Borat

[Kiriyama]

Jagshemash!

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/borat/trailer/

[Tages]

*Sings*

Kazakhstan is greatest country in the world,
All other countries are run by little girls!
Kazakhstan has best potassium,
Surrounding countries have inferior potassium,
Kazakhstan is greatest country in the world!

I saw a sneak preview of "Borat" last night. Hilarious, though with more naked men than I would have liked.

[Davideaux]

This is movie film I want most to see in my lifetime.

[SoulOnIce]

I can't believe there isn't a thread yet.

Is this movie being talked about in the U.S?

A lot of people are talking about here in Toronto.

[Dennis K]

"My wife is dead. High five!"

[Shellhead]

There has been some hype on tv. I plan on ignoring it, because it looks like a stupid and offensive mockery of immigrants that will somehow dominate popular culture for the next few months. I predict that Borat imitations will become as common as "Show me the money!" jokes were in 1998. Yawn.

[HomerJay]

I plan on ignoring it, because it looks like a stupid and offensive mockery of immigrants that will somehow dominate popular culture for the next few months.
"Juuuust a bit outside."

[monkeysweat]

...it looks like a stupid and offensive mockery of immigrants
Speaking as an immigrant... I can clearly see it's not that.

[HomerJay]

Speaking as an immigrant... I can clearly see it's not that.
Hence my inferrence that Shell is missing the mark on this.

[SoulOnIce]

There has been some hype on tv. I plan on ignoring it, because it looks like a stupid and offensive mockery of immigrants that will somehow dominate popular culture for the next few months. I predict that Borat imitations will become as common as "Show me the money!" jokes were in 1998. Yawn.

The irony being it ends up making a mockery of Americans.

[Davideaux]

I predict that Borat imitations will become as common as "Show me the money!" jokes were in 1998.

Here I think you are correct. It will be annoying to hear all the Borat imitations but that won't keep me from seeing what I think will be a great movie.

[dougputhoff]

That movie disturbs me.

I say Borat looks like Barry Williams, the guy who played Greg on The Brady Bunch.

[Tobias March]

Someone today told me it was directed by Larry Charles, who was a writer on Seinfeld. Sacha Baron Cohen appeared in Curb Your Enthusiasm with Larry David.

Is Borat like the end of a long series of dominoes that started rolling with Seinfeld? :p

[Jared]

I saw the clip of him Borat opening SNL a week ago. Probably the funniest thing that show has had since the Natalie Portman gangsta rap.

It does make fun of foreign cultures in some ways, particularly those that hate jews and give AK-47s to kids, but alot of the humor is in the way people react this this guy saying the most outrageous things.

[Ontir]

I saw it today. What's funny, is extremely so. The rest is either dull, or just cruel. I don't think it was worth the $8.50 matinee price. This one will be fine in 2nd run, or on DVD.

[J. Robb]

I didn't think it deserves some of the rave reviews it's getting, but it was definitely pretty funny. Some pretty disturbing nudity, though...

[Ontir]

I'm gay, and that's some DISTURBING nudity!

[Brian Cronin]

I liked it, although there were certainly three significant drawbacks:

1. There was a significant lag near the end of the movie, which the film addresses by throwing in an entirely different type of humor into the film, apparently the jolt the audience back into the movie. It works, I think, but it's probably better to not GET to that point.

2. A few of the bits were quite literally done already on the HBO TV program.

3. A NUMBER of the bits were done, word for word, on the many TV appearances Borat has made recently, like Letterman and SNL. This definitely affects the folks who have caught those appearances, but I don't think that's a real drawback of the film itself, but rather the marketing. As in, how about coming up with some NEW jokes for the TV appearances?

Anyhow, it was a funny movie (I guess I could add 4. Some of the jokes were more cruel than funny).

-Brian

[J. Robb]

2. A few of the bits were quite literally done already on the HBO TV program.
This might be a strange comparison, but "Borat" kind of reminded me of those Looney Tunes "movies" that were just old cartoons put together with some new filler added to create a storyline.

[Dan Apodaca]

It's always a little sad to me when people take satire at face value. The point of Borat isn't to make fun of foreigners, it's to provoke people into revealing and reveling in their prejudices.

"Throw the Jew down the well", for example. Not about attacking jews. It's about the people who happily sing along.

[Kid Omega]

It's always a little sad to me when people take satire at face value. The point of Borat isn't to make fun of foreigners, it's to provoke people into revealing and reveling in their prejudices.

"Throw the Jew down the well", for example. Not about attacking jews. It's about the people who happily sing along.

Well... it's also to make fun of foreigners. Or, more to the point, the stereotypes of foreigners.

It's not making fun of eastern europeans- it's making a joke of an extremely ridiculous depiction of eastern europeans.

