And now for something completely different: an animated multi-chapter documentary life story that is narrated by its own subject. Who has, inconveniently, been dead for 23 years. And who’s probably making it all up anyway.
If that sounds like a Monty Python sketch, it is — or wants to be. “A Liar’s Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python’s Graham Chapman” is based on the late comedian’s 1980 memoirs “A Liar’s Autobiography, Vol. VI,” and features Chapman’s own voice, taken from an unreleased reading of the book recorded at Harry Nilsson’s LA studios over two bleary nights in the ’80s. Co-directors Bill Jones (son of Python Terry Jones), Jeff Simpson, and Ben Timlett have set 14 different animators, using wildly varying approaches, on the chapters of Chapman’s life. They’ve also dragooned the elder Jones, John Cleese, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam for voice work. (Eric Idle, apparently, is still sulking over being left to stage “Spam-a-Lot” on his own.)
Comments
Sounds like they worked awfully hard on this thing. I'm not planning to see it.