By Samir Mathur
Contributing Writer
Staff page
FOUR LIONS is playing this week at Enzian Theater. Click here for showtimes.
January 7, 2010 | Chris Morris has long been one of Britain’s premier satirists. In the ‘90s, he was spoofing the news to hilarious effect with The Day Today, long before The Daily Show was even an idea in a Comedy Central executive’s mind. His follow-up series Brass Eye was as controversial as it was brilliant, exploiting public hysteria over sensitive issues to show how ridiculous group-thinking and media-generated panic can be. And now, with his first feature film, he’s done it again.
A lot has been made by right-leaning news organizations on both sides of the Atlantic about ‘Four Lions’ being a so-called “comedy about suicide bombers”, which it is and it isn’t. Sure, some parts are laugh-out-loud funny, but there is a suitably serious undercurrent throughout, and the final act is as serious as can be. It’s about five British Muslims who dream of jihad and have decided to make that sacrifice. Trouble is, they are terrible at terrorism. A couple of them go to a training camp in Pakistan and it’s a disaster. One wants to blow up the internet. Another tries to attach bombs to crows. The craziest of them all is Barry, a white Englishman who has converted to Islam, and thinks that blowing up a mosque would send the strongest message. What message, and to whom? Barry doesn’t think that far ahead. All of this isn't just speculation: read an interview with Morris and you'll see that he's done his homework, and there are plenty of real-life incidents that inspired his characters.
Even though the Lions are to be laughed at, their anger and commitment to their cause is still unshakeable and very real. Sure, they may have to convince Waj that the trip to heaven is like riding the theme park ride Rubber Dinghy Rapids, but he’s still prepared to do what it takes to get there. It is chilling to see Omar, the leader of the group, at home with his wife and young son, living what seems like an everyday normal life, but never doubting what he sees as his ultimate purpose. His wife is also completely onboard, and there’s a devastating scene towards the end where he visits her at work, for what they both believe will be the last time. Even though Omar seems pretty conservative, there's a great scene where he makes fun of his brother, a much stricter Muslim, for refusing to be in the same room as a woman.
I would love to discuss the way the film ends, but you really have to see it, and it’s impossible to talk about without spoiling. Morris’ co-writers Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain both worked on the equally terrific ‘In the Loop’, so if you liked that, you’ll like this. ‘Four Lions’ is a brave film that doesn’t pull any punches, doesn’t pander to any point of view, and is so funny that it hurts. Catch it while you can.
Contributing Writer
Staff page
FOUR LIONS is playing this week at Enzian Theater. Click here for showtimes.January 7, 2010 | Chris Morris has long been one of Britain’s premier satirists. In the ‘90s, he was spoofing the news to hilarious effect with The Day Today, long before The Daily Show was even an idea in a Comedy Central executive’s mind. His follow-up series Brass Eye was as controversial as it was brilliant, exploiting public hysteria over sensitive issues to show how ridiculous group-thinking and media-generated panic can be. And now, with his first feature film, he’s done it again.
A lot has been made by right-leaning news organizations on both sides of the Atlantic about ‘Four Lions’ being a so-called “comedy about suicide bombers”, which it is and it isn’t. Sure, some parts are laugh-out-loud funny, but there is a suitably serious undercurrent throughout, and the final act is as serious as can be. It’s about five British Muslims who dream of jihad and have decided to make that sacrifice. Trouble is, they are terrible at terrorism. A couple of them go to a training camp in Pakistan and it’s a disaster. One wants to blow up the internet. Another tries to attach bombs to crows. The craziest of them all is Barry, a white Englishman who has converted to Islam, and thinks that blowing up a mosque would send the strongest message. What message, and to whom? Barry doesn’t think that far ahead. All of this isn't just speculation: read an interview with Morris and you'll see that he's done his homework, and there are plenty of real-life incidents that inspired his characters.
Even though the Lions are to be laughed at, their anger and commitment to their cause is still unshakeable and very real. Sure, they may have to convince Waj that the trip to heaven is like riding the theme park ride Rubber Dinghy Rapids, but he’s still prepared to do what it takes to get there. It is chilling to see Omar, the leader of the group, at home with his wife and young son, living what seems like an everyday normal life, but never doubting what he sees as his ultimate purpose. His wife is also completely onboard, and there’s a devastating scene towards the end where he visits her at work, for what they both believe will be the last time. Even though Omar seems pretty conservative, there's a great scene where he makes fun of his brother, a much stricter Muslim, for refusing to be in the same room as a woman.
I would love to discuss the way the film ends, but you really have to see it, and it’s impossible to talk about without spoiling. Morris’ co-writers Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain both worked on the equally terrific ‘In the Loop’, so if you liked that, you’ll like this. ‘Four Lions’ is a brave film that doesn’t pull any punches, doesn’t pander to any point of view, and is so funny that it hurts. Catch it while you can.