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One Big Hairy Ballsack Of BORAT Reviews!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
Aside from the official trailer, I haven’t seen a frame of this film so far. I hven’t seen the ComicCon footage, but I have had it aggressively spoiled for me, which is a bit disheartening. As a result, I’m not going to read the following reviews. I’m just offering some more reactions from what seem to be an infinite number of early showings of the film.
First up, we’ve got Mr. Winston’s take on things:
Just got out of the BORAT press screening at Century City here in LA. I've never been compelled to write a review before. I am now compelled. You should know the details of this one already, so I'll stay away from the slight "plot" that's involved and for your own benefit I'm going to be quite vague - no spoilers. This is not a movie you want spoiled. I'm dead serious. If you never avoid spoilers...avoid them for this one. Just trust me. Trust. In me.
To say I "had much excite" to see this movie would be an understatement. To say I had high expectations would be an even bigger understatement. After becoming a big fan of DA ALI G SHOW, I was prepared to be extremely upset if this one didn't deliver.
I'm still wrapping my head around it, but I can say this: I've laughed hard at movies. I've laughed pretty consistently at movies. ANCHORMAN, WEDDING CRASHERS, 40 YEAR-OLD VIRGIN to name a few recents - laughed like crazy.
But I've never laughed consistently, without stop, for 80+ minutes like I did tonight. I've never nearly choked on my own delight. I've never walked out of a theater with my hips hurting because I was constantly squirming in my seat. I've never laughed so hard that I made myself sweat unnaturally. I've never hit strangers on the shoulder without thinking about it because I didn't know what else to do. I've never turned around in my seat because I thought I couldn't bear to watch what was happening on the screen, only to force my body to contort and my neck to crane at inhuman angles so I could see anyway.
Call me a Plant if you like - and I'm sure some of you incredible douchebags in the Talkback will do so - but I did all of that tonight. And because of that I have to say this, and I don't want anyone to think this is hyperbole or melodrama or sarcasm, but...America, on the whole, is not ready for this. People will think they're walking into something that's going to be offensive and funny.
They'll actually be walking into something that makes you realize that the REAL person playing Borat, Sascha Baron Cohen, likely put his life and the life of those around him in jeopardy on a daily basis. He's set a new bar for mockumentary, for hidden camera hijinks, for fake interviews, for general contained hysteria. He's set a new bar for comedy in general.
The movie starts in Kazakhtstan and we're introduced to Borat's town. One of the most insanely offensive jokes is introduced early; let's just say it's a rather not-PC take on a famed Spanish pasttime that will have you rolling - even if the joke's on you. From there Borat and a producer friend travel to America and tomfoolery occurs, blah blah and etcetera etcetera.
People...if you're a free-thinking American, if you have any sense of logic, if you possess even a morsel of a soul, you are going to be very, very, afraid for this country. There are jokes that Cohen pulls out of his hat simply to be a jackass and to make normal people appear stupid, to make people uncomfortable, and to generate belly laughs. If you liked Borat on DA ALI G SHOW, you're going to dig it here. It's all hilarious. There's a scene on a New York subway that left me literally in tears, and this is ten minutes into the film. I still can't believe he didn't get shanked. Cohen either has no fear whatsoever or he is BEGGING someone to kill him. Brutally.
I'm not going to tell you this is an important film - it's not, and it'd be pretentious to say otherwise - but I think it's going to make people who see it think hard about our idea of "America" and what it's all about. Some of these people and the things they say, knowing they're going to be on camera...it's mind-boggling. You'll be laughing, but you'll be laughing in shame at an old man at a rodeo, at a bunch of Frat guys in a Winnebago, at a dinner party of the supposed "elite-mannered". In fact, you won't be able to stop laughing, but deep down inside you're going to feel ashamed at the picture this movie paints of "normal" or "Middle" America (and yes, I am in fact going for the world record in "quotation usage" - see the movie and you'll understand). And the worst part of it all is that it's not some smarmy foreigner coming into America and making a Michael Moore-style portrayal of all things bad, a skewed perspective that's half propoganda. There are no forced confessions here. There are just some people that are that terrible. So you'll feel remorse...but you'll also revel in the fact that they get exploited. There are a couple very bad people who are likely to have their lives ruined when this thing hits wide, and I have to tell you that I'm really pretty excited about that.
But that's part of the beauty here - the way Cohen arranges these embarassments and gags and skits is so inherently ridiculous that you can't hold back the glee and you can't focus on the parts that really are kind of sad. It's absurd in the most absurd way you could imagine. There's pushing the envelope, and then there's setting the envelope on fire, pouring gasoline onto it, tying the burning paper onto a bat and then hitting someone in the face with it.
