View Full Version : Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
RobertWood
10-31-06, 08:25 AM
Not a movie title you see every day.
So whaddya think? Is this one gonna make us laugh out loud?
The press on it up till now would seem to indicate that. And so would
the tomatometer...
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/borat/
Special added bonus:
"Why the Kazakhstan ruling elite has such a visceral reaction to Borat?"
[EDIT: link removed. after reading the whole linked page I determined that it
was not advisable to link that here.]
It will no doubt be incredibly hilarious.
UMDMatt
10-31-06, 09:16 AM
I think for anyone that's not a total prude this movie will be pretty freaking hilarious. I'm looking forward to seeing it this weekend.
If you're not familiar with Borat there's a bunch of good clips from Cohen's HBO show on Video.Google.
It's nice!
I really look forward to seeing this soon. For me, this is the ultimate "movie theater movie" that will be worth seeing in public, because it might barely be funny at home but could be hilarious with audience reactions.
I hope this movie does really well, I hope it offends a lot of stuck up people, and I hope this thread survives (but fear it won't). :rolleyes:
“There is one singer called Shakira… sorry I laugh because in Kazakhstan this word means vagina. For example, ‘Can I touch your shakira?’ or ‘I have seen your wife’s shakira, it hangs like the mouth of a tired dog.”
“In Kazhakstan we have many hobbies: disco dancing, archery, rape and table tennis.”
“In U.S. and A. they treat horses like we in Kazakhstan treat our women. They feed them two times a day. They have them sleep on straw in a small box. And for entertainment, they make them jump over fences while being whipped.”
“Kazakhstan is more civilised now. Women can now travel on inside of bus, and homosexuals no longer have to wear blue hat.”
mdc3000
10-31-06, 10:43 AM
I saw it in September at the Toronto International Film Festival and it does not disappoint. It's easily the funniest movie of the year, and probably one of the top 5 funniest movies I have ever seen.
I've been counting down the days until I could see it again and finally the day is almost here...honestly, if you think you have any interest in seeing this, you are in for a treat... INCREDIBLE movie.
And let me take this moment to help start the oscar campaign - Sacha Baron Cohen for Best Actor!
MATT
Trailer:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/borat/
RobertWood
10-31-06, 11:36 AM
I think for anyone that's not a total prude this movie will be pretty freaking hilarious.
Dang. And here I was looking forward to it.
Can anyone recommend something else? Does Jerry Lewis have any new ones coming out?
simontan
10-31-06, 11:41 AM
Borat is my favorite character on Da Ali G show, but to me the beauty of the whole bit is that the people he's interacting with have no clue they're being put on. So for the movie, is it still composed of scenes with real people interacting with Borat or are there just a bunch of actors "acting" offended/shocked? I'll definitely be seeing it either way, but I don't see how the original premise of the character can continue since a large part of the public is now in on the gag. On second thought, I guess the people Cohen picks on are typically not that informed so maybe the show can go on despite all the exposure from the movie.
What's the gag? Man-on-the-street stuff? Stand-up? Fish-out-of-water?
barhoram
10-31-06, 12:06 PM
This movie is boring. not.
This movie is boring. not.
It more like
This movie is boring........ (really long pause)
NOT!
Anyway looks like a really funny movie hope to see it when it comes out in theaters,
Borat is my favorite character on Da Ali G show, but to me the beauty of the whole bit is that the people he's interacting with have no clue they're being put on. So for the movie, is it still composed of scenes with real people interacting with Borat or are there just a bunch of actors "acting" offended/shocked? I'll definitely be seeing it either way, but I don't see how the original premise of the character can continue since a large part of the public is now in on the gag. On second thought, I guess the people Cohen picks on are typically not that informed so maybe the show can go on despite all the exposure from the movie.
The movie was shot the same way, with people thinking beforehand that he was "legit" and the outcome being very unpredictable. There are already some insane outtakes and cut scenes going around (skits that didn't "go well" according to the studio's tastes anyway). In fact the first director on the film left the project over disagreement over one such scene (that's still in the movie, yee-haw!) that he didn't like. The second director they brought on was more into doing whatever gets him paid, no matter how insane or Johnny Knoxville it got.
RobertWood
10-31-06, 12:17 PM
I don't see how the original premise of the character can continue
Trust me, there will be plenty of people tomorrow, people next week, people next year and people in ten years who will still have no clue who Cohen is.
There can be ten sequels to this movie and there will still be plenty of em out there.
Barnum had it only part right. There's actually one born every second. In a minute there's 60 more of em.
Borat meets David Letterman. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvQScRuZj9s)
I can't wait for this. Friends have seen it and said its amazing.
linthat22
10-31-06, 06:26 PM
I never really understood why people found him funny, I just don't see it :confused:
Eddie Horton
10-31-06, 07:27 PM
Did anyone see the skit he did at the beginning of last weeks SNL? I never watch SNL anymore, but the wife and I were at the beach sitting up late and flipping channels. It was too funny. The one line that slayed me was something about certain female parts "hanging loose, like wizard's sleeve." This is one that I may have to trudge to the theater to see.
srw1000
10-31-06, 08:33 PM
I never really understood why people found him funny, I just don't see it :confused:Ditto.
I liked this act better, the first time I saw it, when it was performed by the late Andy Kaufman.
Scott
RobertWood
10-31-06, 09:12 PM
Ditto.
I liked this act better, the first time I saw it, when it was performed by the late Andy Kaufman.
Scott
Speaking as a genuine Kaufman fanboy, there are a great many differences between what Kaufman did and what Cohen does, srw.
But to consider the one obvious thing and what you're alluding to, Cohen never tries to deceive the audience. He always puts the audience in on the joke.
Trying to deceive the audience along with everyone else, however, was Kaufman's stock in trade.
FredProgGH
10-31-06, 09:20 PM
I'm a little on the fence on Borat. Some of the time it's amazingly funny, but some of the time i just find it too painful. It's the practical joke aspect; some of the time the people he's messing with are nice decent sorts who don't deserve to be dealing with this idiotic, foul- smelling (Cohen says he doesn't wash that suit, EVER) rude obnoxious jerk. Some do of course, and then its great. I think over all I find Ali G funnier because generally there it should be completely obvious that the guy could never be on the level and the real joke is that the people he's interviewing could even accept that such a person exists. I guess the sad part is we all know people like Borat exist.
srw1000
10-31-06, 09:27 PM
Speaking as a genuine Kaufman fanboy, there are a great many differences between what Kaufman did and what Cohen does, srw.
But to consider the one obvious thing and what you're alluding to, Cohen never tries to deceive the audience. He always puts the audience in on the joke.
Trying to deceive the audience along with everyone else, however, was Kaufman's stock in trade.I thought part of Cohen's MO was to use unsuspecting bystanders as stooges for various movie bits.
OK, maybe I'm wrong.
In that case, I find him as amusing as his true precursor, Yakov Smirnoff.
Scott
RobertWood
10-31-06, 10:55 PM
I thought part of Cohen's MO was to use unsuspecting bystanders as stooges for various movie bits.
OK, maybe I'm wrong.
In that case, I find him as amusing as his true precursor, Yakov Smirnoff.
Scott
That is his shtick, Scott.
By "audience" I meant me and you. Not them. They're just comedy props.
Kaufman's genius was to throw out all the rules. He made us the props too.
RobertWood
10-31-06, 10:59 PM
If you're going to compare Cohen's ability to do this with others who make use of something similiar, that comparison would be to people like Stephen Colbert. Or Samantha Bee.
srw1000
10-31-06, 10:59 PM
That is his shtick, Scott.
By "audience" I meant me and you. Not them. They're just comedy props.Sorry, I misunderstood you.
Kaufman's genius was to throw away all the rules. He made us the props too.Agreed.
Scott
Borat meets David Letterman. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvQScRuZj9s)
The funniest part of that clip was when he was dancing to Beck.
Borat was on the Howard Stern show and I never heard of him before. With that appearance, I have to see the movie now! :D
Borat could end up a classic (like Austin Powers). ;)
pg_rider
11-02-06, 07:45 PM
The one line that slayed me was something about certain female parts "hanging loose, like wizard's sleeve."
Or, "her vagina hangs loose like the lips of a tired dog". :D
My favorite line of his was "my mother never loved me -- she tell me 'I wish I was raped by a different man'". :p
cyberbri
11-02-06, 08:27 PM
"We the people of Kazahkstan support your war of terror!"
I think this looks to be one of the funniest movies in a LONG time.
For those who get HBO...
Boyakasha! Catch all 12 episodes of Da Ali G show back to back Monday, November 6 (8 episodes, 9:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. ET/PT), and Tuesday, November 7 (4 episodes, 8:00-10:00 p.m.).
Or: Saturday, November 4, watch the twelve episode marathon from noon - 6pm ET/PT on HBO Comedy. All episodes will also be available on HBO On Demand, starting on November 6.
http://www.hbo.com/alig/?ntrack_para1=leftnav_category0_show18
"Do you likea porno?" lol
"We the people of Kazahkstan support your war of terror!"
I think this looks to be one of the funniest movies in a LONG time.
Brian,
This is just the kind of off-the-wall, wack-job of a movie that makes this election season bearable. :p
Oh, lest I forget, Christopher Guest and his merry band of lunatics have a new one too: For Your Consideration.... :cool:
Did they stop filming the new season of AliG?
mooshoo
11-03-06, 01:41 AM
http://www.myspace.com/borat
That's Borat's webpage. funnier than hell.
Can't wait to see this. (will be seeing it tonight)
nirvana_av
11-03-06, 04:06 PM
http://www.myspace.com/borat
That's Borat's webpage. funnier than hell.
