Monty Python's Life Of Brian

PëRMBLEDHJE

This inspired send-up of religious epics was surrounded by controversy on its release, but it is, nevertheless, the Monty Python team's most assured and satisfying cinematic work. Graham Chapman ("He's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy") is the Judaean whose life bears some resemblance to that of a certain carpenter around the same time, although the shambling story serves mainly as an excuse for the assembled Pythons to take pot shots at some of their favourite targets and serve up some joyfully juvenile gags. Michael Palin has some memorable roles, notably the Roman governor with a speech impediment ("Welease Wodewick"), and there's a very funny and quite irrelevant cameo from Spike Milligan.