Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) ft. Heather Stewart and Ryan Luis Rodriguez
Dana and Tom with new guests Heather Stewart (@heatherjstewart) and Ryan Luis Rodriguez (One Track Mind podcast, Reels of Justice podcast) discuss the religious comedy, Life of Brian (1979): directed by Terry Jones, written by Monty Python, starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, and Eric Idle.
Plot Summary: Ah, splendid! Picture this, if you will: the bustling streets of ancient Judea, a land rife with political turmoil, religious fervor, and the occasional stoning. Into this chaos, on the very same night as a certain well-known savior, is born a rather unremarkable chap named Brian Cohen.
Now, Brian, through no fault of his own, is continuously mistaken for the Messiah. This hapless fellow bumbles his way through a series of increasingly ludicrous adventures. From joining the People's Front of Judea (not to be confused with the Judean People's Front—splitters!) to unintentionally starting his own religious movement, Brian's life is a whirlwind of mistaken identity, misunderstandings, and the utterly absurd.
As if that weren't enough, he's pursued by Roman centurions, swooned over by fanatical followers, and lectured by his domineering mother ("He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"). All this, while Brian desperately tries to carve out a normal life in a world that seems determined to turn him into something he most definitely is not.
So, in essence, dear friends, "Life of Brian" is a satirical romp through history, skewering sacred cows and poking fun at the foibles of humanity with the kind of irreverent wit and cheekiness that only Monty Python can deliver. Quite a lark, wouldn't you say?
Guests:
Heather Stewart
- @heatherjstewart on IG, X, Letterboxd
Ryan Luis Rodriguez
- Host of One Track Mind Podcast (IG, X, Letterboxd)
- Co-Host of Reels of Justice Podcast (IG, X)
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:47 Getting to Know Our Guests
13:42 Relationship(s) to Life of Brian
19:49 What is Life of Brian About?
22:49 Is Satire Healthy for Democracies?
25:28 What is the Legacy of the Pythons?
30:02 Plot Summary
31:50 Did You Know?
33:44 First Break
34:25 Where You Can Find Our Guests
37:01 Ask Dana Anything
51:09 Best Performance(s)
01:06:05 Best/Favorite/Indelible Scene(s)
01:18:04 Second Break
01:18:49 In Memoriam
01:19:54 Best/Funniest Lines
01:25:38 The Stanley Rubric: Legacy
01:32:37 The Stanley Rubric: Impact/Significance
01:39:04 The Stanley Rubric: Novelty
01:44:48 The Stanley Rubric: Classicness
01:54:01 The Stanley Rubric: Rewatchability
01:58:24 The Stanley Rubric: Audience Score and Total Score
01:59:53 Remaining Questions
02:06:43 Thank You(s) to Our Guests
02:08:18 Final Thoughts
02:10:51 Credits
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For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com//post/monty-python-s-life-of-brian-1979-ft-heather-stewart-and-ryan-luis-rodriguez
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Keywords:
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