Here’s the new installment of my video blog. Now, a lot of you guys who have been around The Movie Blog for a while know that a couple of years ago Borat became one of the only 4 or 5 movies in my 7 years of doing this that I’ve given a perfect 10 out of 10 to. I LOVED that movie… and yet… I have absolutely no enthusiasm for Bruno. None. In this video blog I explain why.
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Well essentially Bruno is Borat 2. Back when he was doing these characters on the Ali G show. They did the exact same thing every time. They interviewed people and got different reactions.
Which is the whole point for Bruno getting his own movie. He will get a different reaction out of people playing a flamboyant gay guy then he did playing an ignorant foreigner.
Using your example about the church/religious figure. While its the same idea basically. We will get a different experience from it. So while the premise is basically the same. We will get a different movie.
This video seems pointless, just wait and see it before you go on and on about it.
I think they’re advertising it as more of the same to piggy back on the success of Borat, but I don’t expect him to tread the same ground twice.
Further, I expect that this movie has the potential to really help the gay community. Sucker homophobes into the theatre with the promise of laughing at a flaming queer, and then make them sit through a scathing reprimand. After Bruno they’ll have a reference point, not for what gay people are like, but for how laughable and shitty homophobes are.
I think the next video blog should be about who would win in a fight: the Transformers or the Terminators in T4. But that’s slightly off topic. Ignore me.
My vote is for greatness. I think Bruno is going to be just as funny as Borat. Normally I hate the uncomfortable situation thing (one of the reasons I HATE ben stiller) but I think SBC does it in such a way that you know it should not be uncomfortable, but the other people involved are feeling awkward because they have very backwards points of view.
Call me immoral, but I think it is ok to laugh at the willfully ignorant. Not only that, I am happy to do it for at least another 2 hours.
in two words…. “Good Point”
I am looking forward to seeing this and hoping Cohen can make fun of homophobia like he did with racism in Borat.The good question you raise is “is it less funny because he has done this before?”
I will willingly pay my $10 to find out.
well from when i was yonger i allways watched the ail j show so im going to see it but the reviews have been mixed on rotten its 83%!!! which is not bad but empire have it 3/5 eeeeeeppp i hope its good
But John… If you go see Bruno, you’ll learn to defend yourself against a man with TWO dildos. Just a thought.
Yeah, I’m looking forward to the REACTION to the movie much more than I’m looking forward to the movie itself. I may not even see it.
I’m interested to see how the movie is received. As others have said, there’s a concern that people will laugh at the gayness rather than the homophobia in some circumstances. On the other hand, though, where is the line at which SBC could cross at which point he himself would actually be making fun of homosexuals? Remember how people in Kazakhstan were actually offended by Borat? Yeah, that was kind of silly, but it’s a little understandable, I think. In Bruno, however, SBC is REALLY pushing the envelope with the stereotype he’s spoofing, because Bruno the character has much more of an outright offensive personality. In contrast, Borat was conceived just as a lovable ignorant man or whatever. Bruno the character is meanspirited and overbearing in a way that Borat, usually, was not. So, I mean, is the movie going to come to the point where you’re a “homophobe” if you don’t want a guy rubbing his crotch right across your mouth or something? If there’s a scene like that in the movie, then it’s actually be offensive not only to the mainstream movie audience but also to the gay community (“What? You think everyone who’s gay is so sex-crazed and rude??”).
Who knows how it’s all going to play out, though. But I’m interested to hear how different groups actually react to what’s in the movie. Overall, as I see it now, I think SBC is sort of mismanaging this persona. I think Bruno comes off as overbearing and mean at times, so it doesn’t really work to put him in the mold of a movie that’s supposed to be able how “bad” people are for not liking him, an overbearing rude person. As I think another person on this site said, the idea of Borat is that he’s supposed to REALLY be so ignorant that he’s socially awkward, but a sophisticated gay Euro clubber would KNOW what he was doing and how he was making people feel, so people have every right to lose patience with him. Hopefully SBC proves me wrong, though. I have found some of the old Bruno skits very funny, just don’t think he can replicate the funny within the “plot” that he chose for this movie.
My biggest fear with this movie is that it will make an excellent social commentary on how our society is very homophobic, but the auidence won’t pick up on it at all. It’ll just be, “haha! Let’s laugh at gay people!”
