Film Gold

More than a pleasure to ‘get back’ (see what I did there?) with friend and podcast comrade Luke Thompson to round off our sort-of trilogy of Monty Python films (originally recorded on video, see below).This time round, Antony and Luke look at the flawed smorgasbord of ideas that is 1983’s ‘Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life’, going scene-by-scene through the good, bad, ugly, extremely violent, completely gross and filler, and trying to find just what ismissing from this Python outing that made the previous two films close to flawless masterpieces (actually we say it right at the beginning but don’t tell anyone…)In this part we give our general opinions of the film and look at some of the early scenes, so expect to hear about elderly pirates, sacred sperms and French ticklers. This is preceded by a bit of Python/Beatles comparisoning (that may not be a word) for our crossover audiencesMake your own mind up, even though I’ve already told you what to think…Most of all, enjoy!'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms.  Feedback to [email protected]  Facebook⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/filmgoldpod⁠⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠https://twitter.com/FilmGold75⁠ Antony's website(blog, music, podcasts) ⁠⁠⁠https://www.antonyrotunno.com⁠ Antony’s JohnLennon/Beatles and Psychology/Alt. Media podcasts ⁠⁠⁠https://glassoniononjohnlennon.com⁠⁠https://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com⁠ Support Antony’s podcast work (Film Gold, Glass Onion: On John Lennon and Life And Life Only) at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Luke’s English Podcast (main site and you tube channel)https://teacherluke.co.uk/https://www.youtube.com/LukesEnglishPodcast Luke & Antony’s previous Python film collaborations:Holy Grailhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMtOOBpRBaA Life of Brianhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYNW-fBpUoc&t=5673s The original video version of this review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecb9nT1ZcAMepisode links'The Meaning of Life' film pageshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python%27s_The_Meaning_of_Lifehttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085959/ Original trailer for the filmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMJ24QwHdCY‘Meaning of Life’ documentary with the Pythonshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_IpHCCyAC4&t=765s Every Sperm Is Sacredhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUspLVStPbk Steve Coogan’s ‘The c**t song’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cH0elKDOzs&rco=1 The Protestants having lots of theoretical sexhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDBjsFAyiwA Python/Beatles connections (clip from ‘Glass Onion: On John Lennon’ podcast)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMRj_y8g7Ck Boris Johnson gets a bit too ‘enthusiastic’ playing rugby andfootballhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5NN5S9sPFMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UYrLfxvfhM

Luke and Antony complete their look at the classic comedy ‘Monty Python’s Life of Brian', the talk originally recorded on video earlier this year (see below).It’s hard to avoid the controversy that surrounded this filmwhen it came out, and you will hear a clip or two from the remarkable TV debate around the more contentious aspects of it, the like of which would surely not be seen these days.Most important though is the marvellous, some would sayflawless, content of the film, and we discuss some of the most famous and iconic scenes. Expect to hear about what the Romans did for civilisation, a famous Roman governor with a speech impediment, a rather unique Latin lesson and of course a controversially jolly accompaniment to the most agonising death imaginable.Our review of the follow-up film ‘Monty Python’s The Meaningof Life’ will follow (as it should) in JanuaryFor now, enjoy! 'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms.  Feedback to [email protected]  Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/filmgoldpod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠https://twitter.com/FilmGold75⁠ Antony's website (blog, music, podcasts) ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.antonyrotunno.com⁠⁠ Antony’s John Lennon/Beatles and Psychology/Alt. Mediapodcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠https://glassoniononjohnlennon.com⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com⁠⁠ Support Antony’s podcast work (Film Gold, Glass Onion: OnJohn Lennon and Life And Life Only) at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Luke’s English Podcast (main site and you tube channel) https://teacherluke.co.ukhttps://www.youtube.com/LukesEnglishPodcast Luke & Antony’s previous Python film collaboration (HolyGrail) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMtOOBpRBaA episode linksVideo version of this discussion (June 2025)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYNW-fBpUoc&t=5674s ‘Life of Brian’ film pageshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python's_Life_of_Brianhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079470/ The Secret Life of Brian (recommended documentary)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdU_6jUQI9s The TV debate in full and the ‘Not The Nine O’Clock News’parodyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYMpObbt2rshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=1s The graffiti Latin lesson scenehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ogBSKySo8U Crucifixion admin scenehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnqLfUF5a9s Commentary tracks for the film by the Monty Python membershttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNpCzcbpjc8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQGMKk6h_nw&t=159s How bad was crucifixion? (caution- very grisly)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-EVfxABSoU

