Tuesday 30 July 2019

The Secret Life Of Brian: Documentary on the Monty Python film



Published on Jul 15, 2015 by Monty Python the Flying Circus
YouTube: The Secret Life of Brian (48:04)
Documentary shown on Channel 4 in 2007 showing the controversy that was around during and after the filming of "Monty Python Life of Brian".


Some idle thoughts
"So funny, it was banned in Norway!" I remember seeing the film when it first came out and was amused, but I had no idea of the backstory. As with anything religious, there's controversy, and it would seem the stalwarts of Christianity took exception — Even umbrage! — to mocking our Lord. Then again, were they locking our Lord Himself or were they mocking our attempts to worship the Lord?

I found the documentary fascinating. While films of fiction can be entertaining, a documentary can be eye-catching since we're talking about real life.

In hearing about the controversy generated by the religious, I have to ask how many fought to have the movie banned but had not actually seen the film? If you can't take criticism, you can't laugh at yourself and your own beliefs, there's something wrong.

References

Rotten Tomatoes: Monty Python's Life of Brian: 95%
Critics Consensus: One of the more cutting-edge films of the 1970s, this religious farce from the classic comedy troupe is as poignant as it is funny and satirical.

Wikipedia: Monty Python's Life of Brian
Monty Python's Life of Brian, also known as Life of Brian, is a 1979 British comedy film starring and written by the comedy group Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin). It was also directed by Jones. The film tells the story of Brian Cohen (played by Chapman), a young Jewish man who is born on the same day as—and next door to—Jesus Christ, and is subsequently mistaken for the Messiah.

Following the withdrawal of funding by EMI Films just days before production was scheduled to begin, long-time Monty Python fan and former member of the Beatles, George Harrison, arranged financing for Life of Brian through the formation of his company HandMade Films.

The film contains themes of religious satire that were controversial at the time of its release, drawing accusations of blasphemy, and protests from some religious groups. Thirty-nine local authorities in the United Kingdom either imposed an outright ban, or imposed an X (18 years) certificate, effectively preventing the film from being shown, since the distributors said it could not be shown unless it was unedited and carried the original AA (14) certificate. Some countries, including Ireland and Norway, banned its showing, with a few of these bans lasting decades. The filmmakers used such notoriety to benefit their marketing campaign, with posters in Sweden reading, "So funny, it was banned in Norway!"

The film was a box office success, the fourth-highest-grossing film in the United Kingdom in 1979, and highest grossing of any British film in the United States that year. It has remained popular, receiving positive reviews. The film was named "greatest comedy film of all time" by several magazines and television networks, and it would later receive a 97% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes with the consensus, "One of the more cutting-edge films of the 1970s, this religious farce from the classic comedy troupe is as poignant as it is funny and satirical." In a 2006 Channel 4 poll, Life of Brian was ranked first on their list of the 50 Greatest Comedy Films.


Wikipedia: Monty Python
Monty Python (also collectively known as the Pythons) are a British surreal comedy group who created the sketch comedy television show Monty Python's Flying Circus, which first aired on the BBC in 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series. The Python phenomenon developed from the television series into something larger in scope and impact, including touring stage shows, films, numerous albums, several books, and musicals. The Pythons' influence on comedy has been compared to the Beatles' influence on music. Regarded as enduring icons of 1970s pop culture, their sketch show has been referred to as being “an important moment in the evolution of television comedy".

my blog: Monty Python: The Cheese Shop - July 26/2014
This sketch from the television show was included in the 1973 album, Matching Tie and Handkerchief.

my blog: Monty Python: Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - Feb 11/2012
"Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" is a comedy song written by Eric Idle that was originally featured in the 1979 film Monty Python's Life of Brian and has gone on to become a common singalong at public events such as football matches as well as funerals."

