Movie: Brüno

[Animeniax]

Saw this movie yesterday from the makers of Borat's movie. It was freaking hilarious, in an awkward squeamish kind of way. You'll laugh a lot, but only in the way you laugh at the strange or weird. I saw one or two people walk out after the first few minutes of homosexual references and butt shots.

It will definitely not be as successful as Borat because people are so homophobic.

[Killa-Eyez]

I finished watching the movie and did not leave the cinema laughing. The parts that were funny were quickly followed by some nasty shit making this movie overall suck. Call me a homophobic but the d*ck swinging on the video was just gross and unnecessary.
I now tell others I haven't seen it but instead saw Tranformers 2, twice. Ignorance is bliss. :o

[XanBcoo]

Call me a homophobic but the d*ck swinging on the video was just gross and unnecessary
You're homophobic. If it had been a woman's tits swinging around you probably wouldn't be complaining. Weren't you also complaining about Doctor Manhattan's penis?

That said, I didn't like this movie 100% because of all the shock humor. A lot of it was simply "make people uncomfortable by borderline sexually harassing them." Also Bruno is my least favorite of Cohen's characters. I get it, he's gay and does outrageous things. If so much of the movie didn't focus on that, I would have loved it to bits. There were a few scenes that I really didn't like because they were just too forced, awkward, or poorly thought out.

Anyway, I did laugh really hard at basically the rest of the movie. There were a lot of scenes reminiscent of Ali G or that relied on Cohen's improv skills. The entire scene with the psychic, the Dildo Karate fight, the ex-gay church people, and the meeting with the terrorist were so funny I could barely breathe.

"Your king Osama should really clean himself up. Right now he looks like a dirty wizard, or a homeless Santa Claus."
"Oh, zat is such a Samantha thing to say."
"Wilhelm Schmit, Schtevie Wunderbar, Bradolf Pittler, Der Fuhrer"

Edit: Oh, and Paula Abdul sitting on Mexicans while talking about her humanitarian efforts. So clever.

[Foomanchew24]

I immediately went home and used the bear ate my clothes routine on my wife......she was equally horrified.

[Animeniax]

I thought we were going to see Cohen get killed in a number of the locations he filmed at. Homosexuality is not something you even hint at in Lebanon, Israel, the deep south, alone in the woods with hunters, and a number of other places he visited.



"Your king Osama should really clean himself up. Right now he looks like a dirty wizard, or a homeless Santa Claus."
"Oh, zat is such a Samantha thing to say."
"Wilhelm Schmit, Schtevie Wunderbar, Bradolf Pittler, Der Fuhrer"
I thought the "der fuhrer" with a picture of Mel Gibson was hilarious.

Not to make racial stereotypes, but black men are the biggest homophobes. I think that's sociologically proven, so it's not really a stereotype.

[Killa-Eyez]

Not to make racial stereotypes, but black men are the biggest homophobes.

I think you got a thing for blacks.. :rolleyes:

About me being homophobic, yes I do prefer tits over dicks but you can't compare the chest area with the genital area. Yes, I'd also prefer a vagina over a shlong to look at, but neither one in a room full of people. Also, the age rating for this movie here is 12. :confused:

[darkshadow]

Yeah because 12 year olds totally do not know what a dick is right? A movie only becomes 16 under the strongest scenario's because its the highest rating. That includes rape scenes, extreme violence, or extreme sexuality ( like donkey punch ). Bruno really doesn't qualify for 16.

Anyway I thought this movie was pretty funny, sure a lot felt forced but I was expecting that. And the parts that weren't really funny I still enjoyed in the kind of "no way!" kinda way.

[Animeniax]

You guys should be happy that your country is so liberal and accepting of sexuality. In the US, this movie is rated R, no one under 17 without adult supervision.

[rockmanj]

I
Not to make racial stereotypes, but black men are the biggest homophobes. I think that's sociologically proven, so it's not really a stereotype.

Yea, well, I do kind of agree with that. But I'd amend it by saying that blacks in America are more openly homophobic; probably do to the church culture and fairly strange ideas of femininity and masculinity. And probably a big fear of prison rape. On the other hand, I've noticed that some Asians just deny it wholeheartedly. Like, in Korea, there are apparently no gay Koreans:eek: http://popseoul.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/alien-andre-kim.jpg


Come on Ani, everyone knows that violence makes you strong, and happy, and sex is just yucky! :p

[Animeniax]

Yea, well, I do kind of agree with that. But I'd amend it by saying that blacks in America are more openly homophobic; probably do to the church culture and fairly strange ideas of femininity and masculinity. And probably a big fear of prison rape. On the other hand, I've noticed that some Asians just deny it wholeheartedly. Like, in Korea, there are apparently no gay Koreans:eek: http://popseoul.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/alien-andre-kim.jpg


Come on Ani, everyone knows that violence makes you strong, and happy, and sex is just yucky! :p
I see it as an anthropological/sociological study, not meant to deride, but more to understand. I'm not trying to pigeonhole races, but there is truth to every stereotype, as they say.

Yes it's strange that homosexuality is denied among Asians, but the top musical acts are androgynous males who are adored for their femininity, particularly in Japan. I guess it's ok to play gay, just not be gay.

[XanBcoo]

Not to make racial stereotypes, but black men are the biggest homophobes. I think that's sociologically proven, so it's not really a stereotype.
I wouldn't generalize, but the predominantly black talk show audience did start yelling at Bruno when they said he was looking for Mr. Right, even before he brought out OJ. I guess most of his targets in this movie were homophobes, however.

"Honey, you lost and confused"

Except the one fat guy in the talk show audience. I think he realized what was going on because he was cracking up the entire time.


