Brazil (1985)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Brazil, Terry Gilliam's visionary Orwellian fantasy, is an audacious dark comedy, filled with strange, imaginative visuals.
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Cast
as Sam Lowry
as Archibald 'Harry' Tuttle
as Jack Lint
as Jill Layton
as Ida Lowry
as Kurtzmann
as Spoor
as Warrenn
as Helpmann
as Dr. Jaffe
as Mrs. Terrain
as Lime
as Dowser
as Shirley
as Spiro
as Mrs. Buttle
as TV Interviewer/Salesman
as Technician
as Mr. Buttle
as Boy Buttle
as Girl Buttle
as Arrest Official
as Bill, Department of Works
as Charlie, Department of Works
as MOI Lobby Porter
as Neighbor in Clerk's Pool
as Samurai Warrior
as Telegram Girl
as Dr. Chapman
as Alison/Barbara Lint
as Porter, Information Retrieval
as Porter, Information Retrieval
as Typist in Jack's Office
as Holly
as Basement Guard
as Old Lady with Dog
as Burning Trooper
as Black Maria Guard
as 2nd Black Maria Guard
as Black Maria Guard
as Interview Official
as Cell Guard
as Priest
as Midget Woman
News & Interviews for Brazil
Critic Reviews for Brazil
All Critics (46) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (45) | Rotten (1) | DVD (12)
[A] darkly funny and truly visionary retro-futurist fantasy.
Brazil is a stinging, Strangelovian satire of the power of the bureaucracy in an Orwellian landscape.
Brazil offers a chillingly hilarious vision of the near-future.
Terry Gilliam's ferociously creative black comedy is filled with wild tonal contrasts, swarming details, and unfettered visual invention -- every shot carries a charge of surprise and delight.
Fortunately the story of an alternative future is realised with such visual imagination and sparky humour that it's only half way through that the plot's weaknesses become apparent.
A superb example of the power of comedy to underscore serious ideas, even solemn ones.
Audience Reviews for Brazil
Gilliam's funny and disturbing commentary on a modern society (only half pretending to be about some imaginary "other place" yet spot on accurate about our own after 30 years!) that sort of protects us all while sort of feeding on us is beyond price. Jonathon Pryce is spot on as a Stan Laurel everyman haplessly trying to right an impossibly wrong world. And the title? Its a dream destination that no one ever gets to.
Super Reviewer
A tour-de-force of dark comedy, terror, whimsy, and insufferable bureaucracy.
Super Reviewer
Terry Gilliam's Brazil is a highly engaging black comedy that uses a dystopian society as its backdrop, and puts a unique twist on the genre, and through Gilliam's camera lens, it's a truly bizarre and memorable vision. The dystopian genre is very interesting, and it's one that is always exciting to see what they'll come up with it. With Brazil you have something totally different, you have hints of humor thrown into the film's storyline, and it adds something to the enjoyment of the film. Dystopian society films are often dark, nightmarish portraits of a society, but with this film we get something very different. The formula here has been reworked to give the storyline a bit more range than your standard dystopian film, and in turn it makes for a truly engaging experience. In the hands of Terry Gilliam, you have a well crafted picture with some truly stellar performances from its cast, especially from lead actor Jonathan Pryce who lights up every scene that he's in. Brazil is a great film, one that succeeds at delivering a different take on your standard dystopian society film, and in the hands of Terry Gilliam, he crafts a standout picture that is sure to please genre fans looking for something a bit different. Brazil is eccentric in the way that it's told, and it makes for a truly entertaining two and a half hours. If you enjoy Gilliam's work, you're sure to enjoy this. What makes Brazil great is the fact that it has your standard dark, atmospheric elements than are synonymous with the genre, but there are also lighter touches comic relief to really make it stand out among other films. Brazil is great filmmaking and one of the finest dystopian society films I've seen. With a great mix of comedy and serious content, Brazil is a standout genre film that elevates the bar and makes for a truly worthwhile viewing experience.
Super Reviewer
Brazil Quotes
| Holly: | Put it on big boy, I won't look at your willy. |
| TV Interviewer/Salesman: | How do you account for the fact that the bombing campaign has been going on for thirteen years? |
| Helpmann: | Beginners' luck. |
| Mrs. Terrian: | There's been a little complication with my complication |
| Mrs. Terrian: | There's been a little complication with my complication. |
| Dr. Jaffe: | Just me and my little knife! Snip snip - slice slice... can you believe it? |
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