2019-07-30

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Thursday 11 July 2019

John Prine and Iris Dement: In Spite of Ourselves



Published on Apr 30, 2017 by John Prine
YouTube: John Prine and Iris Dement - In Spite of Ourselves Official Video

She don't like her eggs all runny
She thinks crossin' her legs is funny
She looks down her nose at money
She gets it on like the Easter Bunny
She's my baby I'm her honey
I'm never gonna let her go

He ain't got laid in a month of Sundays
I caught him once and he was sniffin' my undies
He ain't too sharp but he gets things done
Drinks his beer like it's oxygen
He's my baby
And I'm his honey
Never gonna let him go

In spite of ourselves
We'll end up a'sittin' on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we're the big door prize
We're gonna spite our noses
Right off of our faces
There won't be nothin' but big old hearts
Dancin' in our eyes.

She thinks all my jokes are corny
Convict movies make her horny
She likes ketchup on her scrambled eggs
Swears like a sailor when she shaves her legs
She takes a lickin'
And keeps on tickin'
I'm never gonna let her go.

He's got more balls than a big brass monkey
He's a whacked out weirdo and a lovebug junkie
Sly as a fox and crazy as a loon
Payday comes and he's howlin' at the moon
He's my baby I don't mean maybe
Never gonna let him go

In spite of ourselves
We'll end up a sittin' on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we're the big door prize
We're gonna spite our noses
Right off of our faces
There won't be nothin' but big old hearts
Dancin' in our eyes.
There won't be nothin' but big old hearts
Dancin' in our eyes.

[Spoken:]
In spite of ourselves


References

Wikipedia: In Spite of Ourselves
In Spite of Ourselves is the 13th studio album of John Prine, featuring duets with various well-known female folk and alt-country vocalists, released in 1999.

The album was Prine’s first release since successfully battling throat cancer. The female duet partners include Iris DeMent, Connie Smith, Lucinda Williams, Trisha Yearwood, Melba Montgomery, Emmylou Harris, Dolores Keane, Patty Loveless, and his wife, Fiona Prine.


Wikipedia: John Prine
John Prine (born October 10, 1946) is an American country folk singer-songwriter. He has been active as a composer, recording artist, and live performer since the early 1970s, and is known for an often humorous style of country music that has elements of protest and social commentary.


2019-07-11

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Friday 5 July 2019

This is America


Donald Trump is not America. This is America.

The Republican Party is not America. This is America.

The Right is not right; they're wrong. This is America.

Election 2020. Vote like your life depended on it.



Published on Jul 4, 2016 by WWE
YouTube: John Cena Love Has No Labels "We Are America" (3:37)
John Cena teams with Love Has No Labels this Independence Day for their #WeAreAmerica campaign.



References

Wikipedia: Ad Council
The Advertising Council, commonly known as the Ad Council, is an American nonprofit organization that produces, distributes, and promotes public service announcements on behalf of various sponsors, including nonprofit organizations, non-governmental organizations and agencies of the United States government.

Famous Campaigns
* Love Has No Labels (2015–present) focused on diversity and inclusion, the campaign's video was among the 10 most watched videos on YouTube in 2015. The commercial for the campaign won the award for Best Commercial during at the 2016 Emmy Awards.


Wikipedia: John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena Jr. (b 1977) is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and TV personality. As a wrestler, he is currently signed to WWE. As a TV personality, he is currently the host of Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? on Nickelodeon.


my blog: Love Has No Labels - Mar 5/2015 - re: Implicit Bias
Ad Council: While the vast majority of Americans consider themselves unprejudiced, many of us unintentionally make snap judgments about people based on what we see—whether it’s race, age, gender, religion, sexuality, or disability. This may be a significant reason many people in the U.S. report they feel discriminated against. Subconscious prejudice—called “implicit bias”—has profound implications for how we view and interact with others who are different from us. It can hinder a person’s ability to find a job, secure a loan, rent an apartment, or get a fair trial, perpetuating disparities in American society. The Love Has No Labels campaign challenges us to open our eyes to our bias and prejudice and work to stop it in ourselves, our friends, our families, and our colleagues.

Published on Mar 3, 2015 by Ad Council
YouTube: Love Has No Labels | Diversity & Inclusion | Ad Council (3:19)


2019-07-05

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