Or maybe I’m not giving the average movie goer enough credit. We’ll see what happens. Either way I think this movie will do really well.
I think that is the risk you run with any social commentary like this. Look at dave chappelle. You know there were people laughing because they agreed with the stereotypes and not because the stereotypes were so stupid.
Before I say what I say, I’ll acknowledge that your argument is just as valid as my argument since neither of us have actually seen Bruno.
I am thrilled to see Bruno, mainly because I think Sacha Baron Cohen KNOWS that everyone will say “This is JUST like Borat.” Basically, I am excited to see it for the same reasons you are not.
I think that in acknowledging that fact that everyone thinks this is Borat 2, Cohen will make sure it is no Borat. SO far he clearly hasn’t shown it, but I would lean more towards this being fantastic and different, than not.
I think you’re relying too much on the trailer to base your expectations on. I think the studio has a vested interest in trying to advertise this using the same tactics that helped make Borat a zillion dollars.
Besides, you’re selling the movie short by saying that the only thing different is the accent. Borat wasn’t a gay dude, and Bruno isn’t anti-semetic.
Also, Borat wasn’t from Austria
just curious what movies have you given a 10?
I’m pretty sure it was Life is Beautiful, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Borat, Juno, and Up.
Whaaaatsuuuuup!
I know a lot of people who are looking forward to this.
It will have a bigger opening than Borat but end up doing less overall.
Still it will be another hit for Sacha.
The reviews are good too!! Much much much better than TF2.
78 on RT
I just think it looks retarded.
It’s going to be exactly the same… Who cares? It will contain different jokes with different shocking moments. People watched Jackass every week on MTV with the knowledge that each episode would be relatively the same thing. You just see the trailer, go to the movie, and hope that it makes you laugh as much as the first one.
Borat focuses on American ethnocentrism and it appears Bruno focuses on American prejudices on homosexuals. only difference.
There is no shock value in this movie, the first movie was very secretive and unknown. It exploded on the scene and the shock value was there due to luck and good timing. Everyone is going to theater knowing the gag this time, so I think it wont be as successful as Borat.
I don’t care for SBC humor myself, but I wish him well anyway.
By the way, I have a feeling John will love it
I loved Borat, but I’d give it about an 8, I laughed a lot but not as much as John did. the funniest scene (No offense to anyone) was when Borat and his friend throw money at the bugs because they thought the Jewish people shape shifted into them, hilarious stuff. Bruno-doesn’t look as funny but it looks pretty funny.
I see where you’re coming from John, it APPEARS to be the exact same thing, but i think it looks hilarious and i can’t wait
I bet he ends up enjoying it it will get a 7 out of 10
Why I’m not looking forward to “Bruno”: B/c Cohen isn’t funny at all.
Borat and Bruno are this generations Candid Camera. Yes the novelty has probably worn off, but its still (i hope) funny. So I will go see it. Maybe not the first week, but I will go see it.
Bruno is a funny movie john, when it stays the same it works better. It should work for Transformers 2, Spiderman 3 and even X-Men 3. Keep it the same and people know what they can see and laugh to it. But if the movie is the same it should be also fun to see. You dont have to make different concept of the movies is the normal premises does work. Bruno looks like Borat , yhea yhea yhea but did you also look at Ali G the Movie – The movie was a normal movie and it wasnt that good. Now Cohen found a way to entertain people with tricking them in uncomfortable situations , and it keeps being hilarious. Its also a Gay German Fashion Model , what do you expect of his accent – Should it be French ????
Ps. John , you should first see the movie and then judge on a trailer that maybe not even real parts of the movie – did you think about that.
Out of curiosity, if he praised the shit out of the movie, would you still recommend John wait til the movie comes out to make judgment as it may suck horribly? Or does that only work in one direction?
Yes , always wait till you see the real deal, not judge on a trailer of 2:30 minutes. The movie also looks like a fun thing and judgeing that its is the same thing is only better then something new and worse.
“The movie also looks like a fun thing and judgeing that its is the same thing is only better then something new and worse.”
Shouldn’t you, therefore, reserve your judgment as well until you see the movie as “you should first see the movie and then judge on a trailer that maybe not even real parts of the movie.”