That is a riot
ChrisWiggles
11-03-06, 04:49 PM
I love how Kazakhstan actually is trying to sue him, which is almost funnier than anything he could ever do. They have TV ads and they took out a big spread in the NYTimes to beef up Kazakhstan's image for tourism, which is really hilarious because the kinds of things they mention are pretty ridiculous, such as that Kazakhstan has the largest population of wolves in the world...
I've gotta go find that ad... :D
Couldn't find it...
However, here is a good link to everything Borat:
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/borat
FoxyMulder
11-03-06, 06:51 PM
I can't stand this guy...one unfunny dude.....he's on television tonight ...right about now in fact.....anyways just my opinion i'm sure others find him funny....watched Dodgeball tonight...now that i found funny.
I think the thing that some people don't get though most in this thread do is that when he walks into a gun store (to use one of a hundred examples) and asks the gun shop owner "what is best gun to kill a Jew" he is NOT being anti-semetic (nor anti-Arab) but is comedically actually giving a commentary on life. And the gun shop owners actually makes a recommendation. Borat BTW in real life is Jewish I believe.
Sometimes his show gets tiring and goes to far but the move seems to be getting nothing but rave reviews from all aisles, even conservatives and liberals.
NewNameGuy
11-03-06, 08:02 PM
The guy can be funny as heck for 5 minutes. But I'm thinking I'll find it getting old after not much than that. We'll see when the DVD comes out.
FredProgGH
11-03-06, 08:41 PM
That's the thing; Ali G is a great character but he still had trouble sustaining that for a full feature, even though there were some real laughs in it. I suspect this will be the same way but maybe not. I am anxious to see it but I'm not going to a theater for it.
Saw a 5:00 matinee today and loved it. This was the first time I've seen this guy perform and it was absolutely hilarious -- provoking the kind of laughter that makes your stomach hurt from laughing so hard. The theater was nearly filled too, I'm guessing it will easily rake in over $30 million this weekend.
Jay,
It did not get to be tiring or overdone after a while? I find some of his skits on HBO hilarious but it got worn out at times and become too childish. I'd like to see this but hope it's not a 5 minute gag for 2 hours.
It didn't feel too long, and judging by the laughter in the theater it certainly didn't seem like anybody was bored. Also, the movie clocks in at under 90 minutes which was probably a wise decision.
The road trip nature of the movie keeps it moving along with a new target every couple of minutes so there's always something fresh. Also, I should mention part of the fun was listening to how different people in the audience reacted to some of the things he said or did... something that just wouldn't be the same watching at home by yourself or with a few people.
By the way, there was an ad for the Reno 911 movie before this which really helped to set the mood. That's another show I've never seen before but the preview had me in stitches.
Stew4msu
11-04-06, 12:19 AM
I never really understood why people found him funny, I just don't see it :confused:
Ditto.
I watched the Ali G show once. Most annoying and unfunny show I'd seen in a long time. If this movie is anything like that show, I doubt I'd enjoy it.
ChrisWiggles
11-04-06, 12:28 AM
I can see how conservatives particularly would be pretty bothered by Borat.
FredProgGH
11-04-06, 01:00 AM
By the way, there was an ad for the Reno 911 movie before this which really helped to set the mood. That's another show I've never seen before but the preview had me in stitches.
Reno 911 might be the funniest thing on TV right now, besides South Park. I didn't know they were doing a feature.
mconstant
11-04-06, 08:48 AM
This question is to anybody that has seen it. I read somewhere that this movie will offend Animal Rights people. What would be so offensive in the movie towards Animal Rights people? Just IM me.
There's one dialogue exchange that might offend the animal rights folks, but it seems pretty mild...
He's madly in love with Pamela Sue Anderson. His buddy mentions that she attended a rally against cruelty to animals. Borat exclaims "Against?" And they both roll their eyes and snicker.
FoxyMulder
11-04-06, 11:08 AM
I'm not into politics but understand it and am intelligent enough to get points raised...i get what the guy is doing and actually understand it completely i just don't find it that amusing....the thing is we have had this on british television for years ( and others like him ) not to mention Ali G by the same guy and i just think it's a worn down concept that is tired and old.....so yeh i get it but no i don't find it that amusing.....maybe it's an age thing as i think younger viewers into the latest fashion and fads enjoy this type of thing more.....not that i'm old as i'm in my thirties but i just don't like the guy.....it's the same way certain people don't like certain actors.
spyder696969
11-04-06, 11:15 AM
Blech. If the movie is anything at all like his stint on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, it might be one of the worst shows ever. I get the feeling this is going to be another Napoloean Dynamite where you either love it or hate it. If references to Reno 911 are any indication of it's nature, it's definitely not for me.
nirvana_av
11-04-06, 11:41 AM
.....maybe it's an age thing as i think younger viewers into the latest fashion and fads enjoy this type of thing more.....not that i'm old as i'm in my thirties but i just don't like the guy.....it's the same way certain people don't like certain actors.
You can't be aging that fast. I'm in my mid forties and I find contemporary comedy to be just as funny and relevant as the comedy of my youth and even the comedy of my parent's and grandparent's youth, all of which I appreciate greatly.
FoxyMulder
11-04-06, 12:14 PM
You can't be aging that fast. I'm in my mid forties and I find contemporary comedy to be just as funny and relevant as the comedy of my youth and even the comedy of my parent's and grandparent's youth, all of which I appreciate greatly.
I love a lot of comedy i just don't like the smartass look at me being clever and taking the piss outta people comedy which i think Ali G and Borat does.....there's a lot of that type of comedy on british television...never been a fan of that type of comedy.
You can't be aging that fast. I'm in my mid forties and I find contemporary comedy to be just as funny and relevant as the comedy of my youth and even the comedy of my parent's and grandparent's youth, all of which I appreciate greatly.
That's twisted.... :D
I just looked at yesterday's boxoffice estimates at boxofficemojo and it's showing $9 million at only 837 theaters. Fox must be very, very happy.
RobertWood
11-04-06, 07:39 PM
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/760147/2/istockphoto_760147_punch_fists.jpg
Respect
NoThru22
11-04-06, 11:12 PM
I just looked at yesterday's boxoffice estimates at boxofficemojo and it's showing $9 million at only 837 theaters. Fox must be very, very happy.
Why would they be? It's making $10,000 per theater in 837 theaters when the Santa Clause is only making $1,500 per theater in 3,458. That sounds good at first glance but the person who decided to only put this in 837 theaters should be fired immediately.
FredProgGH
11-04-06, 11:55 PM
I'm not sure I agree- this is how movies used to open. Start small, let word of mouth build, go wider, repeat, bingo, you have a hit. If they had opened on 5,000 screens it would probably have tanked right out of the chute. I never understood the whole opening weekend numbers nonsense. The opening week is about nothing but hype and curiosity. It's whether a film survives into those crucial 3rd and 4th weeks and beyond that matters.
amillians
11-05-06, 10:29 AM
Fox was genius to pull back the opening and start small. This movie has a relatively limited built-in audience, and the small opening met those needs; generous word of mouth will spread the love. Hell, my 78 year old father is now talking about going to see it.
P.S. I don't think I've ever laughed as hard during the wrestling scene. And I like high brow humor.
We just saw the preview for this and I HAD to look for more, the quotes at the top of the thread had me in stitches, my wife was as bored with it as she ever has been with anything..
ehlarson
11-05-06, 07:51 PM
I can't say that I like it very much. I found it to be unclever, crude and boring. I suppose if you enjoyed Dumb and Dumber or Pet Detective this would be right for you.
Top 10 Films (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/05/AR2006110500728.html)
1. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan 26.4
2. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause 20.0
3. Flushed Away 19.1
4. Saw III 15.5
5. The Departed (5) 8.0
6. The Prestige (3) 7.8
7. Flags of Our Fathers4.5
8. Man of the Year (4) 3.8
9. Open Season (6) 3.1
10. The Queen (6) 3.0
Nachosgrande
11-06-06, 09:54 AM
Social commentary is very interesting. Borat is funny, but viewing people's honest reactions to his questions are at times shocking!
JohnR_IN_LA
11-06-06, 10:31 AM
We just saw the preview for this and I HAD to look for more, the quotes at the top of the thread had me in stitches, my wife was as bored with it as she ever has been with anything..
These quotes had you in stitches?
“There is one singer called Shakira… sorry I laugh because in Kazakhstan this word means vagina. For example, ‘Can I touch your shakira?’ or ‘I have seen your wife’s shakira, it hangs like the mouth of a tired dog.”
“In Kazhakstan we have many hobbies: disco dancing, archery, rape and table tennis.”
“In U.S. and A. they treat horses like we in Kazakhstan treat our women. They feed them two times a day. They have them sleep on straw in a small box. And for entertainment, they make them jump over fences while being whipped.”
“Kazakhstan is more civilised now. Women can now travel on inside of bus, and homosexuals no longer have to wear blue hat.”
I would feel pretty guilty supporting such artistic efforts with a ticket.
These quotes had you in stitches?
I would feel pretty guilty supporting such artistic efforts with a ticket.
Why would you feel guilty supporting the comedic exposure of backward people who actually agree with such ideas?
You're not confusing the point of the film with the views of it's moronic central character are you? This movie makes fools out of bigots, homophobes, misogynists, anti-semites, hell you pretty much name a ridiculous hate group, they're represented and mocked.
Do you feel guilty because you support such backward views, or just because you think the movie "has a potty mouth"?
spyder696969
11-06-06, 10:42 AM
I would feel pretty guilty supporting such artistic efforts with a ticket.
Calling it "artistic" is a pretty big stretch as well.
wmwilker
11-06-06, 11:15 AM
Calling it "artistic" is a pretty big stretch as well.
Define art :rolleyes:
Khyron, with mockumentaries there is always a group that fails to grasp the concept. ;)
spyder696969
11-06-06, 02:09 PM
Agree, oink, though some are genuinely funny and some are not...even within the same show or as the same character, regardless of whether or not you get the general idea.
