Terry Gilliam

BFI’s celebration of Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam

~ Michael Stevenson ~ Leave a comment

On 22 November highly acclaimed film director, writer and animator Terry Gilliam turned 80 years old!

The BFI marked the occasion by celebrating his film career with the man himself in conversation with writer and broadcaster Jason Solomons. With some exclusive clips, many a tale to tell & some special guests, join us as we raise a glass to a film making legend in true BFI style.

Featuring surprise messages from Michael Palin, John Cleese, Lily Cole, Jonathan Pryce, Mike Edmonds, Charles McKeown, Richard Lagravanese, Christopher Plummer, Olga Kurylenko, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Tilda Swinton.

Terry Gilliam says he disagrees with John Cleese’s worldview

~ Michael Stevenson ~ Leave a comment

Director says Brexit makes him ‘terminally depressed’ while fellow Python Cleese backs it

Terry Gilliam has said he disagrees with the way his friend and fellow Monty Python member John Cleese sees the world, following comments from the latter endorsing Brexit and criticising the makeup of London.

The Python animator and Hollywood director despairs of Donald Trump and Brexit, both of which make him “terminally depressed”. Cleese has previously faced a backlash for voicing support for the UK leaving the EU, and for saying London was no longer an English city.

Gilliam told Radio Times that the only public figure he could trust in the current political climate was Sir David Attenborough. He also criticised the political correctness of contemporary comedy, but stopped short of supporting his friend’s view of the world.

He said: “I’m the instinctive, monosyllabic American and he’s the tall, very suave one. I love John enormously but I just disagree with the way he perceives the world.” Continue reading →

Hollywood condemns Terry Gilliam for #MeToo comments

~ Michael Stevenson ~ Leave a comment


Actors and directors criticise film-maker for likening movement to ‘mob rule’ and remarks about Weinstein scandal

The film director Terry Gilliam has come under fire from Hollywood actors and directors for comparing the #MeToo movement to “mob rule”.

The former Monty Python member suggested the anti-sexual harassment campaign had led to a “world of victims” in an interview with Agence France-Presse.

While describing Harvey Weinstein as a “monster”, he added that the disgraced producer was only exposed because he was such an “asshole”.

Gilliam said: “Harvey opened the door for a few people, a night with Harvey – that’s the price you pay.

“I think some people did very well out of meeting with Harvey and others didn’t. The ones who did, knew what they were doing. These are adults; we are talking about adults with a lot of ambition.” [ . . . ]

More at THE GUARDIAN: Hollywood condemns Terry Gilliam for #MeToo comments