sacha baron cohen Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Discuss: Why is 'Borat' Funnier than 'Brüno'?
Filed under: Comedy », New Releases »
Having been adequately prepared for the lewd horrors that would await me, I finally got around to seeing Brûno in a surprisingly full theater yesterday afternoon. (My assumption that interest in the film would have petered out by the second weekend, especially for a midday showing, landed me in the second row -- bringing me a bit closer to experience than I might have preferred.) Like everyone else, I continue to be awed by Sacha Baron Cohen's incredible focus as a performer -- though did anybody catch the one moment where he cracks an inadvertent smile? It happens while Brüno is attempting to become a National Guard cadet. Anyway, I did laugh quite a bit, and smiled even more. To its credit, the movie actually gets better as it goes along, with the last twenty minute stretch probably rating the funniest.
The question everyone has been asking this week and last is whether Baron Cohen's Borat is funnier than his Brûno. The consensus answer -- which seems right to me -- is yes, absolutely. But why? Overwhelmingly, folks are blaming the fact that Brûno is more scripted, and crucial scenes appear more staged. That's true, although may I direct you to this clip of Baron Cohen on David Letterman, out of character, recounting the terrifying experience of putting Brûno in the same room with a living, breathing terrorist. And I do think the film's decreased "authenticity" has an effect. But I'd like to get your thoughts on the following...
Review: Bruno
Filed under: Comedy », New Releases », Universal », Theatrical Reviews », Summer Movies »
Given the kaleidoscopic venn diagram of contexts in which Bruno can and will inevitably be viewed, it's tough to know precisely where to start, and how far to go when deconstructing Sacha Baron Cohen's new comedy. Like the singular, groundbreaking Borat, it's a balls-out comedy, but it's also a social commentary; it's both the latest movie Cohen appears in, and the big-deal "next effort" from him as a performance artist and lead rather than costar or day-player; and finally, it's a lightning rod for controversy and also a generally innocuous goof on mainstream expectations of him and his character, a flamboyant homosexual. All of which suggests that the film is, or perhaps would necessarily be, richer and more substantive than its predecessor - the sort of galvanizing experience that leaves audiences buzzing, changes minds and perceptions, and transforms the face of entertainment forever.
And yet, Bruno is curiously ineffective, a sort of middling effort that fails to liberate itself from the stereotypes that provide the character's foundations, even if it also doesn't deliberately or harmfully reinforce them.
Universal Cuts Michael Jackson Scene from 'Bruno'
Filed under: Comedy », Documentary », Gay & Lesbian », Universal », Celebrities and Controversy », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Movie Marketing », Summer Movies »
The decidedly un-PC Bruno has gone sensitive. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal has decided to err on the side of caution, and cut a Michael Jackson related skit from Sacha Baron Cohen's raunchy comedy. The edit was made just hours before its Los Angeles premiere. "We decided to take it out for tonight, and we'll reassess before the release whether to keep it out," said director Larry Charles at the premiere's afterparty.
The scene involves Cohen's gay Austrian interviewing an unsuspecting LaToya Jackson about a number of topics, but focusing on her brother, Michael. As I haven't seen the film, I don't know what the jokes are, but THR says that they center on Jackson's high-pitched voice, and his one-time white glove trademark. It's already screened for critics, none of whom found the scene particularly offensive, but Universal was concerned it would upset his grieving family and fans. However, Universal might restore it for the film's wide release, as a studio spokesperson also confirmed that they were still undecided about whether it should stay or go. The film opens in two weeks, and cutting the scene out of every print would be expensive, and possibly delay the film a'la Spider-Man 2.
What do you think, readers? Is Universal making the right call to err on the side of caution or good taste? Or should they leave Bruno alone, and trust audiences will be less sensitive about Jackson in the coming weeks?
More Bruno: Check out this hilarious report from the Bruno premiere on Moviefone Minute.
The scene involves Cohen's gay Austrian interviewing an unsuspecting LaToya Jackson about a number of topics, but focusing on her brother, Michael. As I haven't seen the film, I don't know what the jokes are, but THR says that they center on Jackson's high-pitched voice, and his one-time white glove trademark. It's already screened for critics, none of whom found the scene particularly offensive, but Universal was concerned it would upset his grieving family and fans. However, Universal might restore it for the film's wide release, as a studio spokesperson also confirmed that they were still undecided about whether it should stay or go. The film opens in two weeks, and cutting the scene out of every print would be expensive, and possibly delay the film a'la Spider-Man 2.