I remember some of Chapplelle's stuff killed me, some was just OK. My all-time favorite was when he had a group of old people and asked them a bunch of questions about anything from sex, to religion, to politics. When asked about George Bush, one lady, in her late 80's replied very stoically, "I think he's doing a great job...for a retarded person." :) I laughed so hard that I cried for 20 minutes. Rewound it again and again and again. Some others might not think that's very funny, but I still crack up just thinking about it because it was a real answer from a real person, despite the forum it was presented in.
I don't mind the device used to make the film, but I do not care for the character Borat himself in any way. As others have said, to me, he gets stale very quickly and I find myself thinking, "OK, that's enough of that."
Daniel Hutnicki
11-06-06, 02:33 PM
the movie was supposed to open wide but when the studio started taking polls around the country, they found movie awarness of the Borat film only in the West and East Coast. The studio decided to play it safe and only open the East and West Coast and to open it further if the movie opened sucessfully. In order words, they were afraid the middle of the country wouldnt go see it without people promoting it by word of mouth.
lexa695
11-06-06, 02:50 PM
Khyron, with mockumentaries there is always a group that fails to grasp the concept. ;)
I like to think that I'm a pretty open minded adult, but a lot of his stuff I find to be just shock humor. I got over that in my late twenties when I stopped listening to Stern.
Eddie Horton
11-06-06, 03:22 PM
"It started to hang loose, like sleeve of wizard." I don't care who you are, that there is funny.
hitchfan
11-06-06, 05:35 PM
I'm a big fan of Da Ali G show and always crack up during the Borat segments, but I'm sorry to say that too much of the humor in this movie version fell flat for me. Too many staged scenes, too much reliance on visual shock for laughs instead of insightful yet improvised satire.
As far as many of the unstaged, "real people" segments go, there is an interesting thing that occurs when this kind of humor shifts from your living room (television) to a movie theater.
Making comedy hay on a televsion show out of a truly embarrassing moment for a real person is much more akin to a friend privately relating an embarrassing story about that person. Derisive humor on radio (Stern) takes it even further into a private realm instead of a public spectacle. Put that same moment on screen in a theater and the poor slob at the center of the joke has suddenly been dragged into an arena to be laughed at by a certain privileged elite sitting in the dark. It now becomes a public spectacle.
Both can garner laughter, of course, but the nature and quality of those laughs is very different.
I don't think any half hour of this movie is as honestly funny as one half hour episode of the television show.
When asked about George Bush, one lady, in her late 80's replied very stoically, "I think he's doing a great job...for a retarded person."
Thanx for helping some hot coffee shoot out of my nose... :D
In all seriousness, your point is well taken; humor is a strange phenomena, it seems that each of us has a unique funny-bone. ;)
I don't think any half hour of this movie is as honestly funny as one half hour episode of the television show.
Now, that is an interesting comment....
Are you, perhaps, saying that watching, in the privacy of one's home, a dvd of this movie would be a better experience than going to the theater?
hitchfan
11-06-06, 06:47 PM
Now, that is an interesting comment....
Are you, perhaps, saying that watching, in the privacy of one's home, a dvd of this movie a better experience than going to the theater?
Maybe so. But, in my opinion, the unintended consequences of going theatrical with the Borat joke will still exist in the DVD version.
For instance, the long set-up at the beginning of our road picture that appears to really take place in a desperately impoverished village (in Romania, actually). That's a set-up that would be far too expensive and time-consuming for the HBO television version of the Borat bit that usually takes up no more than 7 or 8 minutes of a half-hour timeslot.
But there's plenty of budget and time for it in the theatrical version. Therefore, for quite a chunk of film time at the very start of this movie comedy, we find ourselves sitting in a luxurious air-conditioned multi-plex movie theater with stadium seating and $5 popcorn laughing at the circumstances of life for real people living at near starvation levels of poverty. And I don't think that was the kind of satirical, self-examination point Cohen was making.
I realize this is perhaps way too serious an analysis of comedy, why not just laugh and move on, right? I know, I know. Hey, I laughed at some if it, too. But there was so much that I admired about Cohen's comedy genius on the televsion show that I felt was missing and too much cheap-shot derision for me to recognize much genius in what he had now chosen to show a large theatrical audience.
Having never seen his show, I don't have a point of reference for "Borat."
I have only seen the trailers.
And they do remind me of the humor behind D. Aykroyd and S. Martin's "Two Wild and Crazy Czech Guys."
Wherein, the humor was based upon their ignorance of America and its people...as well as vacuum cleaners the size of a VW bug.
RobertWood
11-06-06, 07:44 PM
I can relate to what hitchfan is saying.
Not necessarily within the context of this Borat movie yet because I haven't seen it.
But in general I can. I do wimp out when I see people being humiliated by a satirist when they don't deserve it and they are defenseless. I just don't have the stomach for that.
I can give you one current example of this which just makes me cringe. But you can never understand this unless you watch Don Imus' MSNBC show in the morning (the radio version wouldn't do it, has to be seen on the TV).
I love Imus. I laugh harder at Imus and Bernard McGuirk (especially McGuirk) than I do at just about anything in current pop culture (with maybe the one exception of South Park).
But. As much as Imus makes me laugh, he completely throws it all away with his cruelty to that overweight sportscaster. I cry for him every time it happens and I'm wishing I could be Imus' very next guest when it does because I would cut that old redneck to shreds and make him feel what it's like to be the object of ridicule like that.
I know the sportscaster is part of the act and nobody put a gun to his head to be there and blah blah blah. Makes no difference. It's still the cruelist thing I've ever seen.
When I see this Borat movie I hope to god I don't have to see anything like that.
JohnR_IN_LA
11-06-06, 08:29 PM
....Therefore, for quite a chunk of film time at the very start of this movie comedy, we find ourselves sitting in a luxurious air-conditioned multi-plex movie theater with stadium seating and $5 popcorn laughing at the circumstances of life for real people living at near starvation levels of poverty
I couldn't have said it this good. By the way, does Borat have much good to say about his culture? Many of these "backward" societies have strong communities of the type that America lost in the 40s.
srw1000
11-06-06, 08:36 PM
For instance, the long set-up at the beginning of our road picture that appears to really take place in a desperately impoverished village (in Romania, actually). That's a set-up that would be far too expensive and time-consuming for the HBO television version of the Borat bit that usually takes up no more than 7 or 8 minutes of a half-hour timeslot.
But there's plenty of budget and time for it in the theatrical version. Therefore, for quite a chunk of film time at the very start of this movie comedy, we find ourselves sitting in a luxurious air-conditioned multi-plex movie theater with stadium seating and $5 popcorn laughing at the circumstances of life for real people living at near starvation levels of poverty. And I don't think that was the kind of satirical, self-examination point Cohen was making.I was also thinking about this same type of thing for the last few days.
How many people in the theater are actually thinking along the lines of, "Man, those people from Kazakhstan sure are a bunch of stupid, ignorant bastards," thus actually creating it's own stereotype against a people that most Americans know absolutely nothing about?
Are audiences laughing at Borat, the people he's tricking, or the offensive stereotypes he's promoting?
What if he decided that for his next feature, he would take up the persona of a radical Muslim.
Would that be funny? How would audiences react?
Scott
b2bonez
11-06-06, 08:38 PM
Is this Cohen guy for people too young to know about Latka Gravas ??
b2b
srw1000
11-06-06, 08:47 PM
Is this Cohen guy for people too young to know about Latka Gravas ??
b2b{(Latka Gravas) + (Yakov Smirnoff) + (4 x Howard Stern)}/6 = Borat
RobertWood
11-06-06, 09:48 PM
I couldn't have said it this good. By the way, does Borat have much good to say about his culture? Many of these "backward" societies have strong communities of the type that America lost in the 40s.
Should we let John in on what Cohen's culture is?
No? Okay, well let me give John a hint anyway.
Psst, John. Sacha Baron Cohen's culture aint Kazakhstanian. :D
Oh and one more hint. If I know you from reading your posts for the last several years, and I think I do, Cohen's take on America is probably not too different from your own. :D
In other words, it's just an act, John:D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacha_Baron_Cohen
RobertWood
11-06-06, 09:55 PM
Check this out, John. :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TLF2d4_uRM
p.s. and remember that Cohen is Jewish.
JohnR_IN_LA
11-06-06, 10:20 PM
Hmmm i thought he was like that Russian "I Love America" comedian, which he kind of is ... but is a fake one. Double hmmm.
RobertWood
11-06-06, 10:31 PM
With him it's more like triple and quadruple hmmm. :D
If life has taught me anything after 1/2 a century, it is that the "human condition" is a tragedy and a folly, at best...
Which is why laughter (and love) is usually the best medicine.
Although I don't know SBC, I would be willing to bet that his comedy is about farce and not about hurting people.
I am so sick of hearing people uttering the dogma of Political Correctness I want to vomit (or pick-up a gun). ;)
spyder696969
11-07-06, 01:24 AM
I am so sick of hearing people uttering the dogma of Political Correctness I want to vomit (or pick-up a gun). ;)
That was not very PC of you...and I'm offended. ;)
JohnR_IN_LA
11-07-06, 01:43 AM
I am so sick of hearing people uttering the dogma of Political Correctness I want to vomit (or pick-up a gun). ;)
Hah :) .
Well Political Correctness is like manners for people you dont know:
It is often disingenious, but tends to help people remain on friendly terms.
RobertWood
11-07-06, 02:32 AM
Cohen, as himself, and in his own voice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0b_lTEgICw
RobertWood
11-07-06, 02:48 AM
Now. Let's contrast that to genuine insanity.
The only known video (I think) of Kaufman as Kaufman.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=D37Gnh-nluo
"Andy made himself the premise, and the rest of the world was the punchline"
-- Robin Williams
"Sometimes when you look Andy in the eyes, you get a feeling somebody else is driving"
-- David Letterman
Therefore, for quite a chunk of film time at the very start of this movie comedy, we find ourselves sitting in a luxurious air-conditioned multi-plex movie theater with stadium seating and $5 popcorn laughing at the circumstances of life for real people living at near starvation levels of poverty.
