
Brazil
1985, Fantasy/Comedy, 2h 22m
48 Reviews 100,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
Brazil, Terry Gilliam's visionary Orwellian fantasy, is an audacious dark comedy, filled with strange, imaginative visuals. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Sam Lowry
Archibald "Harry" Tuttle
Mrs. Ida Lowry
Mr. M. Kurtzmann
Spoor
Jack Lint
News & Interviews for Brazil
Critic Reviews for Brazil
All Critics (48) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (1)
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It's like a stoned, slapstick 1984: a nightmare comedy in which the comedy is just an aspect of the nightmarishness.
January 3, 2018 | Full Review… -
[A] darkly funny and truly visionary retro-futurist fantasy.
March 12, 2011 | Full Review… -
Brazil is a stinging, Strangelovian satire of the power of the bureaucracy in an Orwellian landscape.
October 16, 2008 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review… -
Brazil offers a chillingly hilarious vision of the near-future.
May 30, 2007 | Full Review… -
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.
May 30, 2007 | Full Review… -
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.
February 9, 2006 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for Brazil
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Apr 13, 2016A beautifully filmed dystopian society by director Terry Gilliam. The story is about a man who doesn't really have much motivation or drive to move up in the world so his mother pulls strings to get him promoted. He doesn't want to until a mysterious beautiful woman who witnesses the state arrest the wrong man compels him to do so. Beautiful sets that look as if they inspired Tim Burton's "Batman."Joseph B Super Reviewer
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Sep 28, 2015Brazil is such an amazingly imaginative film, it makes you wonder how it ever managed to get produced. The direction takes you on this stunning roller coaster ride through a dystopia theme park. The dark humor works great, with the world being so terribly bad that it is more ridiculously funny than horrifying. All-in-all Brazil is one of those films where you have to see it, even if you end up not liking it, to at least have seen it.Robert B Super Reviewer
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Apr 13, 2015Stuffy and extremely political, I found Brazil to be quite disappointing in the fact that most of it seems to serve as a kind of propaganda of sorts, desperately attempting to satirise things that have already been satirised. 3 and a 1/2 stars are rewarded for the films good performances and the Monty Python-esque visuals and humour. Brazil is an over-long but generally enjoyable political headache.Harry W Super Reviewer
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Apr 20, 2014Terry 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.Alex r 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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