Rating: ***
Director: Terry Jones
Cast: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle,
Terry Jones, Michael Palin
Many consider this film to be Monty Python's crowning achievement, but I found it dry and not very funny. The film follows the life of Brian (Graham Chapman), a man who just happened to be born in the stable right next to where baby Jesus was born. And so he spends his entire life being mistaken as the messiah and dealing with the consequences - and ultimately his own crucifixion. The humor is very dark and a lot of it doesn't work, but it does have its moments of sheer brilliance. My favorite sequence is when Brian gets whisked away by an alien ship, only to crash land back on Earth. (they had to give Terry Gilliam something to do in the film...) Totally bizarre and out of context, but highly enjoyable nonetheless.