[Ontir]

It's always a little sad to me when people take satire at face value. The point of Borat isn't to make fun of foreigners, it's to provoke people into revealing and reveling in their prejudices.

"Throw the Jew down the well", for example. Not about attacking jews. It's about the people who happily sing along.

That's disturbing; but I got it. I watched the film with 2 Jewish friends who laughed hysterically at that (one is from Texas, and said once, that he'd never experienced anti-semitism), and while I was uneasy with those bits - knowing that those attitudes still readily exist, I didn't have a problem with what he'd done, per se. I found the stuff with the Jewish couple's B&B unbearable. The stuff in the hotels, particularly the last one, was quite good - though disturbing!

[StoneGold]

I laughed my ass off the entire time. That said, the movie probably could have been trimmed down a bit, but I'm saying this as much because I was physically exhausted by the time the movie was over.


That said, I can't wait for the outtake reel on the DVD. And I was a little disappointed that Borat didn't run into Bruno reporting at the gay pride parade.

[Brian Cronin]

By the by, regarding "Throw the Jew Down the Well," I always felt that the people singing along seemed to be IN on the joke.

Not saying that's the case for all of the anti-semitic jokes he makes (like the rodeo manager in the film, he did not seem to be "in on the joke," he seemed to honestly believe what he was saying), just for that one particular joke, it seemed like the people in the bar figured it was a joke and went along with it.

-Brian

[The Foreigner]

By the by, regarding "Throw the Jew Down the Well," I always felt that the people singing along seemed to be IN on the joke.

Not saying that's the case for all of the anti-semitic jokes he makes (like the rodeo manager in the film, he did not seem to be "in on the joke," he seemed to honestly believe what he was saying), just for that one particular joke, it seemed like the people in the bar figured it was a joke and went along with it.

-Brian

That's always my biggest worry while watching things like this. You never know who understands if it's an act; and if that's the case, it does lose something.

Having said that, I've found virtually all of the Borat sketches I've seen absolutely hysterical, and I'm excited for the movie.

[J. Robb]

I found the stuff with the Jewish couple's B&B unbearable.
My problem with that scene is it seemed they were struggling to make the joke without offending the couple. Not that I wanted them to be offended, just that Borat doesn't work when he plays it safe, so they shouldn't have even bothered with the scene.

[Kid Omega]

That's disturbing; but I got it. I watched the film with 2 Jewish friends who laughed hysterically at that (one is from Texas, and said once, that he'd never experienced anti-semitism), and while I was uneasy with those bits - knowing that those attitudes still readily exist, I didn't have a problem with what he'd done, per se.

You do know that Cohen was raised orthodox, yes?

[Kid Omega]

By the by, regarding "Throw the Jew Down the Well," I always felt that the people singing along seemed to be IN on the joke.



Your optimism should be framed, Charlie Brown.

[IamtheRock3]

pretty good film

Would love to see in the DVD, extra like them trying to convince everyone to sign waivers

[ElectraAlan]

The movie was wonderfully summarized in the sequence with the expert on American humor trying to explain that we don't make jokes about the retarded in America, and when Borat starts talking about his retarded brother, the expert tries to control himself and stop laughing. And when he finally gets his laughter under control, he says, "That would not be considered funny in America."

Too funny. You know you shouldn't laugh but you can't help it.

[ambush bug]

I'm sort of torn about my opnion of this movie. On ONE hand, some of it was REALLY funny. On the other hand, however, it was extremly tastelass, cruel, and some of the nudity in it would creep Hugh Hefner out.

[Kid Omega]

On the other hand, however, it was extremly tastelass, cruel, and some of the nudity in it would creep Hugh Hefner out.

In other words.... AWESOME.

[Lone Ranger]

2. A few of the bits were quite literally done already on the HBO TV program.


Kat and I hadn't been to an actual movie theatre since our baby arrived almost a year ago.

Of course, we selected Borat as our first film post-Logan.

I laughed my ass off. Ever since I heard an actual movie was coming out, I tried to steer clear of various Borat bits here and there as I knew there would be some repeat (I had seen the chat with the Etiquette lady).

I agree that some parts were funnier than others, but I don't know the last time I laughed that hard. In addition, it really was interesting to see how people open up to a complete stranger.

I don't want to say that the film exists as a reflection of America, as obviously only the good bits made it to the screen, but I was pretty shocked by many of the comments made by the supposedly 'average' American.

Who did you find the most disturbing/shocking?

Kat and I agreed that the frat boys were the worst - as they are the future.

[J. Robb]

The frat boys seemed to me like they were acting how they thought frat boys were supposed to act since they were on camera. They really hammed it up, which only made them more annoying.

