Post by BIGFANBOY on Jul 9, 2009 0:55:18 GMT -5
Brüno
Review by Gary Dean Murray (with Mark Walters weighing in)
Sacha Baron Cohen has been making a name for himself on cable TV. The British comic took his character Borat and turned the movie Borat into one of the hit surprises of 2006. The film set box office records and changed the way comedy was presented on film. His guerrilla-style techniques used on the unsuspected victims built around a foreigner trying to understand the U.S. made that little flick a major sensation. The newest film by Sacha Baron Cohen is another of his Ali G characters, the very gay Brüno. It could be the most offensive film put on the screen (which it might be shooting for).
MARK: Being a fan Da Ali G Show, I knew the character of Brüno well. I actually thought those segments in the show were done smartly, in that they were genuinely funny, while at the same time providing not-so-subtle commentary on human behavior. What I feared most about the film is that Cohen would take the character of Brüno over the top, and cartoon him up so much that the comedy aspects take a backseat to the shock value. I was right to think that.
The story is of Brüno (Sacha Baron Cohen), who has the most successful German fashion talk show in non-German countries (don't ask). After being thrown out of shows during Fashion Week he finds that his job is gone. So Brüno decides to become famous, the 'biggest Austrian Superstar since Hitler'.
MARK: Oh yeah, you'll get more than a few Hitler jokes, and where Borat played up the anti-Jewish humor to laughable levels, this film resorts to many simply tasteless pokes at that background.
He heads to L.A. with his assistant Lutz where he shoots his new fashion show. Lutz takes all of Brüno's attacks because he has unrequited love for his boss. Brüno at one point interviews Paula Abdul, but since he has no furniture in his new digs, they use illegal immigrants to be the table and chairs. In a kind of funny bit, he gets on the set of NBC's Medium as an extra. His messing with the shoot almost works.
MARK: The scene where he's an extra on Medium is screaming funny, probably one of the best moments in the film. If you're a fan of that series, you'll appreciate it even more. As for Lutz, everyone remember Azamat from Borat? Yeah. Same thing. Same formula.
Then he turns to making a video of his new show which appalls every member of the focus group and the people at CBS TV including Denny Bond. So, Brüno decides to take his act on the road. He goes to the Middle East and is almost attacked for the mocking outfit he adorns. He tries to broker peace between different political and religious factions. This is the cleverest bit of the entire production of Brüno. Their hatred of him could unite the different sides with a common cause.
MARK: The focus group scene is SO ridiculous and offensive, I have to wonder if some of that video was superimposed after the fact to amp it up. There's a great Harrison Ford joke in there which was one of my favorite scenes in the film. As for the stuff in the Middle East, how he got out of there alive I'll never know. I know that no amount of money in the world could make me do or say some of the things he does in those segments. I value being alive too much.
Along the way, Brüno picks up his newest fashion accessory, a black African baby. He decides to do a photo shoot with the kid, and that brings out the creepiest bit ever put on film. He interviews people who are trying to get their babies on the success train. The parents, in interviews, will agree to let their babies do just about anything, including being in Nazi uniforms and in Christ crucifixion scenes. These stage parents are even sicker than Brüno.
MARK: While the stuff with the baby is on the surface meant to be a joke toward celebrities like Madonna and Angelina Jolie adopting children from foreign countries, the social commentary that comes out of those interviews you mentioned is some of the most important and serious stuff within this film. That segment is a sad statement on America if ya ask me.
We watch Brüno on a TV show filled with African Americans where he introduces his child. They are appalled by everything he says and does. Finally, Brüno gets it and decides that he is not a success because he's gay. The rest of the film is him trying to turn straight. We get to see all the Southern hatred that Brüno pushes and relishes. It is amazing that he didn't get shot in more than one instance. And to be honest, Brüno would deserve to get shot.
MARK: In some of those scenes I have to wonder whether or not one (or all) of those people were in on the joke. Especially with the gun-weilding hillbilly hunters, it's hard to believe at least one of those guys didn't react in a more harsh manner. Again though, Cohen is showing the homophobia that still strongly exists in parts of this country, and there is some smart commentary to be taken from those otherwise outrageous scenes.
There are so many offensive moments in the film, starting with an elaborate sex scene featuring Brüno and his Asian house boy. Even though parts are blacked out, the general depravity exists in monumental proportions. His taped show that is shown to a test audience is basically an ode to thingy, past the point of rudeness. He offends just for the sake of offending. I kept thinking about the movie Shallow Hal, where the filmmakers berate fat people for ninety minutes, then try to apologize in the last few. It is another example of too little, too late.
MARK: I'm sure gay men would take issue with the portrayal of sexual activities in this film. I mean sure, SOME of that stuff happens in the gay community, but the depictions on screen are meant to be shocking and overly extreme, and I hope audiences are smart enough to realize that's not the norm.
The interview and attempted seduction of Ron Paul is just the kind of atypical behavior that does not happen with real gay men, but with the frightening stereotype that is the old fashioned gay man. I think that this film will set back gay rights a few decades. It will reinforce stereotypes on both sides, bothering both the right and the left of society. Ending Bruno is a “We are the World” style video. I would bet that all the stars involved will be ashamed from being part of the eighty minutes that proceeded it.
MARK: The scene with Ron Paul was perhaps the most uncomfortable to me. It's a moment where Cohen (in character) is deliberately trying to embarass and get laughs at the expense of an older man who doesn't know what's going on. And I'm sure he thought that with Paul being a political figure, the laughs would be even bigger. I really disliked that scene. And you make a good point Gary, the singers at the end of the film may not have participated so willingly had they seen the entire movie beforehand. One must wonder.
His assistant Lutz keeps saying “You're amazing” which is something only a person in love can see.
The basic structure of the film Brüno parallels Borat. But where Borat was clever Brüno is condescending. Where Borat was fresh, Brüno is tired. It's like watching a magic trick for the second time - you are not as misdirected and can figure out where the illusion is going. With Brüno there is no illusion just depravity.
MARK: You're touching on the number one thing I took away from this film. It was just a remake of Borat with a different character. I actually found it somewhat lazy of Cohen to simply reuse the formula from 3 years ago. I mean sure, it worked once, so it's a safe bet. But this is a guy who is capable of comedic genius. Why can't we see that on screen? Has success and money dulled the sensibilities of the man? Can he now only pander to the lowest IQs of moviegoing audiences? Has shock value taken over for comedy in his mind?.
Since no one listens to movie critics, I know that this film will make an easy $100 million at the box office. It has that Borat momentum and the kids will just love all the gross-out humor. But, I'm sure that gay groups will protest Brüno, which will fuel the box office with controversy-curious patrons. By offending everyone, ticket gold will be assured. The feeling of Brüno easily could be summed up by a leaving patron. She said that she was hungry but was afraid to eat anything because she'd eat it, then throw it up, all do to the movie. Brüno will be a hurl-inducing success.
MARK: I'll just say this - I laughed, a lot. But it was laughter in the midst of very uneven segments, and a curiousity toward why this film wasn't more insightful. Granted, folks don't go see this to think, but the character of Brüno didn't have to be a cartoon, he could've been something more. I noticed multiple couples walking out in this movie, a move that can be telling toward a bad film, or just a sign of naive moviegoers not realizing what they were getting into. I guess in the end we're lucky it's a short film, clocking in under 90 minutes. But how will time treat a movie like this? Borat is one of those movies that I can see myself watching 10 years from now, and laughing heartily. Brüno however is a film I simply can't imagine aging any better than The Love Guru.
To go back to BIGFANBOY.com click here - www.bigfanboy.com