Monty Python: Almost the Truth — Monty Python has often been called the Beatles of comedy, so it’s only appropriate that the venerable British troupe finally has its own version of Anthology to serve as a fitting tombstone… er, tribute. The six-part documentary series Monty Python: Almost the Truth aired last week on IFC, but fret not if you missed it: the whole thing is now available in a three-disc edition that will fit snugly on the shelf next to your complete boxed set of Flying Circus episodes.
Although it’s always seemed to American audiences as if Python appeared fully formed as a comedy monolith in the mid-’70s (when the original BBC episodes began airing on public television stations), the first episode of Almost the Truth makes it evident that the group coalesced almost by accident after spending most of the 1960s working in different combinations on an array of British comedy shows unknown in the States. The second and third episodes cover the Flying Circus glory days up through John Cleese’s departure and the truncated fourth and final season; episodes four and five delve into the making of the classic movies Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Life of Brian, while the final installment brings us up to the present day and the unexpected Broadway success of Spamalot.
Featuring new interviews with all the surviving Pythons (and archival talk-show footage of the late Graham Chapman, who died in 1989), packed with generous clips from the series and movies as well as testimonials from famous fans like Russell Brand, Stephen Merchant, and Steve Coogan, Almost the Truth is a treasure trove even for fans who’ve heard most of the stories a time or twelve before.
Orphan — This week’s release schedule is surprisingly light on Halloween-friendly fare, so you may have to settle for the campy thrills of this demon-seed shocker about a troubled couple (Peter Sarsgaard and Vera Farmiga) who adopt Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman), the creepy little girl with a secret you’ve probably already guessed.
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan — Fans still in mourning for the acclaimed sci-fi (excuse us, SyFy) series will have to hope that this direct-to-DVD movie, which retells the story of the fall of the twelve colonies from the point-of-view of the Cylons, amounts to more than just a glorified clip show.
Whatever Works — Woody Allen scoured the globe for a younger, fresher version of himself to star in his latest New York relationship comedy and came up with… Larry David? Hey, whatever works.