I realize this is perhaps way too serious an analysis of comedy...
Way too serious.
How many people in the theater are actually thinking along the lines of, "Man, those people from Kazakhstan sure are a bunch of stupid, ignorant bastards," thus actually creating it's own stereotype against a people that most Americans know absolutely nothing about?
If that is what the audience is thinking, then they are the stupid, ignorant ones.
Are audiences laughing at Borat, the people he's tricking, or the offensive stereotypes he's promoting?
I’d say all three. And I don’t have a problem with any of those. Under most, if not all circumstances, people sign a release allowing the producers to show that footage. If not, you would have lawsuits abound.
If this were a serious documentary about impoverished countries and people were laughing, then I’d say they have a warped sense of human decency. But this is comedy. For people to get overly analytical means you are missing the point. There is a time and place for everything. You are there to laugh, not carry the burden of the world on your shoulders - you can do that another day. :p
I am so sick of hearing people uttering the dogma of Political Correctness I want to vomit (or pick-up a gun). ;)
I’d say pick up a gun, but then that would be politically incorrect. Oh, what the hell, I’m packin.’ :D
Nachosgrande
11-07-06, 09:44 AM
I think this discussion is exactly what SBC is looking for.
I’d say pick up a gun, but then that would be politically incorrect. Oh, what the hell, I’m packin.’ :D
LOL!!
RobertWood
11-07-06, 03:52 PM
I think this discussion is exactly what SBC is looking for.
That may be what he's lookin for. But after your post all I'm looking for is a Taco Bell. And my Nazi doctor don't allow me to eat that stuff anymore.
Thanks a lot.
yankeeman
11-07-06, 06:58 PM
I could care less about analyzing what this movie is trying to say, or worrying about it being PC, THIS MOVIE IS FUNNY!!!!!
Its wild, wacky, wicked, sarcastic, clever, and totally different.
The theater was packed, and i dont think i have heard an audience laugh so much at any comedy i have been to. And that includes my wife and I, and we usually have different tastes from each other.
Now i go find a wedding bag, yes?
I know this is likely a hopeless plea, but everyone should just ignore the above post and wait until a moderator deletes it. You can't argue with this type of hate and should not allow it to destroy the thread.
Edit: post now removed.
spyder696969
11-07-06, 11:36 PM
Whether or not I agree with inky blacks' statements, I would defend to the death his right to express such an opinion. (Though I'm not certain that this is the most appropriate medium to do so.)
RobertWood
11-08-06, 12:15 AM
Now I'm all confused. Was there once a post between posts #100 and #101?
And that post was made to go away before I got to see it? And should I presume that it was
an expression in the vein of post #102?
If so, may I invite you to Hell's Kitchen, inky black? We talk about that all the time
in the Kitchen. And by "we" I mean people from every continent on Earth.
[edit]well to be accurate, I guess we haven't heard from Anarctica yet.
OK, now you all have me confused...
PooperScooper
11-08-06, 07:13 AM
Whether or not I agree with inky blacks' statements, I would defend to the death his right to express such an opinion. (Though I'm not certain that this is the most appropriate medium to do so.) Exactly. :)
larry
OK, now you all have me confused...
Me, too. But I will just observe, lest I say something "challenging". ;) :)
Well Political Correctness is like manners for people you dont know:
It is often disingenuous, but tends to help people remain on friendly terms.
Nice.
RobertWood
11-08-06, 12:10 PM
I think this discussion is exactly what SBC is looking for.
I see what you mean. :D
Borat: "Borat like people of U, S and A. They let Borat to push buttons" :D
yankeeman
11-08-06, 12:31 PM
I know this is likely a hopeless plea, but everyone should just ignore the above post and wait until a moderator deletes it. You can't argue with this type of hate and should not allow it to destroy the thread.
Edit: post now removed.
Now people are getting confused - just to let people know, my thread which is now above the post about it should be deleted is NOT the post that was being talked about, it was another post.
Just to clear that up.
Everyone just go see the movie and relax and enjoy and dont look deep into it, just take it for the crazy comedy it is.
spyder696969
11-08-06, 07:42 PM
Heh, heh, heh. I love confusion. :)
Hesitant
11-09-06, 01:52 AM
Re Having never seen his show, I don't have a point of reference for "Borat."
I have only seen the trailers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacha_Baron_Cohen
Started in Da Ali G Show, began in ~2000, so its not really 'new'. - ie had some time to work on it all.
The Russian reaction is fun - "Borat spoof film banned in Russia"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6130918.stm
Few more weeks wait in Australia :-(
RobertWood
11-09-06, 05:08 PM
Borat Movie Banned In Russia
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/11/09/061109105511.m1nxevpi.html
[edit]oh geez. sorry hesitant. I posted this and then read your thread.
IrmoGamecoq
11-10-06, 02:41 PM
I saw this last night (in a packed theatre no less) and I don't recall laughing so hard at a movie in a long, long, long time.
Sure, there were flat moments, most of which was the scripted stuff, but the parts where he is "on" were completely hilarious.
I don't even mind that the frat boys he skewered were from my alma mater too (btw, they're suing).
I've been a fan of Da Ali G show since I first saw it though. If you don't like that, no, you're not going to like this movie.
And, the viewing public that is "offended" by what he's doing, just don't get the joke. Cohen's act is social commentary that is right-on most of the time, and the "victims" generally hang themselves in the end anyway.
RobertWood
11-10-06, 08:16 PM
In the week since the release of Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit of Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Roman Vassilenko has been fielding a dozen or so tourism-related calls a day at his office at the Kazakhstan Embassy in Washington.
Which is a dozen or so more than he usually gets.
The embassy spokesman also continues to respond to questions from journalists in this way:
No, there is no annual "Running of the Jews" in Kazakhstan.
No, it is not possible to buy a Kazakh wife for 15 gallons of pesticide.
No, fermented horse urine is not a popular Kazakh refreshment.
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2006-11-09-borat_x.htm[/url]
http://www.dbstalk.com/images/smilies/!rolling.gif
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2006-11-09-borat_x.htm[/url]
http://www.dbstalk.com/images/smilies/!rolling.gif
IIRC, the Mongols considered fermented mare's milk to be the Budweiser of its day....probably where the "Kazakh" thingy came from. :cool:
Looks like the scene with the frat boys in the RV was real. Two of them have brought a law suit against 20th Century Fox.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/10/film.boratlawsuit.ap/index.html
spyder696969
11-11-06, 12:17 AM
Two of them have brought a law suit against 20th Century Fox.
Just what does a suit made of law look like, anyway?
Dave Mack
11-11-06, 02:50 AM
Dumbasses suing are only going to make it worse for themselves. They signed a waiver.
UNLESS this is their shot at their 15 minutes of fame and they will do the news program circuit.
Heavens no. So sick of people in this country becoming famous or even known for nothing whatsoever and then trying to pathetically milk that fame or infamy for every ounce they can...
off soapbox
I can feel some sympathy for them (NOT saying they deserve to win a lawsuit). At that age it's not common to get loaded and say what you think you are supposed to say and having a "Borat" there to encourage it would be all that would be required for many young people to go along. I love it when I see him skewer a racist or anti-semite but that's quite a bit different in my mind than getting a bunch of drunk college kids to say stupid things and then putting it in a movie and making them a laughing stock. I make this comment without having seen the movie yet so I don't know exactly what they said or how ridiculed he has made them.
Borat expands to 2,400 screens.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/10/AR2006111001853.html
I can feel some sympathy for them (NOT saying they deserve to win a lawsuit). At that age it's not common to get loaded and say what you think you are supposed to say and having a "Borat" there to encourage it would be all that would be required for many young people to go along. I love it when I see him skewer a racist or anti-semite but that's quite a bit different in my mind than getting a bunch of drunk college kids to say stupid things and then putting it in a movie and making them a laughing stock. I make this comment without having seen the movie yet so I don't know exactly what they said or how ridiculed he has made them.
How many times have we heard about politicians at rallies and movie stars (most recently, Mel Gibson) doing the same thing? Hell, how many times have most of us done the same thing? That behavior has no age boundary. I have no sympathy for a bunch of spoiled frat boys, who after the fact want to copout to being victims. Maybe being taken to task at a younger age they will learn from this and we won’t have to be entertained by more racists in the future, regardless of how much we “love it.”
Steve Bruzonsky
11-11-06, 11:05 AM
Looks like the scene with the frat boys in the RV was real. Two of them have brought a law suit against 20th Century Fox.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/10/film.boratlawsuit.ap/index.html
Sure, the dumbassed prejudiced racist stupid pigs (HA!) signed a waiver.
But only after the Borat folks misrepresented that they were shooting a documentary to be shown only in foreign countries, not the U.S. If it had been properly represented that the film would be shown commercially in the U.S.,
then there wouldn't have been any fraud, and the frat boys, driver's training instructor, elderly Jewish couple who ran the bed and breakfast, etc. would have been free to determine whether to participate in the movie for free or to be paid something for their "acting". Heck, Fox (owner of the movie) didn't even pay minimum Hollywood scale.
Based upon misrepresentation and fraud as noted above, the Waiver/Release signed will likely be held null and void in Court; with Borat/Fox liable for
compensatory damages (value of acting) plus quite possibly additional damages for fraud.
On the other hand, luving the movie, I feel part of what made it so good was the "actors" for the most part had no idea they were filming a commercial movie. They thought it was an el cheapo foreign documentary so they were pretty much themselves and not acting. But Borat?Fox didn't have to have the "actors" sign a waiver if that was their purpose. The purpose was to keep the costs of making the movie down - at $17 million.
