Entertainment HomeDVD review : Borat.
by: Anthony Chatfield
 |
When Sacha Baron Cohen first steps on screen in what is supposed to be a tiny Kazakhstani village and welcomes you to his film, you might be a bit apprehensive. Everyone’s raved about how incredibly funny Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan is, how it’s one of the funniest films of the decade. But, you’ve also heard about how politically incorrect it might be, and don’t want to be seen laughing at that misogynist joke.
By the 10 minute mark, you probably don’t care anymore. Everyone watching with you will be laughing too hard to realize you’re laughing with them. It’s that funny of a film. When Cohen first introduced us to Borat in his Ali G show on HBO, the results were mixed. It was a funny character, with a ridiculously hard to watch shtick but the jokes were usually one liners and didn’t offer much more than single viewing laughs.
When given the green light for a feature film though, Cohen and friends picked up the slack and slapped together one of the funniest films ever made. It’s a simple concept. Borat is a reporter for his home of Kazakhstan. The country decides to send him to America to learn more about American culture, taking a film crew along with him. In the process, he more or less insults every woman he meets, every race other than his own, and every poor soul he manages to convince to sit down for an interview with.
Reviewing this film is something of a conundrum, because unveiling any of the jokes more than the countless trailers have already done would only cheapen their effectiveness. You can’t know the punchline is coming the first time you see, mainly because the punchline is the entire film. Borat’s journey, one of discovery and self-discovery (if you were willing to go that far with it) is packed to the brim with American stereotypes and man whose views are so backwards that Americans have no idea how to respond. Fortunately for us, many of them just act themselves, which in some cases is horrible.
 |
The responses Borat can illicit from his “interviewees” is amazing. The question of whether or not these are even real, or staged arose mainly because of how incredible the results are. Slick political messages, roundabout unveiling of tired stereotypes and ridiculous, over-the-top bouts of racism are so well done that they actually manage to have an impact and present a message about the state of things.
There’s a reason Borat spends so much of the film in the American south. It’s the ripest for satirizing and he does it better than anyone has in a long time.
Simply put, Borat is a must see film. And likely, you’ll need to see it twice, which makes the DVD just released a great buy or rent. You’ll laugh too hard at times, missing jokes along the way. It truly takes a Golden Globe winning performance to make a film that’s, on paper, so embarrassing to watch that isn’t actually embarrassing at all to watch, only hilarious.
[ Back to top ]
About The Author
I'm a self avowed unemployed writer, working on semi-constant basis to try and overcome the need to go and work a real job. I've written more than 200 articles and reviews and am constantly scouring the internet for any and all excuses and methods to make myself less dependent on corporate pay days. Visit my website at TheChatfield.com
'Entertainment.WebWorlds-One.com' is the name, - what's the game?
- welcome to Entertainment.WebWorlds-One.com, - an exciting new initiative in info-mercial marketing on the internet.
This is where we bring you(r) postings about Entertainment news and trends in all their various guises . . .
[ Back to top ]
[ Back to top ]
Additional information:
Yahoo! Movies: New DVD Releases Next Week
New DVD Releases Next Week
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:42pm Directed by Roger Kumble (THE SWEETEST THING, JUST FRIENDS), the 2008 comedy COLLEGE ROAD TRIP stars Martin Lawrence as Chicago cop James Porter, an overprotective father who wants to keep his college-bound daughter, Melanie (Raven-Symone), close to home. When the smart, assertive Melanie declares her intention to attend Georgetown instead of Northwestern, James insistently sets out with her on a cross-country car journey to Washington D.C., hoping to dissuade her along the way. En route, of course, plenty of hijinks ensue, including scenarios involving a precocious pig and, oddly enough, Donny Osmond, who turns up as an eeriely cheery dad also on a college-touring campaign.
With its broad, slapstick humor and enegetic leads, COLLEGE ROAD TRIP is a perfect vehicle for Lawrence and Raven, who both play to their well-established personas--the former a cranky bumbler, the latter a headstrong teen. Osmond, in his first film role in decades, ideally embodies Ned Flanders-like enthusiasm, stealing plenty of scenes with the aid of his equally giddy on-screen offspring (Molly Ephraim). Although it's far from high-minded cinema, TRIP is a fun, family-oriented road movie that easily appeals to a wide audience, and offers up many silly and appalling moments of parental embarrassment. (1 hr. 23 min.)
