Chris Morris on Four Lions | Empire Magazine

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The twisted genius behind The Day Today on his latest film.
Chris Morris brilliant, controversy-baiting comedy Four Lions which follows the adventures of a group of hapless wannabe suicide bombers - opens this week, and we strongly recommend it, for its bold, brave and gut-bustingly funny. We sent Chris Hewitt along to the films UK premiere at the Bradford Film Festival recently, where he spoke to Morris, producer Mark Herbert, writers Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, and most of the Four Lions themselves.
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[@SnideImpact]

I'm Muslim, 15, living in Manchester. Chris Morris is either the funniest smart man, or the smartest funny man ever.

[@phantomdoodler]

If Four Lions has given us anything, it's given us some GREAT Chris Morris interviews. something the web has been dying for.

[@BobWarren_]

One of the few people in the world, seemingly, who is capable of seeing beyond the banality of everyday life, and, more than that, is happy to risk his 'media image' in order to make other people aware of the stupidity that the masses call normality. Will always be a massive fan, keep up the good work Mr Morris.

[@solidheir]

I LOVE YOU CHRIS MORRIS !! You are a true hero of our time, everyone pales in comparison, EVERYONE. He stands alone.

[@maximmixam]

"Jacques 'Jacques' Liverot: A Man Sees God In His car. He Crashes." Wow. Great video. Really nice to hear him just chatting!

[@simplelife88393]

This film is a masterpiece!

[@TehBuhmDiggeee]

Until this video, I have absolutely never seen Chris Morris not taking the complete piss. This has been a humbling experience!

[@willscomix]

This is one of the first comedies that made me sad at the end.

[@splinterbyrd]

Wish CM would make more movies like this

[@readventurekids]

I was disappointed that Nigel Lindsay doesn't appear in the interviews too. I thought his performance was brilliant - well they all were, weren't they. You might like Nigel in this scene, search 'Alan Partridge Muppet Massacre' where he plays a no nonsense talking ex-Special Forces hardman. Brilliant!

[@bifferspice]

have never seen chris morris being chris morris before. outstanding stuff - the man's a legend. i constantly switch between wanting him to produce more stuff, and being grateful he only produces stuff once he's happy with the quality. life's a bitch, huh!

[@Etcher]

chris morris is a genius - check out his 'on the hour' radio stuff from 1991, phenomenal

[@jim31589]

Some say he makes comedy to shock, and a lot of it is shocking, but what most people dont realise is that the most provocative and taboo subjects are sometimes the funniest. Chris Morris i Salute you :)

[@TobeUK]

written by the Peepshow guys, directed by Chris Morris, produced by producer of Dead Mans Shoes and This Is England- how can it fail? i still havent seen it but the lovely DVd is sat on my shelf....me thinks it may be tonights viewing after watching this clip

[@celondelon]

Chris Morris is a genius and truly creative in the full meaning which is to be true to yourself and put your balls on the line and go for it.

[@pennydesouza]

I think Chris Morris is a naturally v. cool man.

[@AMpufnstuf]

Chris Morris is not only a clever and hilarious writer but he has proven to be a fearless intellectual who challenges both the media (who determine how the public views him) and Islam (who determine if he's worth filling a backpack with gun powder over)

[@irishbloke99]

would be great if he came back and did a tv show or series:)

[@boozerverif]

It's heartwarming when you get real, piss-take-less proof that he really is as genius as his work would suggest.

[@goodrobotusses]

"BAM, they're a twat, they're a berk..." haha brasseye flashback

[@Concreteowl]

I wish that some of the deleted material had been kept. The scene with the main characters (running with make-shift explosives) away from the 'hoodies' extended the range of general stupidity out further. The links between those street gangs drawing their inspiration from an alien culture that they relate to and use to justify themselves tied in with what the main characters were trying to do very clearly. If the Afghan 'legs in paradise' scene was put back in it would have fitted nicely.

[@K2nsl3r]

"that's a very biblical way of looking at it" ;)

[@JTVASMR]

It's a classic - I'm studying it for a university course.

[@chopsuzy]

I cant wait to see this at the weekend :-) Anyone else going to the Sydney Film Festival?

[@johnward654]

Yes

[@brenan6]

as with most geniuses, chris morris is entirely underrated. 10 years from now he will be the most praised artist in england

[@neilsun2521]

Well, 10 years is up. Were you right?

[@haggler]

@@neilsun2521 he’s still the best in my opinion but I literally don’t know anyone in my real life who knows about him beyond Four Lions…it’s sad because he truly is the best at what he does.

[@geekymarianne]

Yeah, the slicked back look is just for his reporter character. Actually, if you look up the "The Day Today" pilot on here, you'll see him do that episode with his natural hair.

[@neilsun2521]

I don't think it was his natural hairstyle I think it was based on Paxman's

[@azapro911]

The cleverest comic writer to have ever lived - though PC critics would never dare give him the credit for it. The Day Today and Brass Eye were masterpieces and no, the Paedogeddon thing was NOT a pro child molesting thing as many idiots claimed 10 years ago. It took the piss out of the warped bastards who do it and the even more warped members of the press who publicise it shamelessly.

[@WarrenCromartie2]

It wasn't the PC brigade who went after him at the time, it was the moral drum bashers at the Daily Mail, and in parliament. Back then, the liberal/left were his allies. Today I'm not so sure. As you suggest. Today's liberalista have become the new book burning puritans, obesessed with defending everyones non existant right to not be offended.

