Full Article Text
The controversial movie "Borat: CuI
turalLeamings of America for Make
Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakh
stan," co-written by and starring British
comic Sacha Baron Cohen (aka lV's
Ali G), is a faux documentary , opening
Friday, about a Kazakh lV reporter trav
eling the U.S. to learn our ways (and he
hopes, maybe many Pam Anderson) .
The government of Kazakhstan has
expressed concern about the fictional
Borat (r.) '~representing'" its people.
Some ac:tivist groups worry-that the mov
Ie's button-pushing on race, gender and
sexuality will be seen as encouraging, in
stead of spoofing , prejudlce. And some
of the people interviewed by Borat in the
film say they didn't realize he was mak
ing a comedy when they expressed or
agreed with outrageous c·omments .
But one thing isn't being discussed:
Baron Cohen's goofball skill in a movie
that industry bible Variety has already
called "uproariously funny."
Penn Jillette, of the comedy duo Penn
& TeUer and one of the forces behind the
documentary "The Aristocrats, " agrees.
, All anyone is talking about are the
things other people say in the film," says
Jillette. ''What I think should be talk-
ed about, really, is what a fabulous actor
Sacha is. I would watch 'Borat' without
anyone being pranked in it.' The kick is the
difficulty level in
Baron Cohen'S
performance.
The improv in
films like "Best
in Show" or the ,
upcoming "For ~G
Your Consider- .
ation" comes from
actors riffing togeth- '.
er, in a standard mOviemaking ~--
style. And the "Jackass" guys
provoke a response with physical stunts.
Baron Cohen's goal was to provoke a re
sponse, be funny, stay in character and
never lose the confidence of the peopJe he
"interviewed. " And to do it all in one take.
So while much of the movie's humor
comes from Borat talking to frat boys.
a rodeo official and experts on man
ners (all of whom react with increduli
ty or cheerful agreement to Borat's rant
ings) , there is a whole other hlgb-wire
act happening on screen -though JiI
Jette thinks some people in the film may
have caught on to the joke.
"People love to put each other on in
the U.S.," he says. "While they may have
been trying to get along with Borat,
they may also have just wanted to have
a good time. r think it was America that
may have taken Borat for a little ride." •
turalLeamings of America for Make
Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakh
stan," co-written by and starring British
comic Sacha Baron Cohen (aka lV's
Ali G), is a faux documentary , opening
Friday, about a Kazakh lV reporter trav
eling the U.S. to learn our ways (and he
hopes, maybe many Pam Anderson) .
The government of Kazakhstan has
expressed concern about the fictional
Borat (r.) '~representing'" its people.
Some ac:tivist groups worry-that the mov
Ie's button-pushing on race, gender and
sexuality will be seen as encouraging, in
stead of spoofing , prejudlce. And some
of the people interviewed by Borat in the
film say they didn't realize he was mak
ing a comedy when they expressed or
agreed with outrageous c·omments .
But one thing isn't being discussed:
Baron Cohen's goofball skill in a movie
that industry bible Variety has already
called "uproariously funny."
Penn Jillette, of the comedy duo Penn
& TeUer and one of the forces behind the
documentary "The Aristocrats, " agrees.
, All anyone is talking about are the
things other people say in the film," says
Jillette. ''What I think should be talk-
ed about, really, is what a fabulous actor
Sacha is. I would watch 'Borat' without
anyone being pranked in it.' The kick is the
difficulty level in
Baron Cohen'S
performance.
The improv in
films like "Best
in Show" or the ,
upcoming "For ~G
Your Consider- .
ation" comes from
actors riffing togeth- '.
er, in a standard mOviemaking ~--
style. And the "Jackass" guys
provoke a response with physical stunts.
Baron Cohen's goal was to provoke a re
sponse, be funny, stay in character and
never lose the confidence of the peopJe he
"interviewed. " And to do it all in one take.
So while much of the movie's humor
comes from Borat talking to frat boys.
a rodeo official and experts on man
ners (all of whom react with increduli
ty or cheerful agreement to Borat's rant
ings) , there is a whole other hlgb-wire
act happening on screen -though JiI
Jette thinks some people in the film may
have caught on to the joke.
"People love to put each other on in
the U.S.," he says. "While they may have
been trying to get along with Borat,
they may also have just wanted to have
a good time. r think it was America that
may have taken Borat for a little ride." •