Nothing is sacred, and again, you get the feeling that while most of the jokes were done simply to generate comedy, more than a few were done to prove a point - not just about Americans per se, but about ignorant people in general. Borat tackles the South (again), religion, celebrity, patriotism, male frontal nudity, prostitution, driving schools, anti-semitism (shocker there), racism, and gypsies. The only real problem I had with the way the movie evolved and moved along was that there were so few breaks in between skits and so many jokes strung into one screwball antic; I found myself missing several jokes at once, and frankly I think it might be a help to the audience if there were constant subtitles so one could discern what was being said through the laughter. I have no idea how Cohen and the people who were in on the gags were able in any way to keep straight faces.
There's one part in particular I WANT to talk about, and pretty much everyone knows about it now so it feels safe. That's right - the naked male wrestling through the hotel. The problem is that it's not something that can be talked about. There's nothing you could explain to someone that does any perfect second of it justice; there are no words that you could produce that would make someone understand. I'm not even going to bother, and even if I wanted to bother I guarantee I couldn't put my feelings into English. I will say this, however: I don't know how they're going to possibly keep the whole scene and get an "R" rating. It just seems impossible. And that's a DAMN shame, because the parts that will be cut out, I've become convinced, are the funniest moments ever to be projected onto a screen in the history of man. It's been spoken about; it has been agreed to by several. I even knew what was supposed to have happened and I still wasn't ready for the way it unfolded. I'm going to stop because I'm getting frustrated at my inibility to communicate how funny it was. It transcended funny.
As did the rest of the movie, and if I hope anything, it's that those of you reading this will take me seriously and not hold it against me that I've left out spoilers. You must see this movie when it comes out in November. Expect Midwestern theaters to refuse to show it and some kind of controversy to erupt via a bunch of ignorant, unaware rednecks. I think there are going to be SCORES of people that will detest and attempt to vomit all over this film in the tainted name of morality and patriotism, but you pay them no nevermind. They're only going to make this more popular. Anticipate November eagerly.
On a random celebrity note, Brittany Murphy sat not too far in front of our group in the Press section of the theater, happily eating popcorn and chatting. It was only then that I cursed the promoters for disallowing my camera phone into the screening. Had they, I'd have undeniable proof for all of you that yes, Ms. Murphy does in fact eat.
If you guys use this, please refer to me as Mr. Winston.
Next up in Bruno Diaz with his quick reaction:
I just saw a free screening in L.A. of the Borat
movie. I like! It is very good! Whether or not you
already know who Borat is or are familiar with Sasha
Cohen, you will probably find it hilarious and/or
extremely offensive. There have been a few news
stories that have leaked out in relation to this film
over the past couple of years, one of which relates to
a rodeo at which Cohen was nearly killed. That scene
is in this movie. I don't want to ruin it for anyone
so I'm not going to provide a lot of spoilers other
than to emphasize that it is not in any way for the
easily offended. People often say that about other
movies and I don't think those movies have earned that
warning. This one does. Seriously, if you're
sensitive about any number of issues (anti-Semitism,
feminism, homosexuality, and xenophobia) you'll be
offended. For this reason, I think the movie is a
great success! Sorry, I can't help myself.
If you've seen the trailer, you should know the basic
premise of the movie: Borat comes to America from
Kazakhstan to do his reportings. The story once he
gets to the U.S. morphs into something sort of
comparable to Dumb and Dumber. It's effective at
giving enough of a plot to string all of the bits
together. If you've watched a lot of Borat on HBO and
Youtube, you will see some situations that are pretty
familiar. Others are not familiar and if they are to
you, than, good for you, whatever you're into, that's
cool. I could criticize the movie by saying it was a
little heavy in ripping on the South and rednecks.
Not that I care about rednecks or that I'm in any way
sensitive to their feelings, I just always like it
when Borat is faced with people who are more liberal,
or who like to think of themselves that way. He
really pushes their buttons to see what their
threshold is and that's when I feel he's the funniest.
They (and I consider myself a liberal) like to think
of themselves as tolerant and welcoming, but then
they're met with a guy who draws a picture of
slaughtered Uzbeks (like in the HBO show) and says
that makes him happy. That makes me laugh. But I'm
nitpicking. This movie is fucking hilarious. I'm not
a plant, I just liked it. Not love, like, but like
very much. Jagshemash!
Call me Bruno Diaz.
Finally, it appears that BORAT has driven this final guy completely insane, and his review reflects that:
BORAT
I want to romance his privates. I made shit in my pants. Kevin Smith....Clerks 2 was funny. But you need to get on your knee's and blow BORAT. He is your fuck god you fat homo man.