I guess it's ok to play gay, just not be gay.
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/4092/southparkmetro.jpg

[Animeniax]

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/4092/southparkmetro.jpg
I don't watch Southpark, so I think I'm missing the reference. Are they all posing as metrosexuals there?

[XanBcoo]

I don't watch Southpark, so I think I'm missing the reference. Are they all posing as metrosexuals there?
Yeah, that's actually it: http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/104247

[Killa-Eyez]

Yeah because 12 year olds totally do not know what a dick is right? A movie only becomes 16 under the strongest scenario's because its the highest rating. That includes rape scenes, extreme violence, or extreme sexuality ( like donkey punch ). Bruno really doesn't qualify for 16.

It did in almost all other countries. And yes 12 year olds probably know what dicks are, and some third world children know how to kill. All is swell. :p

[Death BOO Z]

I thought we were going to see Cohen get killed in a number of the locations he filmed at. Homosexuality is not something you even hint at in Lebanon, Israel, the deep south, alone in the woods with hunters, and a number of other places he visited.


Lebanon is a former french mandate state. they got a big western (and gay accepting) thing going in the big cities. it's not that much of a shit hole that Bruno made it out to be.

Israel, aside from the part of Jerusalem that was filmed, is also fairly gay accepting. actually, the judges of the of "Israel Idol" contest include a gay person, and a sex changed woman (who won the Eurovision song contest), so that says a lot.
special note about the place that 'Bruno' visited in: you'd get the same response there if it was a woman wearing a T-shirt, or a car driving in Saturday. it's not as homophobic as it's xenophobic.

I have no idea about the deep south, but them three hunters didn't come off as too homophobic, especially considering how 'bruno' acted towards them.

the best part was when he went and talked to the two identical blond women about charity. it was like watching a guy in a wheel chair trying to dunk into a NBA basket. impossible.

also, Paula Abdul had no problems sitting atop a Mexican, but when she got served dinner on one (which some fancy restaurants do, only with hot naked beautiful women) she turned away. talk about hypocrisy.

[XanBcoo]

I have no idea about the deep south, but them three hunters didn't come off as too homophobic, especially considering how 'bruno' acted towards them.
This was the movie's problem. Anyone would be pissed off in that situation. Lots of Bruno trolling people completely undeserving of his antics. It wasn't clever, he wasn't exposing some underlying homophobia, he was basically just sexually harassing them. The Ron Paul scene was even worse.

Like I said, Bruno is my least favorite of Cohen's characters. Ali G interviews very high-profile people and brings them down to his level by acting like a moron and using really clever improv humor. Borat exploits cultural differences and does his best to make normal interactions completely confusing and frustrating.

Bruno just makes people uncomfortable by hitting on them. Then he says something stereotypically camp and audiences erupt with laughter. 2 or the 3 penises later and you've just got a really weak movie. There were only about four or five worthwhile scenes in this.

[Animeniax]

Dick and fart and gay jokes have their place in comedy. Otherwise Seann William Scott wouldn't get roles.

[Stitch]

This is not the best movie to watch with a girl on the first date...

[Animeniax]

Why not? There are no naked chicks for her to get jealous of. Though girls are more sensitive to the issues of homophobia as a punchline than men I guess.

[Stitch]

You're supposed to take things slow on a first date. This was like watching porn on the first date. That would be great with a hood rat, by all means. But with the future mother of your children? Not so much.

[Animeniax]

Well smooth move on your part then.

Still, it's a good idea to really get to know the woman if she could be the future mother of your children. You don't want to already have your second kid together before you realize you married a freak.

[iMUSTbeTHEdevil]

Well smooth move on your part then.

Still, it's a good idea to really get to know the woman if she could be the future mother of your children. You don't want to already have your second kid together before you realize you married a freak.

I agree. You should find out up front if she even knows what a "Swinger Party" is, let alone has ever attended one.

[Animeniax]

I agree. You should find out up front if she even knows what a "Swinger Party" is, let alone has ever attended one.
Or if she's interested in attending one in the future... bow chicky bow wow!

[Raven]

I really hated Borat, and I went into this movie with that hatred in mind, and because of such low expectations I didn't completely dislike this movie, it was slightly pleasantly surprising to a degree. It wasn't great, but it definitely had some hilarious scenes. When people who are clearly homophobic are forced into these kinds of situations it always leads to teh funnies, even if it's not real.

I did question how much of the movie was staged and how much was genuine. For instance, the 3 hunters. Maybe the producers said "we're shooting a documentary, here's $5k, just let him stay overnight with you on your trip. He's a little bit culturally confused, but be patient with him, if he tries to talk to you please try and talk back". You can see at times the 3 guys are biting their tongues trying not to react, but then the overnight antics obviously became too much.

So yeah. Real or staged?

[XanBcoo]

Well, staged in the sense that yes, clearly they agreed to be included in whatever documentary they told they were being included in, but not staged in the sense that they were actors who were in on the joke.

Like the Paula Abdul scene, she wasn't in on it, but the Mexican people obviously were.

I think the only "staged" scene was the Dominatrix. Apart from that scene feeling completely scripted, she was the only person whose nudity wasn't censored. The falling out of the window was also clearly set up before hand.

[poopdeville]

I think the reason Bruno worked okay on the Ali G show was because fashionistas really are as dense and trite as the Bruno character was. Everybody in the field is looking for validation, and they are yes men, for the most part. So Cohen abused that, and got people to admit really ridiculous things or otherwise show stupidity. In short, it worked because he fit in with them so well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa_ePERLvK4

This sounds pretty different though.

[XanBcoo]

This sounds pretty different though.
It really is. There's only about 15 minutes of footage containing what you described. The rest is shock humor.

At first I thought that link was going to be the "Paris Hilton" one, which I consider to be Bruno's best moment.