Every mother and son in the movie will be getting an attorney to get paid a piece of the pie. And they should. I am readvertising in the yellow pages from Injury Law to "Borat Law". HA!
RobertWood
11-11-06, 12:04 PM
I am readvertising in the yellow pages from Injury Law to "Borat Law". HA!
That is hands down bar none the most honest admission I have ever heard from a lawyer. :D :D
Yellow Pages Ad (full page of course): "We Specialize In Car Wrecks, Plane Crashes, Asbestos, Breast Implants, Slips and Falls, Whiplash and Borat" :D
ThomasV555
11-11-06, 02:24 PM
I loved the movie, but feel a little guilty, b/c there was anti-semitism in the movie though in jest.
Also, the fact that a Jewish comedian, Cohen, was reinforcing stereotypes of Muslims, Kazakh's, was wrong too.
It was funny though and reflects highly on our society today that this is the type of comedy which appeals highly to the masses.
Steve Bruzonsky
11-11-06, 02:55 PM
I loved the movie, but feel a little guilty, b/c there was anti-semitism in the movie though in jest.
Also, the fact that a Jewish comedian, Cohen, was reinforcing stereotypes of Muslims, Kazakh's, was wrong too.
It was funny though and reflects highly on our society today that this is the type of comedy which appeals highly to the masses.
Here's a statement from the Anti-Defamation Leage re Borat:
http://www.adl.org/PresRele/Mise_00/4898_00.htm
The Anti=Defamation Leage notes that:
"When approaching this film, one has to understand that there is absolutely no intent on the part of the filmmakers to offend, and no malevolence on the part of Sacha Baron Cohen, who is himself proudly Jewish. We hope that everyone who chooses to see the film understands Mr. Cohen's comedic technique, which is to use humor to unmask the absurd and irrational side of anti-Semitism and other phobias born of ignorance and fear."
I am Jewish. My mom's side of our family had more than 30 killed in the Holocaust over in Poland.
I, too, had concern at the start of the movie about some of the anti-semetic comments. But then, when Borat stayed at a Jewish Bed and Breakfast home, and he was so scared of the elderly Jewish couple, thinking they had shape changed into cockroaches to come under the door and kill him, it was clear that Borat was telling us how stupid anti-semetism is.
You can't hide anti-semetism. It is and always has been, lately worse in the world as a whole. But you can address it head on and show how stupid it it.
I think that's what Borat has done.
The Anti-Defamation League goes on to express, in polite terms, their concerns about the movie as well, which I think were stated in a polite, appropriate manner:
"We are concerned, however, that one serious pitfall is that the audience may not always be sophisticated enough to get the joke, and that some may even find it reinforcing their bigotry.
While Mr. Cohen's brand of humor may be tasteless and even offensive to some, we understand that the intent is to dash stereotypes, not to perpetuate them. It is our hope that everyone in the audience will come away with an understanding that some types of comedy that work well on screen do not necessarily translate well in the real world -- especially when attempted on others through retelling or mimicry."
Now if Borat didn't include the Jewish Bed and Breakfast cockroach scene I might feel differently.
It might be nice if Borat at the conclusion would have a statement regarding his humor as intended to make fun of anti-semetism and other bigotry and prejudices and not perpetuate them.
ThomasV555
11-11-06, 04:07 PM
Alright, Steve, but what about reinforcing Muslim steretypes and this coming from a Jewish comedian.
He immediately has a credibility issue and trust me I have talked too many more conservative Muslims and Jews and they both participate.
As funny as it may be, I feel it is a social responsibility to discuss the subjects mocked in the movie.
Steve Bruzonsky
11-11-06, 04:32 PM
Alright, Steve, but what about reinforcing Muslim steretypes and this coming from a Jewish comedian.
He immediately has a credibility issue and trust me I have talked too many more conservative Muslims and Jews and they both participate.
As funny as it may be, I feel it is a social responsibility to discuss the subjects mocked in the movie.
I do not disagree with you. Surely Mr. Cohen (Borat) could have some real life discussion about this, as well as a "disclaimer" once the movie is over briefly discussing this.
Sure, the dumbassed prejudiced racist stupid pigs (HA!) signed a waiver.
But only after the Borat folks misrepresented that they were shooting a documentary to be shown only in foreign countries, not the U.S. If it had been properly represented that the film would be shown commercially in the U.S.,
then there wouldn't have been any fraud, and the frat boys, driver's training instructor, elderly Jewish couple who ran the bed and breakfast, etc. would have been free to determine whether to participate in the movie for free or to be paid something for their "acting". Heck, Fox (owner of the movie) didn't even pay minimum Hollywood scale.
Based upon misrepresentation and fraud as noted above, the Waiver/Release signed will likely be held null and void in Court; with Borat/Fox liable for
compensatory damages (value of acting) plus quite possibly additional damages for fraud.
As you well know, that is their side of the story and doesn’t necessarily represent fact as of this time. I’ll wait to hear Fox’s side before I call fraud.
RobertWood
11-11-06, 06:29 PM
I do not disagree with you. Surely Mr. Cohen (Borat) could have some real life discussion about this, as well as a "disclaimer" once the movie is over briefly discussing this.
Cohen has not appeared out of character for some time now. At least not on any mass media.
He was on the Tonight Show last week and pushing the stereotype buttons just as hard as ever. That performance is up on youtube if you want to see it.
Poor old Martha Stewart happened to be on with him and I'll bet it's now in her contract that she makes no more appearances on anything if Borat is present. :D
Martha Stewart??
I gotta go see this at YouTube. :D
RobertWood
11-12-06, 12:03 AM
http://youtube.com/watch?v=apaOdjbdDE8
spyder696969
11-12-06, 12:07 AM
Not that great, but far better than his appearance on Conan, which was painful to watch.
I think MS had a good time with the skit...
Steve Bruzonsky
11-12-06, 12:58 AM
Cohen has not appeared out of character for some time now. At least not on any mass media.
He was on the Tonight Show last week and pushing the stereotype buttons just as hard as ever. That performance is up on youtube if you want to see it.
Poor old Martha Stewart happened to be on with him and I'll bet it's now in her contract that she makes no more appearances on anything if Borat is present. :D
I saw it live on Jay Leno. They had a bed with I assume Martha Stewart stuff.
Botat jumped in, under the sheets, first took off his pants and you could see a bit of his leg, then he threw out his underpants but fortunately nothing shown there.
Steve Bruzonsky
11-12-06, 01:00 AM
As you well know, that is their side of the story and doesn’t necessarily represent fact as of this time. I’ll wait to hear Fox’s side before I call fraud.
The driver's training instructor, who hasn't sued, said that he was also told that they were doing a foreign documentary and that he signed their release at their request.
He recently was at a movie and saw himself in the trailer for the Borat movie - his first knowledge this was a motion picture coming to his American theater!!!
Steve Bruzonsky
11-12-06, 01:36 AM
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23374170-details/Borat+film+%2527tricked%2527+poor+village+actors/article.do
The whole village of Glod is also desirous of suing on this for the same reasons!!!
Everybody is trying to cash in. ;)
RobertWood
11-12-06, 06:14 AM
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23374170-details/Borat+film+%2527tricked%2527+poor+village+actors/article.do
The whole village of Glod is also desirous of suing on this for the same reasons!!!
That is absolutely the wackiest thing I've ever read. After about a dozen paragraphs I was feeling so sorry for these people that I'd done a complete about face on Baron Cohen and was thinking he shouldn't be doing what he's doing.
And then I get to this...
when local vice-mayor Petre Buzea was asked whether the people felt offended by Baron Cohen's film, he replied: 'They got paid so I am sure they are happy. These gipsies will even kill their own father for money.'
:D :D What a world.
Also, what's up with this...
Luca, who now refers to Baron Cohen as to the 'ugly, tall, moustachioed American man',
My god no matter what happens in the world we get blamed for it. Even if it aint us.
Will somebody please tell those gypsies that limey is making fun of us too. :D
spyder696969
11-12-06, 01:36 PM
Any lawsuit is going to rely heavily upon the judge's opinion of the "funniness" of the film itself. One that loves it is likely to dismiss all the claims entirely, while one that hates it is apt to say, "The film's made what, 20 million dollars? I award the plaintiffs $20,000,001." Just to prove a point.
RobertWood
11-12-06, 02:11 PM
Any lawsuit is going to rely heavily upon the judge's opinion of the "funniness" of the film itself. One that loves it is likely to dismiss all the claims entirely, while one that hates it is apt to say, "The film's made what, 20 million dollars? I award the plaintiffs $20,000,001." Just to prove a point.
Bruzonsky, it appears to me that spyder has just described the tort courts you practice in to be something akin to a Marx Brothers movie. :D
Are you going to take this lying down, counselor? :D
Steve Bruzonsky
11-12-06, 03:06 PM
Any lawsuit is going to rely heavily upon the judge's opinion of the "funniness" of the film itself. One that loves it is likely to dismiss all the claims entirely, while one that hates it is apt to say, "The film's made what, 20 million dollars? I award the plaintiffs $20,000,001." Just to prove a point.
An award is a matter of reasonable value, or quantum merit, for services, invalidating the release based upon misrepresentation/fraud, and perhaps some punitive or exemplary damages. But it is hard to prove fraud, it must be proved by "clear and convincing evidence", not just a "preponderance" (more probably than not), and I don't know that a Court would necessarily find fraud as opposed to Borat and company trying to do a sort of Candid Camera approach.
I loved the movie. But I had no idea that Borat and company had misrepresented to folks that the movie was only a foreign documentary to get them to waive payment or take a "measly" payment in exchange for their
"acting". And these "actors" apparently had no idea, either, that this would be a commercial comedy marketed in the U.S.A. and all over the world making tons of profit.
