The best news to come out of the release of the “Mel Gibson Version” of The New Testament appears in today’s Daily Variety. “‘Christ’ re-begats ‘Brian'” reads the headline (subscription needed). It seems that thanks to all the hoopla surrounding Mel’s attempt to become “king of the world”, the brilliant Monty Python comedy Life of Brian is getting a rerelease. From the Variety article:
In direct response to the American uproar over Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” the Monty Python team is planning a 25th anniversary Stateside re-release of its comedy “Life of Brian.”
The 1979 movie, about the hapless Brian of Nazareth who spends his life (and death) being mistaken for the Messiah, will be distributed by Rainbow Releasing, which previously handled the U.S. re-release of “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”
Plan is to open the pic at the end of April in New York and Los Angeles. Columbia TriStar, which owns the international distribution rights, may also consider a re-release in selected foreign territories.
It will be interesting to see if the current Christian-right will protest this film as they did during its original release in 1979. In their own satirical fashion, Monty Python’s film is the best possible argument against the very same fanaticism that has driven the success of Gibson’s mediocre monster movie. If you’ve never seen it, check-out the re-release. And if you miss it (for shame!), make sure to watch the Criterion DVD, which like all things from Criterion (with the exception of Armageddon is well worth the elevated purchase price.
Oh yes, and I don’t want to forget: Thank you Brian! Praised be thee.
Out of Focus 