Life of Brian, and other Christmas movies

Several of my old cohorts back in Jersey have been reading this blog; with one suggestion of renaming it after the Monty Python movie and another suggestion of writing an "artist" manifesto. Considering both characters are tail twisting practical jokers so any suggestion from either should be approached with same caution as hunting for mushrooms on a moonless night in cow pasture. Since we are talking about one of the best films on religious faith -asking the subversive question of what do you believe and why? - I'm just not sure if it's a good Christmas film or is it more appropriate for Easter? It does start with Brian being born two mangers down from Jesus but it ends with the crucifixion of Brian after he's mistaken for the Messiah. If you're a student of Biblical history, you know Jesus wasn't the only person identified and executed for being the Messiah.




As far as manifestos go... really? I usually associate those things with people that have views that are more rooted in theory than real life. It doesn't matter if it's the musings of Karl Marx or the rants of Ayn Rand -it's a little bit of truth swaddled in the bombastic. Manifestos are the opiate of anger people who would want the world recreated in their image. The closest thing I have to a manifesto is a few guidelines and mottoes -like every sacred cow makes great hamburgers. Once more The Life of Brian comes to the rescue.



Again I'm digressing. What I wanted to write about is stocking up on a few DVDs for the Christmas / Winter Holiday season. Life of Brian might not be the best Christmas selection for the entire family. You might have young children to entertain, personally I like to burnish my reputation as the eccentric Uncle and nothing says eccentric like French cinema.


A Cat in Paris (2010), funny and sharp but it does have a few scary moments that could upset the very sensitive five year old. For the  8- 12 year old crowd this movies should keep them entertain. And yes -the movie on DVD has an English version with no sub-tittles.

A Town Called Panic (2009) is as silly and surreal as they come but if you were once a fan of Gumby and Pokey you might sit down with the kids and watch along with them. Unfortunately the dialog is in French with English sub-tittles (the big deal breaker with foreign films) but don't let that frighten you off. There isn't that much dialog and the story is very visual. It helps if your audience has an appreciation for the unconventional but don't be surprised if the kids are chanting Cheval, Cheval as the ending credits roll by.

The Triplets of Belleville (2003) When a young boy is kidnapped during the Tour De France his grandmother, her dog and three elderly sisters -that preformed together on stage back in the days of jazz and big bands, all go on the search.

As a warning it is rated PG-13 and there is a scene where the Triplets remember their act on stage mixed in with appearances of a few celebrates from the Parisian nightclubs -including Josephine Baker. Josephine Baker was an African-American who danced on stage topless in a grass skirt. It might upset very sensitive adults as un-PC.

Now what would be Christmas without A Christmas Story (1983) ? Of course we all know that Ralphie finally gets his Red Rider BB Gun though most kids today are shocked to think there was a world before video games. As I tell my nephews, nieces and other children of my extended family "before games like Halo we use to shoot things for real". For me and my friend Captain Bob this was the Christmas of our childhood. We listen to Jean Shepherd on WOR out of New York and the gritty little industrial town in the movie was just like out hometown in New Jersey -except I don't remember any cars on the street with clam shell fenders.

For the best in old school comedy there's always Laurel and Hardy. No Christmas was complete without Babes In Toyland (1934) later re-issued as March Of The Wooden Soldiers. Laurel and Hardy seemed to have dropped off the radar for many people. Some of their other movies like Flying Deuces and Sons of the Desert are entertainment for children of all ages.

                                     In The Mailbox

On one past posting "When realism isn't real" I got an email with a link to the song God Isn't Real by Robbie Fulks also known as the Hillbilly Atheist. You can find the song on Youtube.

From the posting HEMP ! , Edam had pointed out that the chorus in the Beatles song I Am The Walrus is really singing "got one, got one, everybody got one" instead of "smoke pot, smoke pot, everybody smokes pot" .  Edam backed up his claim with a link to a magazine interview with John Lennon. I have been doing an very unscientific survey, so far 7 out of 10 think they are singing "smokes pot" with the remaining 3 out 10 unsure. I plan to someday see if I can isolate the track and listen to it without the music.

The best email this week end was from an artist in Phoenixville PA. Every Thanksgiving weekend the Colonial Theater has a special presentation of Monty Python And The Holy Grail. Just say the tittle and I can hear the coconut shells clopping through the Middle Ages. If you want that sound for yourself and can't afford a serf to trot along side you cantering the pace with half a shell in each hand then go to laughingsquid.com/trotify because this device is for you.