This could have been avoided if Borat and company had perhaps represented things a bit differently and truthfully - they were filming a movie, introduced them to the main actor - Sasha Baron Cohen (who they hadn't heard of), that they were not at liberty to discuss the subject or content of the movie any further, that they were asking folks to sign the Release if they wanted to participate, and if the movie was successful and earned a profit of $1 million or more then each "actor" would receive a further payment of $X. Maybe saying a movie as opposed to foreign documentary wouldn't have elicited as good "live" response from the some of the actors, I don't know. But I seriously think that they probably didn't even discuss this method of lining up actors with legal counsel before they did this. Which in a way is funny and humerous and stupid just like the movie. (I luv the movie, but of course don't luv the method of signing up the actors.)
Steve Bruzonsky
11-12-06, 03:11 PM
Bruzonsky, it appears to me that spyder has just described the tort courts you practice in to be something akin to a Marx Brothers movie. :D
Are you going to take this lying down, counselor? :D
Hell no. I will not lie down on this. Taking my cue from Borat himself,
as I'm writing this, I am s(h)itting on my toilet and with my hand you know what I will throw at him. :D
adpayne
11-13-06, 12:35 PM
I loved the movie. But I had no idea that Borat and company had misrepresented to folks that the movie was only a foreign documentary to get them to waive payment or take a "measly" payment in exchange for their
"acting". And these "actors" apparently had no idea, either, that this would be a commercial comedy marketed in the U.S.A. and all over the world making tons of profit.
How does this differ from his Ali G show that has been on for years? None of those participants knew beforehand he was an actor.
Did anyone even read the release forms before signing?
Art
Nachosgrande
11-13-06, 12:50 PM
How does this differ from his Ali G show that has been on for years? None of those participants knew beforehand he was an actor.
Did anyone even read the release forms before signing?
Art
Only difference is this film is making $$$$$$$$$$$$
Dave Mack
11-13-06, 11:22 PM
EXACTLY....!!!!
Payday!
RobertWood
11-14-06, 01:10 AM
The continuing saga of the lawsuit happy frat boys.
In his lawsuit, Seay contends that last October the "Borat" crew got him and his pals drunk and encouraged them to engage in "behavior that they otherwise would not have engaged in."
However
On his MySpace page, Seay lists "gettin' drunk and havin' a good time" as one of his interests, along with NASCAR and "pretty much any typical guy stuff." In an August poem to Seay, a friend writes, "Hey Hey Justin Seay, Drinks like a fish everyday!" Another buddy's message opens with the salutation, "Hi Drunk Friend!!!" But it is the photos of Seay that will probably draw the interest of lawyers defending the producers of the movie
Seay, it seems, is rarely photographed without alcohol in his hand, as seen in a series of eight MySpace photos reproduced here.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1113061borat1.html
adpayne
11-14-06, 10:21 AM
I used to feel sorry for people who liked this sort of "humor" and just dismissed them as either ignorant or weak - with a need to cover basic insecurities by attempting to feel superior to others. But, given the present world situation, I think many of those those who enjoy this type of thing are actually dangerous. The popularity of this film is frightening.
I have only one comment about this post:
I hope I'm not not the only to see the irony in it. ;)
Art
I used to feel sorry for people who liked this sort of "humor" and just dismissed them as either ignorant or weak - with a need to cover basic insecurities by attempting to feel superior to others. But, given the present world situation, I think many of those those who enjoy this type of thing are actually dangerous. The popularity of this film is frightening.
The fact is, America is still a racist nation and that is what Borat is trying to show, so I can’t fault him for letting us see who we really are. To continue down the road of denial is to continue to be ignorant. However, I don’t think that is ever going to change.
Am I the only one that finds it disturbing that those frat boys don’t want to be seen as racist in America, yet don’t have a problem with the rest of the world seeing them in that light? Take a long look at them, because they represent how a great many people in this country think. They don’t give a rats a$$ what the rest of the world thinks, which is highly arrogant and leads to more hatred. They want to be politically correct and be seen as goody two-shoes in America, when they are nothing but phonies. This, among other things, is what we have become as a country that I find frightening and dangerous.
spyder696969
11-14-06, 11:03 AM
They don’t give a rats a$$ what the rest of the world thinks, which is highly arrogant and leads to more hatred. They want to be politically correct and be seen as goody two-shoes in America, when they are nothing but phonies. This, among other things, is what we have become as a country that I find frightening and dangerous.
Are you saying that frat boys shouldn't be allowed to emulate the president? ;)
RobertWood
11-14-06, 11:35 AM
Chill main mun. My man Borat is just avin wicked wiv yous.
http://www.mackers.com/alig/alig.gif
RobertWood
11-14-06, 11:50 AM
You may think the dude is dangerous. You may think he's twisted and sick.
But I'm here to tell you that anybody who don't laugh out loud at this was born without a funny bone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwEd_tcKBfU
spyder696969
11-14-06, 01:07 PM
I'm here to tell you that anybody who don't laugh out loud at this was born without a funny bone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwEd_tcKBfU
"...'im know nut-tings about da helection..."
Anyone that takes it to politicians gets applause from me. THAT bit was pretty damn funny. :D
Nachosgrande
11-14-06, 01:14 PM
The fact is, America is still a racist nation and that is what Borat is trying to show, so I can’t fault him for letting us see who we really are. To continue down the road of denial is to continue to be ignorant. However, I don’t think that is ever going to change.
Am I the only one that finds it disturbing that those frat boys don’t want to be seen as racist in America, yet don’t have a problem with the rest of the world seeing them in that light? Take a long look at them, because they represent how a great many people in this country think. They don’t give a rats a$$ what the rest of the world thinks, which is highly arrogant and leads to more hatred. They want to be politically correct and be seen as goody two-shoes in America, when they are nothing but phonies. This, among other things, is what we have become as a country that I find frightening and dangerous.
I believe racism is more an issue in Europe, where there is much more segregation. Go into any major city public school and you will see integration, children off all ethnicities.
nirvana_av
11-14-06, 01:20 PM
"...'im know nut-tings about da helection..."
Anyone that takes it to politicians gets applause from me. THAT bit was pretty damn funny. :D
Pat Buchanan hung in there pretty well. I wonder when he figured out "the bit".
BLTs and Mustard....way funny. :D
Nachosgrande
11-14-06, 02:53 PM
Anyone catch the Midnight Cowboy scene in the movie?
simontan
11-14-06, 06:33 PM
While I have no qualms about the frat boys and other US targets, I do feel a little bad for the Romanian villagers that are now seeking an apology (or is it money?). I had thought that the segments in Romania were staged like the Pam Anderson bit. I really don't see why the producers would have felt a need to misrepresent what they were filming there - it's not as though any 'authenticity' was needed for those scenes since it was never any secret that the film was not really on location in Kazakhstan. In fact, why not just use a studio set for those particular scenes? I've been to poor and isolated places like that village, and it just seems meanspirited and unnececessary to get the locals to participate in something they don't understand by throwing some dollars their way.
At that age it's not common to get loaded and say what you think you are supposed to say and having a "Borat" there to encourage it would be all that would be required for many young people to go along. I love it when I see him skewer a racist or anti-semite but that's quite a bit different in my mind than getting a bunch of drunk college kids to say stupid things and then putting it in a movie and making them a laughing stock.
Wow, you're implying that anti-semites and racists are bad people, but alcoholics are just innocent fun guys. I know that wasn't your intention, but think about it a little. Constant binge drinking at any age is at best unhealthy and at worst dangerous. A little humiliation is letting fools like that off easy. Just be glad someone was there to keep one of them from driving the RV like that. :rolleyes:
I thought the movie rocked by the way, and that the "victims" were idiots. It was like "reality" TV (which is always fake anyway) only actually funny...
Hesitant
11-14-06, 11:44 PM
Any news on a dvd release date?
Or a good guess?
Thanks
FredProgGH
11-14-06, 11:49 PM
Well, given that's it's just now picking up steam in the theaters, not for a while :D
so I saw borat this weekend and it was wicked funny. I was laughing my ass off. But there were times when it did go a bit too far and it wasn't funny anymore just digusting and crude. And I read yesterday online that the two frat boys who were making all those racist ans sexist remarks are suing the movie studio. Although they said they were drunk, I believe that they really feel that way and they shouldn't blame their ignorance on alcohol or trickery....but basically Borat was a great movie.
spyder696969
11-15-06, 12:44 PM
Although they said they were drunk, I believe that they really feel that way and they shouldn't blame their ignorance on alcohol or trickery...
C'mon, if saying drinking is the only reason that you would repeatedly send completely felonious and inappropriate sexual advances to young boys, why shouldn't it be an excuse for some kids to say a few ignorant things? ;)
archiguy
11-15-06, 02:18 PM
C'mon, if saying drinking is the only reason that you would repeatedly send completely felonious and inappropriate sexual advances to young boys, why shouldn't it be an excuse for some kids to say a few ignorant things? ;)
Ummmm, because that excuse was a bald-faced lie by a certified creep...?
spyder696969
11-15-06, 05:53 PM
Now, now, don't forget that he was a victim! Just like Rush Limbaugh when he got caught with all those drugs. Don't you know that everyone in today's society is a victim of something when they get caught? ;)
OT, how is the PQ of the movie? Did they make it look like it was shot as a typical documentary or is it more polished?
FoxyMulder
11-15-06, 07:39 PM
I believe racism is more an issue in Europe, where there is much more segregation. Go into any major city public school and you will see integration, children off all ethnicities.
Racism is a worldwide problem but no more in Europe than America....as for segregation where does this happen in Europe ?
JohnR_IN_LA
11-15-06, 08:00 PM
You may think the dude is dangerous. You may think he's twisted and sick.
But I'm here to tell you that anybody who don't laugh out loud at this was born without a funny bone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwEd_tcKBfU
But he mimicks nothing very well: the outfit, the accent, the mannerisms, all seem foriegn and contrived. They dont remind me of anything in real life.