What do you think, readers? Is Universal making the right call to err on the side of caution or good taste? Or should they leave Bruno alone, and trust audiences will be less sensitive about Jackson in the coming weeks?
More Bruno: Check out this hilarious report from the Bruno premiere on Moviefone Minute.
Forget About Reputations, Now Sacha Baron Cohen is Being Sued for Physical Injury
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy »
With the assumed exception of Isla Fisher and Olive Cohen, I bet there's no one that Sacha Baron Cohen wouldn't torment with his outlandish alter egos. He's nabbed the ignorant, the rich and famous, and the less fortunate. Just the other day, he firmly planted his crotch in Eminem's face at the MTV Movie Awards. But for the most part, it's always been bruised egos and relationships in his wake -- not physical damage.But all that's changing. TMZ reports that a woman named Richelle Olson is suing Cohen, NBC Universal, and others after suffering serious physical injuries during one of his stunts at a Bingo hall in 2007. Using the guise of a celebrity who was willing to call numbers at the hall, Cohen showed up as Bruno -- who Olson accurately describes as an "extreme, outrageous, offensive caricature of a gay man dressed in sexually revealing clothing with an Austrian accent." He used offensive language, she tried to regain control of the mic, and a struggle resulted where she was "offensively touched, pushed, and battered." This sent her into tears. She then fell unconscious, hit a concrete slab, suffered brain bleeds, and now needs a wheelchair and walker to move around. Just to make it all the worse, TMZ followed up with Bingo friends who say Olson has lost a ton of weight, looks like she's aged 20 years, and continues to fall and hurt herself further.
Unsurprisingly, there's no comment to the allegations at this time, but the turmoil does ask an important question: Just how far should Cohen be able to push the line? Or, do you think there's any line he could cross where satire becomes cruel or inappropriate?
MTV Movie Awards Clips: 'Transformers, 'G.I. Joe' and More
Filed under: Fandom », Home Entertainment », Trailers and Clips »
.jpg)
Above: MTV revealed the first clear shot of The Fallen in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Oh, admit it -- you totally watched the MTV Movie Awards last night because you're secretly obsessed with Robert Pattinson and you knew they'd be overdosing on the poor guy since MTV is fastly becoming the All Twilight Network. In case you missed some (or all) of the action, here are the new clips they aired, as well as a little of the show itself.
First up is that clip from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. MTV took it down for some reason, but Trailer Addict has it up in decent quality. Essentially, Sam and Mikaela are hiding from a whole fleet of Decepticons, and when Sam destroys some weird looking mosquito/satellite bot, all hell breaks loose. Check it out below.
Head after the jump for much more ...
First Trailer for Sacha Baron Cohen's 'Bruno'!
Filed under: Comedy », Fandom », NSFW », Movie Marketing », Trailers and Clips »
Prepare to divert your eyes, the first trailer for Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno has debuted online ... and it's just nasty. How is it nasty? I think a better question would be how is it not nasty -- from the looks of it Baron Cohen has upped the ante considerably since taking on the Borat character back in 2006, and will use his Bruno character -- who he pretends is a gay Austrian fashion reporter -- to expose the rampant homophobia across the United States and, while he's at it, somehow manage to offend everyone else by falling, destroying, cursing and dressing up as your worst nightmare ... in heels.
The trailer itself -- which kicks off with a quote from Ain't It Cool News (take that Ben Lyons!) -- is pretty hilarious and very R-rated, so you'll need to enter in a proper birthdate and all that. Just how many lawsuits will come from this one, we do not know -- but I'm positive folks will be rolling in the aisles of their local movie theater come July 10. Remember, as of its first pass through the MPAA, Bruno was given an NC-17 -- but they'll probably shave some meat off and bring this sucker down to an R before it's all said and done.
You can watch the trailer over on MySpace, but be warned that this is definitely NSFW. (Oh, and check out the image that came with this new trailer in the gallery below.)
Gallery: Bruno
Baron Cohen's 'Bruno' Slapped with NC-17 Rating
Filed under: Comedy », Celebrities and Controversy », Exhibition », Newsstand »
.jpg)
We've heard a lot about the unbelievably ridiculousness of Sacha Baron Cohen's new mock-gotcha flick Brüno (which is sorta like a sequel to Borat, but with another one of Baron Cohen's over-the-top characters), and so the news that it's received an NC-17 rating upon its first run through the MPAA shouldn't be all that shocking. According to The Wrap, that's exactly what happened -- and it was due to scenes where Baron Cohen (as Brüno ,the gay Austrian fashion reporter) "appears to have anal sex with a man on camera." Another "problem scene", according to The Wrap, comes when Cohen "goes on a hunting trip and sneaks naked into the tent of one of the fellow hunters, an unsuspecting non-actor."
