Life of Brian

Release Year: 1979
Director: Terry Jones

Review: Monty Python will always have a special place in my heart. I grew up loving and endlessly quoting their work. Constantly watching their movies and listening to their albums shaped my taste in comedy. Somehow ‘Life of Brian’ always had eluded me. I tried watching it once, but I wasn’t in the mood for that kind of comedy and turned it off. So it was with great anticipation that I finally got to sit down and watch the masters of parody tackle religion.

As the movie began I was immediately reminded of Mel Brook’s ‘The History of the World: Part One’, which is similarly a parody taking place around the same time period. This worried me, since I absolutely detested that movie, and was worried that my beloved Python would also fall into the same pitfalls. Although at times, I did have some of the same problems with ‘Brian’, I can safely say that it is a much better movie. While both have some lowbrow humor that completely missed for me, ‘Brian’ has so much more. The story itself is strong, and it succeeds at being a biting satire of religion.

From the very beginning the table is set for the parallel story between Jesus and Brian, an everyday normal Jewish man just trying to live his life. Unfortunately, due to a series of circumstances, he is continually mistaken to be the messiah, much to his chagrin. By making these connections it throws the life of Jesus in sharp relief, and makes a lighthearted mockery of the entire religion. This is why good parodies are so enjoyable. It pokes fun at Christianity and even casts doubt upon it, but its never mean-spirited. It allows us to laugh at even the most serious subjects.

I can’t say that this was my favorite Python movie, but that’s not a knock against it. The story, rather than the jokes, are what won me over. I probably laughed less at it than their other work, but it was amusing throughout. I can’t say that I loved every minute, but I appreciate what they were trying to do, and it largely succeeds.

Rating: 3/5

The Warriors

Release Year: 1979

Director: Walter Hill

Review: I had always seen the trailer and clips for 'The Warriors' and it always seemed to have the makings of an incredible, yet awful, corny action movie.  And boy did it deliver.  The story at its core is a simple chase film.  In a surreal world set in New York City, and ruled by colorful gangs, one marked gang has to make it back from the Bronx to their home turf of Cony Island.  Not such a simple task when every police officer and gang member in the city is after you.  The magic of the movie is the dystopian gang world that is created and the, often hilariously outfitted, gangs that control the city.  This isn't high cinema. Its corny, but also a lot of fun.  I can't see going into this movie and trying to take it seriously, and I don't think they set out to make that kind of movie.  It is meant to take place in a fantasy, comic book type of setting.  The dialog is stiff and the fight scenes lacking, but its something to laugh at, quote, and have a good time with.  I couldn't help but get swept up with the story and this gangs journey.  This is when campy works, when despite its short comings, its still a pretty decent movie in its own right.  It was exactly what I was hoping it would be, and maybe even more.

Rating: 3.5/5

Being There

Release Year: 1979
Review: A biting satire showing how over thinking and over analyzing is all too prevalent. A simple gardener who has never left his masters house since he was a boy and learned only from what he saw on television is suddenly thrust into the world when his master dies. Watching Chance, played by Peter Sellers, be captivated by television is both humorous and unnerving. Are we any different than Chance; simply spitting out what we are fed by the media? Or perhaps we are the rest of the people in this film, who cling to Chance's every utterance as if they were something profound and meaningful simply because he appears as though he would know what he was talking about. This is a great movie, that will both make you laugh, and think. That is a special combination.
Rating: 5/5

Manhattan

Release Year: 1979
Review: As humorous and thought provoking as any Woody Allen film. While I wouldn't rank it as Allen's masterpiece as some, it's a very good watch. I did have an issue with two major components of the movie, however. The first being the casting of Tracy, Allen's young love interest. While I believe that the character itself brings a lot of meaning to the film, and is well written, Mariel Hemingway plays too young, and is quite stiff. It verges on unsettling at times when you see Allen's character romantically involved with what looks like a twelve year old. The other issue I had was with the score of the film. While I am a fan of Gershwin I thought it was misplaced accompanying many of the scenes. This is somewhat surprising as I later read that listening to Gershwin and wanting to set it against New York was one of the inspirations Allen had for making the film. I felt, however, that the loud, almost upbeat orchestra clashed with the mellow, soothing black and white cityscapes that were so beautifully captured by cinematographer Gordon Willis.
Rating: 4/5