Honestly, though. I don’t think either of you are judging the movie. I think your just giving your opinions on how you felt after seeing the trailer. If they did not want people to form opinions prior to the movies release, then they would not show trailers for the movie. If John had been like, “Fuck this, this movie looks like shit and I’m not even going to waste my money to see it.” then maybe I could see your point. However, he openly says that how he felt after seeing the trailer could be totally opposite of how he will feel when he sees the movie. He is totally open that he is still planning on seeing it and is open to the possibility of his opinion being thwarted. A judgment, on the other hand, is final. Nothing final in what John said, accept on how the trailer made him feel.
So if John says if he doesnt like the trailer , would also not like the trailer.
Your question did not make any since. I do believe you missed a word or two. Can you please rephrase?
sense*… I need to learn to proofread.
Campea you use the word “exact” 3 or 4 times near the end of the blog but you’re basing this on the stupid trailer, and considering you haven’t seen it thats a massive generalization (but earlier you cover your bases by saying that it appears, yet at the end you make no mention about the appearance being the same, which is weird).
Anyways, if you have such a big problem with Bruno having the exact same premise, then why didn’t you think this for when Transformers 2 came out. “Essentially” its the same human characters reprising their roles, its the same good and bad robots with the exception of a few just to make it seem like they did a sequel, but ESSENTIALLY its the same story with megatron trying to destroy earth. So makes you tick so much as to say that Bruno is essentially the same movie as Borat? Its been done a million times with sequels to movies, but the only difference with Bruno is that it is not a sequel, but who knows, maybe it is.
Eeease up with your judgement on this because I think this time IT APPEARS to me that you’re wrong.
agree 100%
People should be licensed before being allowed to comment.
1) How is TF1 the same as #2?? Is it the Fallen? The Twins? The completely new dialog and new script? The new actors? Maybe the 30 new robots or the scenes in other parts of the WORLD that werent in TF1
2) If it appears that John is wrong then you can comfortably agree to say that the trailer doesnt look like Borat. And clearly, it does. So i just wasted 4 minutes of my life trying to reason with a troll when i could have constructively exercised my brain by doing absolutely anything else…like widdling or scratching my left elbow or whistling the Romanian National Anthem…in the list of all the things i wish i wasnt doing, replying to that comment was the very last, right after “Licking peanut butter off a hobo’s toes”
They would have been better off using Jackass and Jackass 2.0 as an example… cause those movies were the same but equally as funny….
John. Valid points. To add to this, did you ever see SBC do “Ali G in da USA”? Same thing, also.
However, one could argue that this is what “everybody” does. Find a succesful format for a movie, the press repeat. Transformers, anyone?
Again, though. I agree with you. I’ve never fully appreciated SBC:s humour. To me it really isn’t all that funny when people make fools of themselves based on their prejudice. The main problem being that it’s simply too easy. Proverbially shooting fish in a barrell as it where.
Also, here’s another problem – a film like this is supposed to be funny, yes, but at the same time a comment on peoples prejudice. But those that are prejudice won’t go and see this movie.
It’s the same problem as with Religulous. No serioulsy religios person will go see that movie and then think “Hey, wait a minute. Maybe I should change my ways”.
So, sorry Sacha. I won’t see Brüno. Either. But look forward to seeing you do brilliantly portrayed comedic roles in other films.
(Pardon any spelling errors in this post, my english isn’t what it used to be)
I agree with you that it’s going to be the exact same thing. His TV show featured his three characters Ali G, Borat and Bruno. Of the three Bruno was my least favorite but I still laughed at the character. So it might be more of the same but I believe he will deliver.
This guy is a comic genius… he should have taken over the Pink Panther films instead of Steve Martin.
I’m perfectly fine with the exact same thing. Bruno is my favorite character from the Ali G show. The concept of the movie may be the same (offend the hell out of people and expose social wrongs) but Bruno will bring new ways of doing so.
my thoughts exactly
First, I’d like to say that I thought Borat was one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen.
However, I think Cohen took too long to release Bruno. People have moved on from the shock-value comedy that he utilizes!
It’s going to make a killing at the box office.
That doesn’t make any sense. Shock-value comedy is as good as the shock itself, not the term we apply to it.