If you saw the Ali G movie and thought it was shit....you were right. It has moments of funny but lost everything that made Ali G funny on the TV show. The essence of what the comedy was wasn't there. It was all scripted. No real people. No real reactions. Apparently Sasha figured that out this time around.
Ali G movie = Steamed Wigger Shit
Borat = Bronzed Foreign Fucktastic Comedy Gold
From the start that movie had me and the rest of the audience hooked. I would say 88% of the movie is REAL...real people in real situations with Borat. It is amazing to watch a movie like this. I am a reality TV junky...I find it funnier than anything a Hollywood script writer can write. Surreal Life is a great example....who would script Mini Me...driving a fucking tricycle around a hollywood mansion, naked, drunk, and babbling incoherently. Then pissing in a corner of a room while Greg Brady watches. Greg then has to tuck him in. If you like that sort of surreal take on reality. Then you will love Borat. From start to finish the audience was hooked. I cried a few times I was laughing so hard. The movie dosen't let you breath.
My only problem with the movie is that the whole time I was trying to figure out who was real and who was in on the joke. Hopefully on the DVD they will have a shot breakdown or commentary talking about the people in the movie. That element kinda took me out of the movie. But worth it and minor.
My only fear is that this movie will make Sasha to big a star. He might suffer the Tom Green curse. When Tom Green first came on the scene...he was funny. Funny cause he did all this crazy shit to everyone and no one knew who he was. Once everyone learned who he was...his bits just sucked. If this movie is HUGE...which it should be. I fear Sasha's face will become to well known for him to pull his brand of humor. He might actually have to go to butt fuck Kazichstanzan (sp?) for reals just to get away from his celebrity.
As Neil Cumpston said about X-men 2. Shit meet pants. You are going to love Borat.
Thanks. I’m itching to lay eyes on this film as soon as possible. Between this and JACKASS 2, this should be an outrageous fall for film comedy.
"Moriarty" out.
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+ Expand All
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Hint, hint, nudge, nudge, wink, wink, FIRST!
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"Once everyone learned who he (Tom Green) was...his bits just sucked." I take it, he missed the Tom goes to Japan special. That was great.
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I'm 100% sold now. Cohen is amazing at improv. Great idea. Pleased he has possibly surpassed Ali G now.
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neat
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YOu couldn't pay me to sit through that contrived, repetitive crap.
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...looks like he's surpassed Ali G now, thought that character would haunt him to the grave! After this and Talladega Nights, he'll be able to do some other cool shit now!
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Did they use small HD video cameras? Much of what I have seen looks like film, but it is not so easy to be sure nowadays - I would have presumed they used small cameras in order to keep it real?
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Sacha Baron Cohen is a gifted comedic actor. The man's a genius. Tom Green makes noises. He humps dead animals. Ali G Indahouse wasn't great, but it was nowhere near as bad as Freddy Got Fingered. Borat may be done with the release of this movie, but Sacha Baron Cohen will move on and entertain the shit out of us for years and years.
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what if the terrorist strike again before the movie comes out?
-Cohen is the new Man! -
Aug 01, 2006 7:39:06 AM CDT
must be terrible to sit in a theatre with mr. Winston..
by windowlicker74
I mean, laughing like crazy at 40-year old virgin or wedding crashers?? this guy will probably have a heart attack when he watches Monty Pyton then?
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Tom Green in Japan WAS frickin hilarious. One of the funniest DVDs I gots. I actually find his earlier stuff mostly crap (except for stunts like Undercutters Pizza.)
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Finally!!!!
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Absolutley no middle area on this one. I love the character and have shown the DVD's to certain people who just don't get it. Personally I thinks its about time I went to the theater and laughed more than 5 times, (sorry Wedding Crashers was not that funny). I can't wait
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No way in hell will this stand up to all of the orgasmic reviews going around.
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"There's pushing the envelope, and then there's setting the envelope on fire, pouring gasoline onto it, tying the burning paper onto a bat and then hitting someone in the face with it. "
I can't wait to go and tell my baby sis.
I can't wait to see my mother reaction when my sis repeats it to her. -
I will be there opening day. I will laugh harder than anyone in the audience guaranteed. I hope I don't pee my pants!
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Down with Rednecks! *Bush*
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Here I was all excited to have a preview ticket for this movie later this week. For the first time since "City Slickers" I was seeing a movie before its national release and I was excited to be able to write an aintitcool review for this film. However, based on the number of early reviews, it seems like everybody's seen it already. And why the hate on the heartland/midwest? I'm guessing some East Coast liberals get all upset about this film first.
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Liberals=Democrats=Democracy
Republicans=Facists -
The good doctor loves ya.
