Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Normally, Hollywood's hype machine is so full of crap that it is almost beyond comprehension. But Borat was actually funnier than I would have ever expected. No doubt the movie is remarkably offensive, and thank god, it is about time that it happened. Please Hollywood make more offensive movies, offend everyone just so long as it is funny. Borat comes at a great time, we need to encourage more freedom of speech along the lines of Borat even if we don't agree with the message.
Borat is a mockumentary that follows a Kazahstanian television personality, Borat, on his adventure across America. Along the way Borat exposes much of the ugliness hidden beneath the surface of American society ranging from racism to anti-antisemitism to several other isms. Sasha Baron Cohen, whose humor undoubtedly partially stems from the hundreds of hours of wedges due to being cruelly named Sasha by his parents, does a incredible job as the hopelessly lost Kazahstanian.
At its heart much of what is in Borat is a little terrifying as Cohen shines a light on much of America that has, for all practical purposes, been forgotten by time, but does so in impressively humorous fashion. As the numerous law suits now attest, Borat also is likely to have succeeded in destroying the lives of a few drunken losers and bigots whose only real crime, let's face it, is being the victims of isolation and a broken educational system. That's not bleeding heart crap, its a fact.
Revealing too many of the jokes of the film would only lessen the experience. A word of strong advice, for the love of God, don't take smaller or younger children to see Borat. In fact, it should probably be considered child abuse. No one needs to see extremely hairy and extremely fat naked man wrestling, I mean unless your into that sort of thing and then there is nothing wrong with it, blay-blay blay and so forth. Just don't take the tiny ones, okay!
Watching the film you may be a bit bewildered that the budget was in the $10 to 20 million dollar range. This is a scary fact and is the largest criticism I have of the film. It is quite funny in and of itself that while Cohen would fashion himself as a rebel, that rebellious nature did not extend to working on a true budget. However, with about $10-20 million dollar budget and a box-office draw of over $100 million I think we will see many more Cultural Learnings of America in our future.
Story A
Acting A (Cohen is fantastic, plain and simple.)
Visuals NA
Originality/Innovation A (Borat is definitely one
of the most innovative movies to hit theaters in quite some time and it may mark a turning point for an industry that needs innovation badly and quickly.)
Enjoyability Grade A (If you don't have a good time watching Borat you probably take life way too serious, your probably way to tightly wound, you probably own many, many guns and you will probably die of coronary disease early in life.)
Home Theater/HD Factor D (HD will not help the look of Borat at all.)
Overall Grade A (This is one funny film that does much to spotlight many of the cancers that are eating away at America.)
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