[mattbib]

I saw Borat tonight and thought it was hilarious. More hilarious than the character himself were the genuine people he encountered. The aforementioned fratboys acting like you'd expect drunk fratboys to; the old Jewish couple; the Southern ladies and gentlement, etc. That, on top of the physical jokes and the slapstick (the antique shop, the bear, etc.) made for one of the funniest films I've seen in years.

My only complaint is the end. It just seemed to fizzle. I could have gone for something stronger, either bitingly satirical or slapstick, as a finale.

[ragnarok_2012]

I had a lot of fun watching the movie.

My favorite scenes:

the nude fight

and

the Ice Cream Truck scene involving the Bear.

Children need to understand that bears are Godless Killing Machines.

[Mutate]

I predict that Borat imitations will become as common as "Show me the money!" jokes were in 1998. Yawn.

Borat imitators WERE that common in the late 90s! Have you not heard of ALi g?

[cactusmaac]

By the by, regarding "Throw the Jew Down the Well," I always felt that the people singing along seemed to be IN on the joke.

Not saying that's the case for all of the anti-semitic jokes he makes (like the rodeo manager in the film, he did not seem to be "in on the joke," he seemed to honestly believe what he was saying), just for that one particular joke, it seemed like the people in the bar figured it was a joke and went along with it.

-Brian

They were. A patron who was there said they all realised it was a comedy act and Cohen had done some warming-up with well jokes before launching into his song.

I laughed my head off when I watched it. Best bit was when he threw the bag down and the chicken squawked.

[billdo75]

Best bit was when he threw the bag down and the chicken squawked.

I can't explain it, but that part got my biggest laugh...

[GRANT!]

I like the seeing the bears head in Azmahts fridge.

[kel25]

I saw it today. What's funny, is extremely so. The rest is either dull, or just cruel. I don't think it was worth the $8.50 matinee price. This one will be fine in 2nd run, or on DVD. Ouch you pay more for a mantinee than I do for the nightly movie. :(

[Generic Eric]

I saw Borat and found that hilarity ensued. Reviewers that claimed the movie was the funniest thing ever must not get out much. I like Borat interacting with the citizens of New York. It's fun to see people flip out and run from or threaten Borat. The southern gentry, the head in the refridgerators, Borat's asshole nieghbor, retard brother, bottle of gypsy tears and the running of the jews were all great moments. I could of done without the naked fight and the snore fest of Pamela Anderson. Overall a funny ass film.

[Black Atom]

The frat boys seemed to me like they were acting how they thought frat boys were supposed to act since they were on camera. They really hammed it up, which only made them more annoying.

Apparently , the frat guys are now suing. They were under the impression that their racist, misogynist opinions wouldn't be shown in the US.

Just saw it last night. Pretty damned funny. The scene at the car dealer was probably my favorite, but things did fizzle near the end. I didn't really get the humor in destroying the stuff in the antique shop. The owner seemed to take it pretty well considering, but he deserved to have his shop vandalized because he was a confederate? Didn't really get that.

[Paradox]

Looks like it's got some funny bits, although I haven't seen it (I hardly ever GO to the movies, since we've got forty-eleven movie channels). I'm assuming it's just a latter day version of Yakov Smirnoff...which isn't a bad thing. Yakov was just a modern Jose Jimenez at the time.

[Davideaux]

One thing that's still bothering me is the fact that the comedy teacher thought Borat's suit was blue (or green). It was obviously grey.

[moebius]

I thought it was "meh".

1. The scripted stuff was useless filler.

2. Too much of the focus was on Boart. The Jewish B&B wasn't funny (and was actually mean-spirited) because a) he wasn't actually interacting with them and b) who cares that he's an anti-semite? The audience knows what's up.

3. The ads and interviews and reviews really did telegraph 80% of the movie.

4. Some of the best material (the feminists, the southern dinner) were far too short because he was too fast to go scorched earth in his interviews. In the TV show, he needs 7 minutes, so you feel like he's better at choosing his spots and keeping his interviewee friendly.

Apparently, he got the crap kicked out of him in NY recently and Hugh Laurie (House!) had to pull this guy off after "Borat" asked if he could have sex with a stranger's suit.

[kmeyers]

This really didn't need to be made into a movie. The funniest parts were a rehash of things he's already done on the HBO show.

[Jonah Weiland]

In other words.... AWESOME.Exactly! That inspires me ... I should open a movie review site where each movie is either reviewed "AWESOME" or "NOT AWESOME." Nothing else.

Bortat? Awesome. Loved it. Possibly the funniest movie I've seen since the first time I saw "Spinal Tap" (only 6 years ago, yeah, I'm late).

[Loren]

Borat seems to be developing some scandal talk:

http://www.andrewtobias.com/newcolumns/061113.html

Allegations of getting people drunk before asking them to sign releases in some cases, and lying about the nature of the film in order to get other people to sign releases.