So he throws all these attempts at humour at you, hoping one of them will make you laugh. And when that doesnt work, he makes a crude sex comment.
I thought Pat "I had a little puff" was great though :)
RobertWood
11-15-06, 08:42 PM
But he mimicks nothing very well: the outfit, the accent, the mannerisms, all seem foriegn and contrived. They dont remind me of anything in real life.
So he throws all these attempts at humour at you, hoping one of them will make you laugh. And when that doesnt work, he makes a crude sex comment.
I thought Pat "I had a little puff" was great though :)
But see none of that matters. It's the "event" of it.
Seeing him in that getup and using that speech and those gestures while talking to Pat Buchanan is the "event".
No different than when I see Jerry Lewis. All Lewis has to do is show up and for me that's the "event". I'm always utterly compelled to watch Lewis and form an opinion about what it is I've seen.
Same as you and Baron Cohen. :D
Steve Bruzonsky
11-15-06, 08:45 PM
Borat has been seen here in Arizona:
Borat speaking to the Pima County Republicans:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67r7Q0lG98c
And singing at the Country West bar on Ruthrauff Road in Tucson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M8rWBa0NHY
RobertWood
11-15-06, 08:52 PM
Actually there's more to it than that.
When he said "BLT's" and then got Buchanan to repeat it, he successfully established in the audience's minds that the entirety of the present human condition is little more than a joke.
That's no small accomplishment, John.
JohnR_IN_LA
11-15-06, 11:14 PM
Well obviously Cohen has some humor talent, i dont want to knock him too much; but your not giving Pat enough credit here, he plays it straight "Pat", but gives Cohen enough space so his jokes work.
Theres one pro in that room, and one up-and-coming amateur :)
When he said "BLT's" and then got Buchanan to repeat it, he successfully established in the audience's minds that the entirety of the present human condition is little more than a joke.
An excellent and deep observation, Bob.
You're my nominee for "AVS VIP Member of the Month" for November. ;)
Andrikos
11-16-06, 10:37 AM
And singing at the Country West bar on Ruthrauff Road in Tucson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M8rWBa0NHY
I remember watching this on HBO and I don't think I've ever been more embarrassed in my life...
Ruthrauff eh? I had no idea. Well, if you happen to pass by (fast) you'll understand... Yeeeeeeehaaaaaaaa! :(
Nachosgrande
11-16-06, 11:17 AM
Racism is a worldwide problem but no more in Europe than America....as for segregation where does this happen in Europe ?
Do some searches on 'Race Riots France". And there was an expose on Realsports around the time of the World Cup where officials were concerned about racial slurs sung and chanted by the crowds against black soccer players. This was a problem in the Italian soccer leagues and several other European countries. Several African soccer players were demonstrably upset about ethnic slurs.
Do some searches on 'Race Riots France". And there was an expose on Realsports around the time of the World Cup where officials were concerned about racial slurs sung and chanted by the crowds against black soccer players. This was a problem in the Italian soccer leagues and several other European countries. Several African soccer players were demonstrably upset about ethnic slurs.I always thought European soccer matches were on par with KKK rallies in the U.S. and A. ;)
Nachosgrande
11-16-06, 12:15 PM
Yeah except they're 100,000 large!
spyder696969
11-16-06, 01:13 PM
And 100,000 times as boring...
GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!! = wake up everyone, something finally just happened.
ThomasV555
11-16-06, 05:48 PM
The thing is I laugh at Borat and immediately understand that it's wrong, but am scare that others do not. I feel it reinforces stereotypes like how we consider France a bunch of wimps when they were right about Iraq the whole time, yet we still mock them regularly.
Then I watch Southpark where they ridicule a kid fighting cancer and the all-healing power of sports AKA Hope.
I don't feel so bad laughing at Southpark.. why not.
spyder696969
11-16-06, 07:12 PM
Shutdown in 3...2...1...
Hesitant
11-16-06, 11:03 PM
Sorry if its an old link, 3 page Sacha Baron Cohen interview.
No details on early work with Borat.
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/sacha_baron_cohen_the_real_borat_finally_speaks
Steve Bruzonsky
11-19-06, 12:47 AM
More about the lawsuits and the release form:
http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=242212>1=7701&mpc=2
RobertWood
11-19-06, 11:21 AM
More about the lawsuits and the release form:
http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=242212>1=7701&mpc=2
I'm gonna wait for the DVD on this one so I don't have the advantage of actually having seen the movie when trying to get a handle on all this lawsuit stuff. But I am getting snippets from the media coverage of the "lawsuit frenzy".
One of the new high profile "Borat plaintiffs" is now the woman in Birmingham, Alabama who billed herself as as the "etiquette teacher". Those who've seen the movie will understand better what it's all about, but from the movie clips I've seen, apparently Borat embarrased the poor etiquette woman and her entire dinner party unmercifully. Even brought his feces to the dinner table. :D
The etiquette woman was on the weekend Today Show with her lawyer Gloria Steinhem yesterday. And all I can say is this. When someone bills herself as an "etiquette teacher", it sure doesn't help her case when she goes on television and comes off looking and acting like Elly Mae Clampett.
Surely The Book of Etiquette teaches us not to use double negatives. :D
p.s. If you get her as your client, Steve, you will be advised to strike me from the jury. :D
Steve Bruzonsky
11-19-06, 12:43 PM
I'm gonna wait for the DVD on this one so I don't have the advantage of actually having seen the movie when trying to get a handle on all this lawsuit stuff. But I am getting snippets from the media coverage of the "lawsuit frenzy".
One of the new high profile "Borat plaintiffs" is now the woman in Birmingham, Alabama who billed herself as as the "etiquette teacher". Those who've seen the movie will understand better what it's all about, but from the movie clips I've seen, apparently Borat embarrased the poor etiquette woman and her entire dinner party unmercifully. Even brought his feces to the dinner table. :D
The etiquette woman was on the weekend Today Show with her lawyer Gloria Steinhem yesterday. And all I can say is this. When someone bills herself as an "etiquette teacher", it sure doesn't help her case when she goes on television and comes off looking and acting like Elly Mae Clampett.
Surely The Book of Etiquette teaches us not to use double negatives. :D
p.s. If you get her as your client, Steve, you will be advised to strike me from the jury. :D
Robert, you have no "etiquette"
spyder696969
11-19-06, 01:37 PM
Surely The Book of Etiquette teaches us not to use double negatives. :D
I didn't never see nobody doing nothing but not that they were not it wouldn't not never offend me. ;)
HTCrazy
03-07-07, 08:35 AM
I don't remember in the 20 years seeing a movie that actually made me horse from laughing so much. I kept hearing from everyone that saw it in the theaters how hilarious it was - and surprisingly from people who had little to no tolerance for "crude" humor. I figured it had to be pretty clever and deftly done to pull that off. Needless to say I was as prescient as usual. :D
That old cliche about laughing til your sides hurt literally applied here. My sides did hurt. And the four of us watching laughed so hard all the way through the first half that I'm sure we missed quite a few follow up lines - second watching is tonight. One of those in the group saw it before in the theater but was laughing just as hard the rest who hadn't seen it before.
It's essentially Candid Camera on steroids or Jackass with a brain. Yes it does try to have its own setup and fictional story arc to it which actually goes against the grain. It seems on the one hand to ask to you suspend belief for the story line while laughing at people on the screen that do the same. The story line development has its moments, but its much funnier when Borat is interacting with people and doing his candid camera thing.
Like with all great comedies I can think of, it slows down in the second half a bit - but its still way too short, even with the extra scenes. Actually I did find even more scenes not on the DVD on youtube.com. In any case, I could watch this thing for 3 hours if my lungs could take it - it ended way too soon.
Is this anyone elses new favorite comedy?
PooperScooper
03-07-07, 09:01 AM
threads merged.
larry
Gary*w*
03-07-07, 09:12 AM
I don't remember in the 20 years seeing a movie that actually made me horse from laughing so much. I kept hearing from everyone that saw it in the theaters how hilarious it was - and surprisingly from people who had little to no tolerance for "crude" humor. I figured it had to be pretty clever and deftly done to pull that off. Needless to say I was as prescient as usual. :D
That old cliche about laughing til your sides hurt literally applied here. My sides did hurt. And the four of us watching laughed so hard all the way through the first half that I'm sure we missed quite a few follow up lines - second watching is tonight. One of those in the group saw it before in the theater but was laughing just as hard the rest who hadn't seen it before.
It's essentially Candid Camera on steroids or Jackass with a brain. Yes it does try to have its own setup and fictional story arc to it which actually goes against the grain. It seems on the one hand to ask to you suspend belief for the story line while laughing at people on the screen that do the same. The story line development has its moments, but its much funnier when Borat is interacting with people and doing his candid camera thing.
Like with all great comedies I can think of, it slows down in the second half a bit - but its still way too short, even with the extra scenes. Actually I did find even more scenes not on the DVD on youtube.com. In any case, I could watch this thing for 3 hours if my lungs could take it - it ended way too soon.
Is this anyone elses new favorite comedy?
Mine :)
UMDMatt
03-07-07, 09:21 AM
One of the few comedies that was as funny, or funnier, than I expected going in. The entire movie is a gag and I really don't think there's a three second span where something funny isn't happening. Looking forward to picking up this DVD.
Borat at yardsale: "Show me your treasures Gypsy," freaking hilarious!
RobertWood
03-07-07, 03:22 PM
I just rented it. It's already funny and I haven't even started watching it.
They intentionally made the DVD look just like a bootleg disk.
I haven't seen anything like that since Abbie Hoffman's "Steal This Book". :D
PainterPaul
03-11-07, 03:24 AM
A let down for the wife and I, but especially for me after all the rave reviews here. I really thought this was going to be funny, but it wasn't really. I'd say Team America was funnier, but I didn't find TA very funny either. Should have rented.
