Life of Brian

Life of Brian (1979) is the cult Monty Python comedy you can watch online on iFILM. Terry Jones directs, and the whole troupe shows up: John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam.

Brian Cohen is born in Judea on the same night as the Messiah, one stable down the road. That coincidence is the only thing the two share, but it is enough. Through a string of ridiculous mix-ups, a crowd decides Brian is a prophet, and suddenly everyone wants miracles, sermons and salvation from him. All he wants is to be left alone. Caught between a shrill mother, a pompous Pontius Pilate and the People's Front of Judea, who mostly bicker with the rival faction next door, the poor man never stands a chance.

The target is not faith but mob thinking, fanaticism and our habit of inventing the leaders we then worship. The crucifixion finale, set to "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," became a comedy landmark. Banned in several countries on release, it is still quoted line for line. Stream Life of Brian (1979) online on iFILM.