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PLANT!
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...Would a person paid to give a film a negative review be called a weed? For example if WB hired a guy to trash Deja Vu.
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He's already had great success in the UK from around 1998, Ali G became a national phenomenom with all the kids copying his voice and everything, then he made the Ali G InDaHouse movie, which I still think is pretty funny in an Austin Powers-style way, and then he took Da Ali G Show to HBO, something which I didn't think was possible. What I love about the U.S. show is that, even though a few things seemed toned down for the American audience, it still felt fresh due to Bruno (who was a new character) and Cohen delving into the anti-semitism and redneck stuff that doesn't exist in Britain. Borat worked even better in America.
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The funniest movie I've seen in theaters in years. The first reviewer was right; you're laughing so hard you miss half the jokes. I saw this at screening offered during the Comic Con. Got to talk to the director Larry Charles (who took over, i guess, when Todd Phillips dropped out) and he said nothing wsa staged beyond telling people that Borat was a foreign reporter. (Cool guy by the way.) Hard to believe, but it matters not - this movie is the best and a I can't wait for other people to see it. And to love it.
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I'm going to see it again for sure.
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I laughed so hard that I missed the first half of the next scene sometimes. What's amazing is that I was already a fan of Borat and the movie exceeded any kind of expectations I had. Plus, I got an awesome Kazahkstan shirt at the Comic-Con screening. Now where can I go to purchase a bear as a pet?
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Wow. Congratulations on your stunning achievment of tolerance, a feat that has been replicated in no other country in the world. It would greatly help humanity if you could explain exactly how you have eradicated anti-semitism in Britain. Oh, and rednecks, too. Surely there are no ignorant yokels with bad teeth and beer bellies in Britain. Or did you simply mean that there are no organized hate-groups with expressly anti-semitic agendas (like the KKK) in Britain? Sorry, pal, but I'm afraid ignorance and intolerance and stupidity is endemic to every nation on earth, even your very nice island country. Hopefully someday your claim will be true and their will be no anti-anything in Britain or the world, and no rednecks, but not today.
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mea culpa
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At the rodeo. I guess I missed that story when it came out. And are you kidding me "Perfomingmonkey"? No anti-semitism in England? A few years back the Forien minister was quoted as saying that Isreal was a "shitty little country that should just disapear". Yea, Mel Gibson could be elected PM.
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And not only because this has been one suck-ass year for movies.
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Think about it
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It'll actually be nice to see a comedy film that isn't two hours long, or trying to be all things to all people like some of the comedy films mentioned already in the TB. This should just bring the funny, and I guess it does that. I think America might be more shocked, or convulsed with laughter because of it than the British though.
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I have 5 dollars that says you probably just finished jerking off over her and then bitched out because you know she'd never give you the time of day, and you'll never have her. This is a Borat talkback, not a therapy session for pocket pooling fuckwits
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"This is a Borat talkback, not a therapy session for pocket pooling fuckwits"
Use the words "This is a Borat Talkback" in public - and they will think you masterbate often -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeNggIGSKH8
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I LIKE TO MOVE IT, MOVE IT!!!
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It looks like something Paris Hilton would carry around in her arms. What I wouldn't give for her to get stung by one of those things. Repeatedly.
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Just when you think you've seen every insect there is. Makes ya think aliens do exist. because that's a fuckin alien! I don't care what they say.
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"There are a couple very bad people who are likely to have their lives ruined when this thing hits wide, and I have to tell you that I'm really pretty excited about that." I quote that because I thought it was pretty damn funny.I'm so looking forward to this flick. :)
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I'm a huge Borat fan, and I need me some of this action. If any knows any fucking way to get this screened in Columbus, look me up, and let's chat, I will need about 15 tickets to it.
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Anyone know if this thing is being screened in Seattle???
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Hulk Hogan. Brotha!!
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Down the Well along with Mel Gibson.
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I loved the trailer. When he kisses the girl then says it's his sister, I laughed pretty hard. BTW - That bug is pretty weird. It doesn't look real. I wonder what part of the world it's from.
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But I say Alpha centauri or somewhere. A stinging bastard stepchild of a centapede and a rat terrier. Freaky.
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"[A]fter convincing the authorities that he was shooting a documentary, Borat managed to infuriate a crowd at a rodeo, first by saying that "I hope you kill every man, woman and child in Iraq, down to the lizards...and may George W. Bush drink the blood of every man, woman and child in Iraq", and then by mangling the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner". For his own safety, Borat was escorted from the venue."
Never heard of Borat until today, but that shit is...The Shit. Looking forward to this. -
...that fucking sucks.
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