What more is there to say about Monty Python’s Life ofBrian? Well, we may as well give it a bash.  Luke Thompson takes on hosting duties for a swapcast between Film Gold and Luke’s English Podcast, originally recorded on video earlier this year (see below). In this first part, Luke & Antony discuss among otherthings their histories with the film, the basic philosophy of the Python team regarding biblical epics, some of the original inspiration for the film, and its production and financing.  Fans of the film will know that in that final aspect, acertain Beatle may well get a mention… Part 2 will follow in early December Enjoy! 'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms.  Feedback to [email protected]  Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/filmgoldpod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠https://twitter.com/FilmGold75⁠ Antony's website (blog, music, podcasts) ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.antonyrotunno.com⁠⁠ Antony’s John Lennon/Beatles and Psychology/Alt. Mediapodcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠https://glassoniononjohnlennon.com⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com⁠⁠ Support Antony’s podcast work (Film Gold, Glass Onion: OnJohn Lennon and Life And Life Only) at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Luke’s English Podcast (main site and you tube channel) https://teacherluke.co.ukhttps://www.youtube.com/LukesEnglishPodcast Luke & Antony’s previous Python film collaboration (HolyGrail) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMtOOBpRBaA episode linksVideo version of this discussion (June 2025)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYNW-fBpUoc&t=5674s Film trailerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYHEordIo88 ‘Life of Brian’ film pageshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python's_Life_of_Brianhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079470/ Saint George to the rescue!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDFdcfRAaCg The Secret Life of Brian (recommended documentary)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdU_6jUQI9s George Harrison & Michael Palin in The Rutles’ filmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8ifa3wqqDE

Among Oliver Stone’s large and celebrated body of work is afilm from 1997 that was largely ignored and derided at the time but is a classic case of a rediscovered gem with cult appeal. Scott Phipps joins Antony to look at the dark and twisted ‘U Turn’.Sean Penn leads an ensemble cast including the ultimate femme fatale Jennifer Lopez and many recognisable and renowned names at various stages of their careers. We recommend multiple viewings of this film to fullyabsorb all the details and vast array of imagesIs this actually a comedy of the blackest kind, as thetrailer would lead you to believe? Will Bobby Cooper ever get out of town? And is everyone in Superior, Arizona on drugs?'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms.  Feedback to [email protected]  Facebook⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/filmgoldpod⁠⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠https://twitter.com/FilmGold75⁠ Antony's website (blog, music, podcasts) ⁠⁠⁠https://www.antonyrotunno.com⁠ Antony’s John Lennon/Beatles and Psychology/Alt. Media podcasts⁠⁠⁠https://glassoniononjohnlennon.com⁠⁠https://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com⁠ Support Antony’s podcast work (Film Gold, Glass Onion: On John Lennon and Life And Life Only) at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ episode links‘U Turn’ original trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uidcyKDkFWU&t=1s ‘U Turn’ Wikipedia & IMDB pageshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U_Turn_(1997_film)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120399/ Film ’97 original featurehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oonm3a6xPSM Roger Ebert reviewhttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/u-turn-1997 Oliver Stone commentaryhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R22-lLw5eMc&t=375s Ennio Morricone and U Turnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8PthAjIlZs 1997 in film (lots of competition!)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_in_film

This time round we present our second Steven Spielberg filmand one that was very much a forerunner to (and inspiration for) the more famous ‘Jaws’, as an ordinary man is forced to find inner resources and transcend his limitations in order to defeat a seemingly unstoppable force that can’t be reasoned with. By kind permission of Julian Charles of The Mind Renewed,the recording used here is from TMR’s 20th movie roundtable, featuring Antony as a guest alongside Julian, Frank Johnson and Mark Campbell. Dennis Weaver stars as David (every)Mann, a salesman driving his beloved red Plymouth Valiant through the California desert on his way to an important work appointment, when a predatory monster of a smoke-spewing truck inexplicably picks him as its unsuspecting prey. (from TMR shownotes)‘Join us as we examine the tension, explore the film'sminimalist brilliance, and ask what "takeaways" might be gleaned from Spielberg's early TV/cinematic masterpiece’.  'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms.  Feedback to [email protected]  Facebook⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/filmgoldpod⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠https://twitter.com/FilmGold75⁠ Antony's website (blog, music, podcasts) ⁠⁠https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony’s John Lennon/Beatles and Psychology/Alt. Mediapodcasts ⁠⁠https://glassoniononjohnlennon.comhttps://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com Support Antony’s podcast work (Film Gold, Glass Onion: OnJohn Lennon and Life And Life Only) at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ‘The Mind Renewed’ website/podcasthttps://themindrenewed.com/episodes/2022-25/1646-ep084episode links‘Duel’ original trailer & IMDB pagehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m9aeCeHbiQhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067023/ Steven Spielberg on the making of the film (3 parts)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luG6wuSQYUEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKKd8z-3GXohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wob0Y0KVvC8 David Mann calls Chief Brody (Duel vs Jaws)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA0Y6SzEKrE