Secretary
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:42pm Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) has a few strikes against her when she applies for a secretarial position at the law office of E. Edward Grey (James Spader). First, she was released only recently from a mental institution; second, after one day back with her dysfunctional suburban family she has succumbed to her secret obsession - self-mutilation. Somehow, she gets the job anyway. Then again, Mr. Grey is far from a normal boss. They embark on a relationship together, crossing lines of conduct that would give most human resource directors shivers. (1 hr. 44 min.)
Step Up 2 the Streets
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:42pm Andie is a newcomer at the Maryland School of the Arts, and her bad girl streak and street style threaten to keep her from finding her place. But she pairs up with the popular Chase, and they find a group of students to dance in a secret competition that suits Andie's talents. (1 hr. 37 min.)
Penelope
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm Like Tim Burton's EDWARD SCISSORHANDS and the TV show PUSHING DAISIES, PENELOPE is a modern fairy tale, complete with candy colors and whimsical cinematography. PENELOPE begins with a generations-old curse by a jilted lover: the next girl in the aristocratic Wilhern family will be born with a pig's snout and ears. Though ages pass, the bad luck finally manifests itself in young Penelope (Christina Ricci) much to the shame of her mother (Christopher Guest favorite Catherine O'Hara). In an effort to break the curse, her mother and father (Richard E. Grant, WITHNAIL AND I) try to bring in a series of blue-blooded suitors. But when they see her face, the men all run screaming. Enter Max (James McAvoy), a down-on-his-luck gambler who connects with Penelope. But when he is exposed as a fraud, the heartbroken girl escapes into the surrounding city. Though she hides her face with a scarf, Penelope gets to experience life outside her family's mansion for the first time.
Pig nose and all, Ricci is adorable as the title character, excellent in alternating between naïveté and independence. Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon succeeds in double duty as both a producer and in a small acting role as Penelope's first friend in the big city. But it's McAvoy, a standout in ATONEMENT and THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, who threatens to steal hearts. The pair's romance is believable, and it makes the film good viewing for fairy tale fans of all ages. The PG rating should appeal to families, as should the film's message about the importance of inner beauty and self confidence. (1 hr. 30 min.)
Shutter
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm Treading territory similar to JU-ON: THE GRUDGE (2003), RINGU (1998), and ONE MISSED CALL (2003), all Asian horror films remade for American audiences, SHUTTER is the first English-language film for director Masayuki Ochiai, whose career has been primarily within the horror genre. The result is another potent ghost story able to conjure up feelings of dread through a single longhaired, poker-faced female apparition.
Newlywed New Yorkers Ben (Joshua Jackson, THE SKULLS) and Jane Shaw (Rachael Taylor, TRANSFORMERS) have traveled to Tokyo, where photographer Ben is investigating a potentially lucrative job opportunity. While driving on a dark road at night, the couple runs over a mysterious woman who seems to appear out of nowhere and can't be found after the accident. Over the next few days, Jane goes sightseeing while Ben works, only to see strange apparitions that also appear on the photos she takes. After Ben's photos show the same ghostly forms, he confesses that he knows something about the woman they ran over, but it may be too late to stop her trail of terror. Another Hollywood remake of an Asian horror film, SHUTTER has a tricky lineage: the 2004 original was made in Thailand, while this version is U.S.-financed, but shot mostly in Japan. By setting the film in Japan, director Ochiai retains an element of exoticism for American audiences, which also allows Ben and Jane to be out of their element, à la DON'T LOOK NOW. As the menacing spirit, Megumi, Megumi Okina is adept at conjuring fear with a simple glare in a minimal but effective performance. SHUTTER doesn't stretch the boundaries of horror cinema, but it provides a handful of decent shocks and a couple of crowd-pleasing gross-outs, all within the limits of a non-restrictive PG-13 rating. (1 hr. 25 min.)
The Bank Job
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm A car dealer with a dodgy past and new family, Terry has always avoided major-league scams. But when Martine, a beautiful model from his old neighborhood, offers him a lead on a foolproof bank hit on London's Baker Street, Terry recognizes the opportunity of a lifetime. Martine targets a roomful of safe deposit boxes worth millions in cash and jewelry. But Terry and his crew don't realize the boxes also contain a treasure trove of dirty secrets - secrets that will thrust them into a deadly web of corruption and illicit scandal that spans London's criminal underworld, the highest echelons of the British government, and the Royal Family itself...the true story of a heist gone wrong...in all the right ways. (1 hr. 50 min.)
