Hey folks, Harry here... I really like Georgette's review here - in addition to talking about the humor - they spend time talking about... (ominous music) ...the MESSAGE! And it sounds like something that I can agree on. I'm officially looking forward to this one now. Here ya go...
Hi Harry, I feel like you always have guys reviewing your movies. I think you need a girl’s point of view! So here it is. Tonight I saw Bruno (with two dots over the u) at the Arclight Sherman Oaks! I have to say, I wasn’t in the best mood today, and even though I was psyched that my friend asked me to come with her, it was one of those LA days where you just feel like going home and watching the ER finale (even though I haven’t watched that show for years). But I decided a couple laughs wouldn’t hurt and dragged myself to Sherman Oaks (which isn’t far since I live in Glendale). The movie is f-ing hilarious. My friend and I were doubled over with laughter – and I really haven’t laughed that hard in a theater in a LONG ASS TIME. And now, I find myself really thinking about the message of the film. Basic plot: Bruno gets fired from his job in the fashion world and comes to America to be famous. He tries to get a job as an actor, he tries to make his own TV show and then even adopts a black baby to get attention. But nothing works and he realizes he can’t be gay if he wants to be famous. If you want to read more about the scenes, I know a lot of stuff has already been posted online, but I think you are better off having some surprises. The movie is non-stop laughs, and there are at least 10 HUGE laughs in the movie, like you can’t catch your breath laughs. Like the Borat naked wrestling scene funny. Speaking of Borat, I think this movie is way better than Borat. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Borat but I think this goes beyond. It’s shocking at times (what parents will do in this town to get their kids famous!!) – and it also makes you realize that people aren’t as accepting in other parts of the country like they are here in LA. Which leads to my next point: the message. I think this is a really important movie for people to see. My father is old school and moved to this country when he was a kid. My grandparents raised him in a super strict and religious environment. I tell you this only because it may explain his homophobia. And I think he needs to see this movie. It plays on people’s fears of gay sex (there is a pretty outrageous sex scene in the film – but it’s hilarious and obviously unreal), and then shows what people must go through who aren’t strong enough to be who they are. For instance, Bruno goes to a gay converter to become straight. The scene is really funny, but it’s also so sad that a person like that exists in the world. Hopefully people will watch this movie and realize that we shouldn’t try to change people’s sexual preference. Or realize that gay marriage is just about equal rights for everyone. The great thing about Sacha Baron Cohen is that he tells you this message while making you laugh. One of the big scenes (a cage fight) takes place in the south (I think they said Arkansas), and it’s so funny and sad at the same time. OK – with that said – I do have one word of caution: there does seem to be a lot of dick in the movie. There’s one scene in particular (MINOR SPOILER) where the dick speaks. I’m not kidding! It’s hysterical. I almost peed in my pants. So, hopefully you can deal with dick – because it’s worth it! I hope they don’t change the movie too much (especially because I heard the MPAA rated it NC-17 but no one will release it as NC-17). It’s too good a movie and I’m really happy I got to see it now. And I will drag my father when it comes out. I think he will also laugh his ass off, and hopefully see things in a different light (even if just for a few minutes!!). Anyone know what happened on ER? Jk. Call me Georgette Clooney! ps I just watched the trailer (I guess it released today). It's really funny! And it doesn't even show most of the funny stuff in the movie (although I noticed there are a couple things in there that aren't in the movie)!
And now here's Stevie with his look...
Hi there, Just got out of Bruno and wanted to share my thoughts. Not that I think this movie needs any more press; I've read about the NC-17 rating, watched the trailer, and now seen the movie all in a span of 24 hours... and according to imdb, the movie doesn't come out for another 3 months! But I'm not going to pass up the opportunity to get my voice heard before all the conservatives/liberals/gays/homophobics start screaming about what this movie means. Let's start with the good: The movie is hilarious. The theater (Arclight Sherman Oaks) was pretty much laughing non-stop. Since everyone is gonna make the comparison, I thought it was funnier than Borat by a safe margin. I laughed my ass off for a solid 90 minutes. The stuff in the trailer barely scratches the surface. There's a bit with a psychic where he does some of the most ridiculous, hilarious, raunchiest pantomime I have ever seen in my life. There's also a scene where he tests the movie in front of a focus group that had me on the verge of lizzing (that's a 30 Rock reference for you fools who don't watch it). I am honest enough to admit that I'm not comfortable with gay sex. No problem with the people - it's just the act itself grosses me out. But this movie manages to be both shocking and explicit and gay without ever becoming unwatchable. And (get ready for the afterschool special music) watching the way rednecks react to Bruno made me feel a little guilty about some of the things I've said/joked about, since I definitely do not want to be associated with the drunk angry idiots screaming "faggot" at the end of the movie. The bad: I'm not sure the character is quite as indelible as Borat. Which might be a good thing, depending on how you feel about all the "Very nice!" Borat imitators a few years ago. And his sidekick in this movie (named Ludz) is not as funny as the fat guy in Borat. Other than that I don't really have any complaints. Like I said, the movie is incredibly funny. Assuming you are not a humorless blowhard, you are going to laugh your ass off. Speaking of humorless blowhards, I really hope the MPAA doesn't fuck everything up by making them cut all the explicit stuff. While it's definitely shocking and extreme, that's what I want when I go to see a Sacha Baron Cohen film. We don't need you to baby us MPAA, so back the fuck off! Yeah, it's over the top. In fact it's more than over the top - it's over the top of over the top. It's also the funniest movie I've seen in a really long time, and I cannot wait to watch it again. Call me Stevie Wonderbar.