I think I'm about half way through. I am really stunned at my experience so far based on all the raves. There have been a few very good laughs but those have been over shadowed by the constant gross outs that are the type of stuff I might have found funny at the age of 10 and I don't think I would have found it funny then either. I just got to the point where he and his manager were fighting naked in the hotel room and had enough for the night and turned it off it was so gross. If it had been two good looking women it would be another story.
Does it get better or worse? I am really disappointed because when he stays away from his obsession with "poop" and mens "pussys" he can be incredibly funny. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind obscene humor. Just not infantile obscene humor. Major disappointment so far.
The rodeo scene was Hilarious. That is my type of humor.
This movie experience really helps when you are watching it with many people. I went with 2 other people (37 years old, 40 and 40). We went to dinner first and had a few drinks, plus had a couple drinks in the theater (dont tell anyone :D )
All in all, I know I would not have enjoyed this movie as much by myself as I did with a theater 1/4 full plus a good buzz.
You really have to be in the right mood for this one.
I did wake up the next day wondering if I experience some sort of weird gay porn the next day though ( :confused: )
Ron Temple
03-11-07, 02:23 PM
I think I'm about half way through. I am really stunned at my experience so far based on all the raves. There have been a few very good laughs but those have been over shadowed by the constant gross outs that are the type of stuff I might have found funny at the age of 10 and I don't think I would have found it funny then either. I just got to the point where he and his manager were fighting naked in the hotel room and had enough for the night and turned it off it was so gross. If it had been two good looking women it would be another story.
Does it get better or worse? I am really disappointed because when he stays away from his obsession with "poop" and mens "pussys" he can be incredibly funny. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind obscene humor. Just not infantile obscene humor. Major disappointment so far.
The rodeo scene was Hilarious. That is my type of humor.The naked wrestling was either the high point or low point depending on your perspective. I'm with you. Yes, I laughed here and there, but overall I'm just not that big a fan of the humor or the character.
NetworkTV
03-11-07, 02:24 PM
I did wake up the next day wondering if I experience some sort of weird gay porn the next day though ( :confused: )
As long as you didn't find any mysterious piercings or tattoos of corporate logos..
I've moved this post from the "Cover Art" thread.
Okay, watched this last night. I guess I just don't get the big deal about this movie. A 'behind the scenes' featurette would have been nice, and might have offered some insight as to who in the film was 'in' on the 'joke', and who wasn't. As it is, it's just boringly stupid from one end to the other.
RobertWood
03-11-07, 02:59 PM
I started watching it a while ago. I just got to the end of the rodeo sequence.
Question? When the horse with the rider on it carrying the American flag is seen behind Borat backing up until the horse, rider and flag all take a fall, was that done on purpose as part of the act?
Or did Borat's version of the "National Anthem" so stupefy the horse and rider that it actually made them lose their balance?
p.s. I hope it doesn't make me look like an idiot by saying this is a sincere question. If it does then please lie to me and pretend that I'm not.
I started watching it a while ago. I just got to the end of the rodeo sequence.
Question? When the horse with the rider on it carrying the American flag is seen behind Borat backing up until the horse, rider and flag all take a fall, was that done on purpose as part of the act?
Or did Borat's version of the "National Anthem" so stupefy the horse and rider that it actually made them lose their balance?
p.s. I hope it doesn't make me look like an idiot by saying this is a sincere question. If it does then please lie to me and pretend that I'm not.
Robert, you're hitting on what I was refering to in my post. How much of the show is honest reactions to the Borat character? And, how much is simply staged. Most of the movie reeks of being staged to me. Which makes the film even less funny than I think it already is.
HTCrazy
03-11-07, 03:29 PM
There have been a few very good laughs but those have been over shadowed by the constant gross outs that are the type of stuff I might have found funny at the age of 10 and I don't think I would have found it funny then either.
For anyone that actually spent time assuming a character to put people on and get their reactions recreationally as I did as a kid, you'll appreciate it for how really masterful this guy is at it. I love the way he hunts for words (as a foreigner would) and finally comes up with a shockingly different meaning while the person is already responding to what they thought he meant.
For example: (paraphrasing) I'm a looking for something, ah, eh, for to make woman invite me into her uh, eh, um (person starts replying assuming he means house or apartment) and he says...vagin. We were roaring over that one.
The profanity isn't there for shock value as much as it is to see how much he can get away with and have the person still believe his character and take him as an innocent. Obviously the wrestling scene with the fat guy IS there for shock value, but I don't think it adds in the least to the movie.
When you see the rascism and profanity as mainly a device to push his assumed characters credibility to the limit with his "victims" is when you really get and admire the humor and the sheer talent involved.
aviman33
03-11-07, 03:29 PM
I heard his Public Radio interview. Non of the movie was staged with the exception of Borat and his producer. The humor is that he set up situations for people to make fools of themselves. Thats why he was sued by almost everyone in the film. Just like the Howard Stern show, people are requested to sign releases before they actually appear.
Jon
I heard his Public Radio interview. Non of the movie was staged with the exception of Borat and his producer. The humor is that he set up situations for people to make fools of themselves. Thats why he was sued by almost everyone in the film. Just like the Howard Stern show, people are requested to sign releases before they actually appear.
Jon
I still don't think I buy this. Some people in the film obviously aren't in on the joke. But the fact that you know there is someone there with a camera tells you that many of these people know what's up. Or at the very least, guess it. Even in the extras on the DVD, there is a "Newscast" about the event at the Rodeo. The newscaster's mouth doesn't even sync up to what she is saying. It's like watching a dubbed foriegn language film.
RobertWood
03-11-07, 04:10 PM
My honest opinion of this thing is that if we could dig up Groucho Marx' bones, connect him to a defumabrilator, start his heart to breathing again, then show him the Borat moviefilm;
he would get up off the gurney and say: "movie humor is alive and well and it's name is Borat".
He even looks like him too. The one difference is Borat has a whole lots more Margaret Dumonts in his movie than Groucho did.
RobertWood
03-11-07, 04:19 PM
Afterthought: Another difference, and one aspect which gives Groucho the advantage, is that Groucho had several sidekicks to play off of but Borat has only the one.
Because some of the funniest scenes in the movie are scenes with Borat and Azamat doing their thing.
The Azamat character is so funny that all he has to do is get in front of the camera.
Azamat for me is like what the midget was for Cartman (and I know that makes me a hypocrite because I'm the one who was moved by Station Agent. Go figure). :D
Ah, the Marx Bros....you have great taste, Bob.
I have all of their classic movies on DVD...can't help but smile while watching the boys work their schtick.
A sanity pill on a dark day to be sure. ;)
RobertWood
03-11-07, 06:57 PM
I hadn't finished watching the film before, oink. Now I have and I have only one question.
Do you think that last scene where he assaulted Pamela Anderson could really have been played for real and not staged? The problem I have with that is that he coulda got shot by those security cops or something. So if it was real the boy must have some big cajones on him (I don't know for sure only because when they kept showing his cajones in the middle of the movie I turned my head away so I wouldn't have to look at em. :D)
RobertWood
03-11-07, 08:11 PM
From IMDB...
When Sacha Baron Cohen speaks Kazakh it is mostly Hebrew disguised by a heavy fake Eastern European accent. The Hebrew is quite understandable and contains many in-jokes.
The police were called on Sacha Baron Cohen 91 times during the production of this film.
p.s. the DVD deleted scenes includes footage of one of those encounters with the cops.
Andrikos
03-11-07, 09:22 PM
I hadn't finished watching the film before, oink. Now I have and I have only one question.
Do you think that last scene where he assaulted Pamela Anderson could really have been played for real and not staged? The problem I have with that is that he coulda got shot by those security cops or something. So if it was real the boy must have some big cajones on him (I don't know for sure only because when they kept showing his cajones in the middle of the movie I turned my head away so I wouldn't have to look at em. :D)
it was staged
RobertWood
03-11-07, 09:37 PM
it was staged
But the part where the cops apprehended him and wrestled him to the ground sure looked real. And so did Pam Anderson's conversation with him at the autograph signing table.
I'm just not sure she's a good enough actress to make that look so real.
But Rutgar makes a very good observation too. We're overlooking the fact that, as just one example of many, there was a cameraman in the RV during the frat boy sequence.
So what we do know is the frat boys would have of course wanted to know what the cameraman was all about. But what we don't know is what they were told as a result of that. And how that influenced what we saw on the screen.
yankeeman
03-11-07, 10:19 PM
I dont care about all the speculation over what was real and what was staged, all i know is that it was funny as hell.
After all, what is a regular comedy movie but a totally scripted 100% staged movie, so who cares if some of this movie was staged, it was more real than all the other comedies you see.
Is good, yes??????
RobertWood
03-12-07, 12:37 AM
yes
[edit]It's now several hours after I acknowledged your post with that "yes", Yankeeman.
And I don't think that word is enough.
Yes, it is good. But something else needs to be said. I don't believe I have ever encountered an angrier "comedian" than this person. It's just so obvious to me that Baron Cohen's humor is like the steam that comes off a teapot which is boiling with rage.
I would be willing to bet you that if you could be a fly on the wall of his youth that you would be witnessing the life of a soul which is being tortured by anti-semitism or bullying or both.
What his humor is doing now is lashing out at his surroundings and paying them back for all that hurt.
I became convinced a long time ago that the best humor comes from the worst pain.
And if Baron Cohen is doing anything he's confirming that for me.
Can't answer your ?, Bob.
Haven't popped it into my player yet. :o
RobertWood
03-12-07, 02:17 AM
Once you do give me your opinion on it, oink.
Brent Madden
03-12-07, 02:51 AM
I dont care about all the speculation over what was real and what was staged, all i know is that it was funny as hell.
After all, what is a regular comedy movie but a totally scripted 100% staged movie, so who cares if some of this movie was staged, it was more real than all the other comedies you see