[@chopsuzy]

@kerouac61 ha ha :-) did you enjoy the flight LOL whens it out in the UK? I'll be back in October...

[@leebeer]

ha ha him n jarvis scoring skag , probably the devils dandruff i'd say . jadore morris. legend!!!!!

[@5am.robert5]

best hair in the business

[@babyspongestudios]

@Pentdad actually, it doesnt look massively modern. its a bit dark, but there arent any candlelight illuminations if thats what youre thinking

[@kerouac61]

@chopsuzy I saw it in Ireland in April. So I figured it was everywhere by now.

[@renegadecomplex]

@SethHesio i certainly will do! but you should be aware.. 'diligent' is spelt with i silent treble clef :)

[@mspratz]

@solidheir Well said!!!

[@kerouac61]

@chopsuzy I live in Dublin. Its gonna be a HELL of a journey for me but I'll give it a bash;) hehe

[@azapro911]

@Pentdad See the whole thread for that confusion. Though I have to say, that does sound like a Chris Morris line! :-)

[@rrbh]

Ted Maul is looking quite dapper these days .

[@babyspongestudios]

@Pentdad yeah its not quite that dark, but your basically right

[@roboosh]

@bennocelt Too true. Poetic really.

[@babyspongestudios]

he went to my school :)

[@babyspongestudios]

@Pentdad yeah how do you know?

[@Julsi3]

I know that guy haha

[@splinterbyrd]

Both :o)

[@slickwillywize]

Love Morris intelligence to be on guard at all times to danger

[@BON3SHAK3R]

Lovely film and on par with Ealing. One of those films where you plan on watching just 5 minutes but end up watching it all. There are just so many one liners especially in the mobile phone clip in the desert ie "James fuck Bond" "Fucking Mr Beans" etc etc ....... pure class n you just have sympathy for the lot of them even though they plan on killing people.....they are just a bunch of disillusioned misfits.

[@peterrodgers2048]

Yeah man, labels don't matter man. I see everyone as equals maaaannnn.

[@comanchio1976]

@chrissyeggs I agree, especially about the 'sir' part. All these media lightweights getting knighthoods...Morris should be made an Earl!!...fuck it..KING!

[@vollsticks]

Well, he wrote it as well.....

[@randmnumber]

@Irwin400 richard blackwood is that you?

[@Restayvien]

Genius

[@hotelmario510]

Whoa, is that his real hair?!

[@neilsun2521]

It looks like he's dyed it darker. It used to look light brown in the 90s

[@neilsun2521]

..or put product in it

[@DidntKnowWhatToPut1]

@empollon2000 We're all together man

[@SethHesio]

@renegadecomplex *surreal

[@DLLW93]

wow... me too, shit.

[@Carb86]

@azapro911 I agree with the sentiment, but I do find it funny that you consider the news reporters to be more warped than paedophiles.

[@renegadecomplex]

@SethHesio omg sorry :'(

[@jonathanbutcherUK]

@Irwin400 Yeah, I hate it when your "heroes" turn out to be genuine, intelligent human beings and not grotesque caricatures

[@astroboirap]

damn! :s

[@karlking1995]

oh i thought that said chuick norris up ther lol

[@fuckamericanidiot]

@ryanbrownnew at the of the day how can you take it seriously when it's such a ridiculous film at times? i mean that in a good way. that part where they were training with the sheep and the security guard guy catching them at that bad time. lighten up

[@bibby5000]

@jonathanbutcherUK 'tiz strange.... hrup

[@peterrodgers2048]

Probably fair enough. Was only joking. He/she is allowed to define themselves however they wish. They don't seem to be implying any authority because of it. In fact they appear to be suggesting the universal nature of comedy (that what is funny is human stupidity and self-delusion) not Muslims and that these labels are in fact irrelevant.

[@Destro7000]

I think Chris Morris is getting far too comfortable ....bring back the wild child who filled a radio studio with Helium!

[@neilsun2521]

I just found out the helium story was a joke by him and not a genuine event

[@SQUIDERICK]

@MarcusMeridius OOH im the mujahadeen uh... thingy.. thingy rap rap..

[@empollon2000]

As a British Muslim, this film feels like a for-us-by-us film. I mean, it's difficult to believe that it was made by some poncy white middle class English guy.

[@panterasux22]

@offthehook2 rubber dingy rapids brother

[@hudanofendi3028]

Fast track.

[@RagggedTrouseredPhilanthropist]

Is that Michael Portillo wearing a silly wig?

[@mrmrscosanostra]

how can you call this guy a genie/look at his hair

[@SethHesio]

@renegadecomplex ha! Be more diligent with your spelling in future.

[@INDIANBLANKET]

CHRIS MORRIS FOR PRIME MINISTER!

[@squidblaine]

He got older. It will happen to you too.

[@blacknganga]

@empollon2000 You display idiocy which is reflected in your remarks about "middle-class". Morris is a channel for outpourings of unsurpassable genius, that you should now make yourself aware of, if you have the brain matter/spirit.

[@astroboirap]

wtf happened to his face :s

[@zeushighscore]

@Irwin400 You're talking nonse-sense!

[@BGH122]

@empollon2000 Wow you mean your racial and socioeconomic prejudices have let you down? Massive surprise. Though I'm positive it'll turn out you were being 'ironic'. It's a shame that this film was so utterly shit and unfunny. Everything else Morris has ever created has been top notch.

[@celondelon]

Chris Morris is a genius and truly creative in the full meaning which is to be true to yourself and put your balls on the line and go for it.