Graham Chapman's beyond the grave biopic – Monty Python style
In true Monty Python style, the upcoming self-described ‘animation epic’, A Liar’s Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python’s Graham Chapman, tells the story of (surprise) Graham Chapman, probably best remembered as ‘the dead one from Monty Python’. Described in the Hollywood Reporter as unorthodox, freewheeling and, by fellow Python member John Cleese as a tribute to Chapman’s aversion to ‘mindless good taste’, the film definitely adheres to the Python philosophy of “…And, now, for something completely different”
In true Python fashion, A Liar’s Autobiography is, most assuredly, the first big screen film autobiography that is written by and stars the subject of the film (Chapman) who, according to the surviving members of the Monty Python troupe, selfishly dropped dead in 1989. Before his death, Chapman had actually recorded himself reading his autobiography. These recordings ‘bring Chapman back to life’ as they are used to create Chapman’s voice for the 3D animated feature causing him to be accused him of attempting to become the most prolific corpse since Elvis. Besides Chapman and fellow Pythons John Cleese, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam, Cameron Diaz is the voice of Sigmund Freud.
The film, which opens in the States on November 2 and early 2013 in the UK, was co-produced and co-directed by Terry Jones’ son, Bill Jones, and will definitely be a treat for hardcore Python fans as evidenced by this just-released NSFW trailer which highlight the 17 different styles of animation from 14 different animation houses around the world. Unfortunately, there’s a glaring hole in the film left by the absence of Eric Idle in the film (something to do with a Spamalot riff) but still worth the time if you’re a Python fan.