s humor is a blend of slapstick, skewering satire, and the Pythons’ signature off‑beat sensibility. Its gags come fast and often, but what truly elevates the comedy is the troupe’s chemistry the way they play off one another both in writing and performance. The Pythons fill out nearly every role, male and female, with Michael Palin emerging as the comedic MVP thanks to a string of memorable characters. Chapman anchors the film with an earnestness that makes Brian genuinely endearing; you believe his attempts to instill individuality in people even as they insist on becoming sheep.
Despite its silliness, Life of Brian is pointed in its satire. It doesn’t attack religion itself so much as the human tendency to place individuals on a pedestal, to surrender critical thought, and to whip collective belief into a frenzy. The film skewers everything from prostitution and stoning to leprosy, slavery, colonization, and even early depictions of transgender identity. Some of the language has aged awkwardly, but it underscores the brazen creative energy that defined the Pythons at the time.
Terry Jones, directing solo after co‑directing Holy Grail with Terry Gilliam, well leverages the sets and surrounds of Tunisia for authentic immersion, and keeps the tone sharp and the pacing brisk, allowing the comedy to land without overstaying its welcome, and overshadowing the human elements of the tale. At its core, Life of Brian is a satire about oppression and sacrifice, Brian’s own life mirroring the pressures of society at the time. It’s also a testament to the Pythons’ ability to blend wit, visual gags, and just the right amount of irreverence into something that still resonates decades later.
The Package
As someone who has owned the film on VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray, Criterion’s 4K is a clear step up in quality. Definition and detail impress, even in the brightly lit exterior desert scenes and those darker interiors. Natural skin times present, with a good palette range to support the odd pop of color. Grain is retained, and a little heavy at times, which is likely due to the stock source. This also would explain a few moments of image softening and contrast variation. Simply put, there are a few unavoidable flaws but this is the best the film is likely to ever look. Extra features impress too:
- One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the special features
- Two audio commentaries: One featuring Pythons Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, and Terry Jones, while the other features John Cleese and Michael Palin: As you’d expect, both are well worth a listen. Technical aspects do get more coverage in the first, while both tackle the story and characters, but the banter and revelry between the Pythons make for an entertaining listen
- The Story of Brian (2007), a making-of documentary: Around an hour runtime, largely pulling together interviews with the cast and crew
- The Pythons (1979), a documentary about Monty Python filmed on location for Life of Brian: Gives a nice peek into the dynamics of the team while shooting was underway
- Behind-the-scenes Super 8 film shot by Palin: A somewhat candid, personal camera featurette showing a day on set from Palin’s perspective
- Five deleted scenes with commentary by the Pythons: “Shepherds”, “Pilate’s Wife”, “Otto”, “The Sign that is the Sign” and “The Souvenir Salesman”. These come with an associated commentary
- Original British radio ads starring Mrs. Cleese, Mrs. Gilliam, Mrs. Idle, and Palin’s dentist
- Original illustrated recording by the Pythons of an early version of their screenplay
- Animated stills gallery
- Trailer
- PLUS: An essay by film critic Bilge Ebiri: Within the liner notes, which also detail the film’s restoration
- Cover based on an original theatrical poster by Terry Gilliam
The Bottom Line
Brian may not be the messiah, but his story, parallel to Jesus’s, is just a little less grand. Life of Brian remains one of the funniest and most incisive comedies ever made about belief, identity, and the absurdity of human behavior. Criterion’s 4K treatment sets a new benchmark for the film’s visual quality, and the extra features embolden appreciation for one of the Python’s finest feats.
Monty Python’s Life of Brian is available via Criterion now