Universal confirmed the NC-17 rating by noting: "On its first submission the film did not receive an R but it is far too early to say that there is any struggle to get there as the process is only at its inception." Since Universal won't release a film that's rated NC-17 -- especially because they know this sucker will make a ton of money for them assuming it gets its R rating -- you can bet Baron Cohen will be forced to cut or trim the scenes the MPAA deems not appropriate and leave them for an unrated DVD. So fear not, friends, this will find its way to theaters -- it'll just take a little more time to hash out the ratings snafu. That said, Brüno should still make its July 10 release date.
For more on Brüno, check out our report on the footage screened at SXSW.
Live from SXSW: 'Bruno' Footage Is 20 Minutes of Comedic Bliss
Filed under: Comedy », New Releases », SXSW », Festival Reports », Fandom »
Fans of Borat who have been worried that Sacha Baron Cohen's new film, Bruno, would be a step down in quality can relax. Universal Pictures showed 20 minutes of footage to a small crowd of South By Southwest attendees last night, and the results were explosive. I don't know that I've ever heard an audience so completely lost in loud, helpless paroxysms of laughter. It was the equivalent of doing 20 minutes of cardio. Even if some of what we saw doesn't make it into the final cut (due in theaters July 10), it bodes exceedingly well for the movie's fortunes.
Universal assured us we were the first people anywhere to see these scenes, and they were introduced by Baron Cohen himself ... on video, anyway. Using a highly exaggerated upper-class British accent ("Bruno is a funny old chap"), Baron Cohen filmed segments specifically for SXSW in which he explained what we were about to see in each of the three sequences.
Bruno, as you may know, is a flamboyantly gay Austrian fashion designer. The first sequence showed him seeking babies for a photo shoot, interviewing unsuspecting parents about what their toddlers can or cannot do. ("Is your baby comfortable with bees, wasps, and hornets?") If I were a betting man, I'd wager this is the sequence that will produce lawsuits. Some of these stage parents come across as awfully callous, apparently willing to subject their children to all manner of dangerous circumstances. Hilarious and appalling.
Cinematical Seven: Most Pointlessly Disgusting Scenes
Filed under: Comedy », Documentary », Horror », Sony », Universal », 20th Century Fox », Fox Searchlight », Cinematical Seven », Remakes and Sequels », Fox Atomic », Picturehouse »
I can think of at least three movies in the coming two weeks that feature scenes that are strikingly out of tone with the film they're a respective part of and yet seemingly included as a means of getting people to tell their loved ones how ridiculous Bit X in Movie Y is. And so today's Cinematical Seven list will be an arbitrary, far from ultimate compilation of the most distractingly disgusting and supremely superfluous parts in recent movies. Sure, most of these are comedies, and yes, most of them seem to have been released from the year 2000 on, and as always, we welcome your comments below. Just make sure they're not too gross.
(Speaking of which, NSFW clips follow after the jump.)
'Bruno' Footage Added to SXSW Lineup
Filed under: Comedy », SXSW », Fandom », Exhibition »
As if we couldn't be any more excited about SXSW than we already are, a special event was added this morning that's gonna blow the hat off any film lover attending the conference. Under the Fantastic Fest at Midnight sidebar, a new section of the conference curated by the team from Austin's premiere genre festival Fantastic Fest, the brainchild of Alamo Drafthouse owner Tim League, SXSW will present a selection of footage (roughly 20 minutes or so) from Universal Pictures' hotly anticipated summer release Brüno, starring Sacha Baron Cohen. Coen's follow-up to the hit comedy Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan centers on another of the characters he created for his HBO show, The Ali G Show, an For those who'll be in Austin, the screening will be held at 11pm at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar on Sunday, March 15.
_thumbnail.jpg)
'New Moon' Smashes 'Dark Knight's' Opening Day Record!
Black Friday Movie Deals: Best Buy
Sex and Nudity Don't Draw You to the Movies?
What Makes a Real Vampire?
Robert Downey Jr. Wants to Retire?
_thumbnail.jpg)