Eureka - Season Two
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm This smart series from the Sci Fi Channel combines the strangeness of THE X-FILES with the diverse characters of NORTHERN EXPOSURE to create an innovative dramedy. A car accident leads U.S. Marshal Jack Carter (Colin Ferguson, COUPLING) to the small town of Eureka. The town is the brainchild of Albert Einstein and President Truman, and has become a haven for the smartest people in the country. Though Eureka appears to be like any other small city in the Northwest, its denizens make sure their home is never normal as they create the innovations that power the rest of the globe. As Eureka is kept a secret from the outside world, Allison Blake (Salli Richardson-Whitfield) acts a bridge between the town and the Pentagon. She and Carter bump heads, but their rivalry is driven by a heated chemistry that gives the show some zing. EUREKA also features the talents of genre favorites such as Joe Morton (BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET), Debrah Farentino (EARTH 2), and Matt Frewer (MAX HEADROOM). This release includes the second season in its entirety.
Final Approach
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm Anthony Michael Hall, he of former movie geekdom as part of the Brat Pack in the 1980s, goes full throttle as a terrorist who hijacks a commercial flight on behalf of the radical People's Separatist Movement. Luckily, Dean Cain is on board as a crackerjack hostage negotiator who is flying on the troubled airplane in question, while his wife (Lea Thompson), an FAA employee, works toward uncovering the terrorist group's motivation. With a nuclear holocaust looming, all sides must race against the clock before the government's executive decision to blow the plane out of the sky is carried out in this tension-filled actioner.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) is a NASCAR racing sensation whose "win at all costs" approach has made him a national hero. He and his loyal racing partner and childhood friend, Cal Naughton Jr. (John C. Reilly), are a fearless duo, thrilling their fans by finishing most races in the top spots - with Ricky Bobby always leading the pack. When a flamboyant French Formula One driver, Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen), challenges him for the supremacy of NASCAR, Ricky Bobby must face his own demons and fight for his place as racing's top driver. (1 hr. 50 min.)
The Curiosity of Chance
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm Chance Marquis (Tad Hilgenbrinck) is the new kid in school who manages to make friends with both the jocks and the outsiders in THE CURIOSITY OF CHANCE. The movie is set in the 1980s and takes an amusing look at high school conventions from the era.
Held Up
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm Foxx portrays Michael Dawson, a successful Chicago businessman whose life falls apart while he's driving to the Grand Canyon with his gorgeous fiancee, Rae (Long). When Rae discovers that he has used their savings to buy the car, she cuts off the engagement and leaves him behind. Intent on driving back to Chicago to win Rae back, Michael instead finds himself stuck in a hillbilly town when a young punk steals his car. And when a gang of bandits attempts to rob the "Sip & Zip," it's up to Michael to keep the bumbling thieves and incompetent cops from doing real damage to each other. (1 hr. 29 min.)
Insanitarium
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm He's played a terrifyingly mono-syllabic kidnapper and murderer, an eccentric drug dealer, and Satan at least once each, so it was only a matter of time for the well-trained Peter Stormare (FARGO, BAD BOYS II, CONSTANTINE) to take on the role of Dr. Gianetti, the unhinged head physician of the Mid-Psych mental institution. When the punky Jack (Jesse Metcalfe) discovers the patients of Mid-Psych--including his sister--are being subjected to experimentation and turned into vicious killers, it's up to him and his nervous-yet-trusty friend and sidekick (Kevin Sussman) to take care of business. This innovative and energetic directorial debut from MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN scribe Jim Buhler combines gallows humor, a vivid cast of characters, lovingly crafted practical gore effects, and genuine terror to a sickening effect.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - Complete Collection
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm Blending smart humor, sci-fi, and fantasy, this anime series features a high school club specializing in the not-quite-commonplace. In MELANCHOLY OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA, the slightly off-kilter members of the title character's SOS Brigade parlay their loves of time travel, alien life, and ESP into adventures that are anything but mundane.
Grind
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm When a drag-racing, hard-luck parolee moves in with his brother in hopes of that ever-elusive fresh start in life, he's sure to be warm for the form of his brother's bored young wife. Guess what? Things only get worse when he tries to turn a quick buck in a one-time insurance fraud operation. (1 hr. 36 min.)
The Fabulous Journey to the Center of the Earth
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm Professor Otto Lindenbrock and his niece find an amazing lost world in the planet's core in this adaptation of Jules Verne's classic novel FABULOUS JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH.
Thank you for visiting WebWorlds-One.com, - call back soon and have a Nice Day!
[ Back to top ]
©2006-07