BORAT RULES!
Every once and a while a stark, satirical movie
like Borat comes along that you know going into
it will be funny as hell. This is a refreshing and
good feeling to have in a country that grows
increasingly sterile in its humor but it is also a bit
frightening when the movie ends and you realize
how spot on the commentary is on our
dysfunctional society. Borat is the creation of
Sasha Cohen, and he is one of the most
hilarious, ridiculous and brilliant characters to
come along in some time.
Evolved from a British sketch comedy show, this
character from the former soviet ruled province of
Kazakhstan visits America, New York first, on a quest for
fire, or in Borat’s case indoor plumbing, and gets caught
up in an Alice in Wonderland like adventure.
Accompanied by two fellow Kazakhstanians, his
producer, who is right from a WWF nightmare and a
camera man who is apparently invisible, Borat attempts
to “sus out” what it is that makes America great so he
can return to his “backward” land and make it better.
The tack Sasha Cohen employs to achieve his comic
ends is most daring, in an Andy Kaufman way, and at times made me fear he was about to be arrested or beaten
up. The character of Borat is apparently unknown in this country, and Cohen uses this to his advantage, as he
throws himself into situation after situation where the people he is interviewing really believe he is the character in
front of them, a hapless but somehow likeable citizen from a third world nation.
Every person or group he encounters in the movie creates an awkward situation but the most interesting, for me, is
his visit to an evangelical Christian gathering, at which he “testifies” to his bleak situation; being left by his
producer with no money and no ticket home. The camera work is deft in this sequence as we are given candid
glimpses of passion filled church goers feeling the “spirit of the lord” fill them as they run around and gyrate to the
volcanic preaching’s of the pastor. I almost felt uncomfortable, like I was intruding on this ceremony, and then it hit
me that Sasha Cohen actually had the balls to go in there and pretend to be in spiritual despair just to get a laugh?
No, well, maybe, but nonetheless this is satire of the highest quality and it lays bare the fanatical underbelly of our
country and, I am sad to say, its’ potential for extremism towards minority groups, you know who you are.
Undoubtedly many people will be unhappy and even angry about this movie, which only goes to prove how
accurate it is at showing the absurdity of our “culture.” I am truly relieved, however, that four showings in a row at
my suburban multiplex were sold out and that once the movie began people were laughing like there was no
tomorrow. The paradox about a movie like Borat is that if we are smart enough to pay attention to it we might
actually have a better tomorrow.
Movie Critic: Ray Reehill
Every once and a while a stark, satirical movie
like Borat comes along that you know going into
it will be funny as hell. This is a refreshing and
good feeling to have in a country that grows
increasingly sterile in its humor but it is also a bit
frightening when the movie ends and you realize
how spot on the commentary is on our
dysfunctional society. Borat is the creation of
Sasha Cohen, and he is one of the most
hilarious, ridiculous and brilliant characters to
come along in some time.
Evolved from a British sketch comedy show, this
character from the former soviet ruled province of
Kazakhstan visits America, New York first, on a quest for
fire, or in Borat’s case indoor plumbing, and gets caught
up in an Alice in Wonderland like adventure.
Accompanied by two fellow Kazakhstanians, his
producer, who is right from a WWF nightmare and a
camera man who is apparently invisible, Borat attempts
to “sus out” what it is that makes America great so he
can return to his “backward” land and make it better.
The tack Sasha Cohen employs to achieve his comic
ends is most daring, in an Andy Kaufman way, and at times made me fear he was about to be arrested or beaten
up. The character of Borat is apparently unknown in this country, and Cohen uses this to his advantage, as he
throws himself into situation after situation where the people he is interviewing really believe he is the character in
front of them, a hapless but somehow likeable citizen from a third world nation.
Every person or group he encounters in the movie creates an awkward situation but the most interesting, for me, is
his visit to an evangelical Christian gathering, at which he “testifies” to his bleak situation; being left by his
producer with no money and no ticket home. The camera work is deft in this sequence as we are given candid
glimpses of passion filled church goers feeling the “spirit of the lord” fill them as they run around and gyrate to the
volcanic preaching’s of the pastor. I almost felt uncomfortable, like I was intruding on this ceremony, and then it hit
me that Sasha Cohen actually had the balls to go in there and pretend to be in spiritual despair just to get a laugh?
No, well, maybe, but nonetheless this is satire of the highest quality and it lays bare the fanatical underbelly of our
country and, I am sad to say, its’ potential for extremism towards minority groups, you know who you are.
Undoubtedly many people will be unhappy and even angry about this movie, which only goes to prove how
accurate it is at showing the absurdity of our “culture.” I am truly relieved, however, that four showings in a row at
my suburban multiplex were sold out and that once the movie began people were laughing like there was no
tomorrow. The paradox about a movie like Borat is that if we are smart enough to pay attention to it we might
actually have a better tomorrow.
Movie Critic: Ray Reehill
