While I still prefer Holy Grail and find that it's Python at their silliest, I find that Life of Brian is Python at their most profound. Life of Brian is also different from Holy Grail and The Meaning of Life, as it has a more cohesive narrative than the other two. Perhaps one could make the argument that Holy Grail has a narrative as well, but I'd say that Grail's narrative is pretty loose, not that it's a bad thing, considering Holy Grail is my favorite of the Python films. But I find that Life of Brian achieves a sense of solidarity that the other two don't have, though of course with Python's signature oddball comedy thrown in for good measure.
While many people view Life of Brian as a satire of religion, I would say that while true, it's a rather narrow way of looking at it. It's not particularly a satire on religion itself, but rather on the people who follow religion and how they can often mix up or misinterpret Jesus' words. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that to be great is to be misunderstood, and this is the central thesis of Life of Brian. Greatness often tends to get misunderstood, and no greater figure has ever been more misunderstood than Jesus, but Python proves that they are much more acute students of human history than meets the eye, and they understand that it's not the actual words of Jesus that cause people to be violent or spread misery, but the people who either misunderstand those words and misconstrue them to justify horrible acts, or more egregiously, manipulate the words of Jesus for their own ends.
It would be quite easy to make the believers in this film seem like ignorant, frivolous morons but Python instead chooses to make them into likable, well intentioned, if not slightly naive people. Python knows well the allure of religion and decides to explore why people decide to follow it in the first place. While Python spares no expense in mocking and jeering at them, there is also an empathy and understanding for them as well. They never stoop to dismissing them or condemning them as evil or moronic for what they believe, but in the end they're just people who lack certainty in their lives and Python understands such pain and angst, even if they don't necessarily agree with their conclusion.
Despite its often mean spirited humor, Life of Brian is also a joyful, uproarious, and even quite delightful experience to sit through. Python's humor is unpredictable, crass, intelligent, and even childish at times, it's pure Python to say the least. Much like Holy Grail, Life of Brian is deceptively simplistic, hiding a much more unique insight into the human condition, but Python never seeks to act like they have the answers, but they do have their own insights and offer their own conclusions, as all great artists do, for the audience to digest or discard. Their satire is broad, attacking political partisanship, religious zealotry, misunderstandings, and plenty of other subjects. While Python's humor seems random and bizarre, it is always thought out, coherent, and much more intelligent than people give credit to.
Much like Se7en, Life of Brian is also a deceptively nihilistic film, mocking religion and telling people that 'life is pain, deal with it', but when you look more closely you'll find that nothing could be further from the truth. While Life of Brian does flirt with nihilism and relentlessly makes fun of religion, I'd say that once you watch the film and digest its themes, one will find that the message of Life of Brian is quite the opposite of nihilism. Yes, life can be painful, uncertain, and dreary, but it is also filled with joy, laughter, friendship, and love as well and when life does seem hopeless, remember the good aspects of the world rather than wallow in the bad aspects of it. It's more of an optimistic existentialist message about finding your own path in life, and to take joy in living life now, rather than wallow about all the silly things that come later down the line.
How someone could be so mean spirited, rude, and provocative while also being joyful, hopeful, and heartfelt at the same time is still a mystery for me. But that is the magic of Python and I don't think anyone will ever beat them at it.
While many people view Life of Brian as a satire of religion, I would say that while true, it's a rather narrow way of looking at it. It's not particularly a satire on religion itself, but rather on the people who follow religion and how they can often mix up or misinterpret Jesus' words. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that to be great is to be misunderstood, and this is the central thesis of Life of Brian. Greatness often tends to get misunderstood, and no greater figure has ever been more misunderstood than Jesus, but Python proves that they are much more acute students of human history than meets the eye, and they understand that it's not the actual words of Jesus that cause people to be violent or spread misery, but the people who either misunderstand those words and misconstrue them to justify horrible acts, or more egregiously, manipulate the words of Jesus for their own ends.
It would be quite easy to make the believers in this film seem like ignorant, frivolous morons but Python instead chooses to make them into likable, well intentioned, if not slightly naive people. Python knows well the allure of religion and decides to explore why people decide to follow it in the first place. While Python spares no expense in mocking and jeering at them, there is also an empathy and understanding for them as well. They never stoop to dismissing them or condemning them as evil or moronic for what they believe, but in the end they're just people who lack certainty in their lives and Python understands such pain and angst, even if they don't necessarily agree with their conclusion.
Despite its often mean spirited humor, Life of Brian is also a joyful, uproarious, and even quite delightful experience to sit through. Python's humor is unpredictable, crass, intelligent, and even childish at times, it's pure Python to say the least. Much like Holy Grail, Life of Brian is deceptively simplistic, hiding a much more unique insight into the human condition, but Python never seeks to act like they have the answers, but they do have their own insights and offer their own conclusions, as all great artists do, for the audience to digest or discard. Their satire is broad, attacking political partisanship, religious zealotry, misunderstandings, and plenty of other subjects. While Python's humor seems random and bizarre, it is always thought out, coherent, and much more intelligent than people give credit to.
Much like Se7en, Life of Brian is also a deceptively nihilistic film, mocking religion and telling people that 'life is pain, deal with it', but when you look more closely you'll find that nothing could be further from the truth. While Life of Brian does flirt with nihilism and relentlessly makes fun of religion, I'd say that once you watch the film and digest its themes, one will find that the message of Life of Brian is quite the opposite of nihilism. Yes, life can be painful, uncertain, and dreary, but it is also filled with joy, laughter, friendship, and love as well and when life does seem hopeless, remember the good aspects of the world rather than wallow in the bad aspects of it. It's more of an optimistic existentialist message about finding your own path in life, and to take joy in living life now, rather than wallow about all the silly things that come later down the line.
How someone could be so mean spirited, rude, and provocative while also being joyful, hopeful, and heartfelt at the same time is still a mystery for me. But that is the magic of Python and I don't think anyone will ever beat them at it.
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