Sunday, November 12, 2006


G's Movie Spot - "Borat"
Unless you have lacked access to a newspaper, magazine, television or computer with Internet access for the last couple of months, you are probably aware of a certain controversial moviefilm (as Borat would call it) and character by the name of "Borat." It being billed by some as the "Funniest movie of all-time" certainly set the bar high, perhaps too high, but I will soften the hyperbole a bit and say it is the funniest movie I have seen this year. I did not laugh so hard that I had to leave the theater, as Larry David did during his screening of the film, but I certainly busted a gut or two along the way.

Based around the Kazakh character Borat Sagdiyev, originally created by British actor/comedian Sacha Baron Cohen for his British series "Da Ali G Show," the movie is essentially a road picture as Borat and his producer Azamat (Ken Davitian) travel from Kazakhstan to the "U.S. and A." to make a documentary about American culture from their perspective. The full movie title is "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan."

"OK, so where's the comedy?" you ask (if you haven't heard of Borat that is). Did I mention that Borat is a racist, sexist, anti-semitic boor? The duo arrive in New York City armed with "a jar of gypsy tears" which Borat says "will protect me from AIDS." Walking along the sidewalks of New York shortly upon his arrival, he initially thinks that every woman he passes by is a prostitute. "Very nice. How much?" he asks each of them guilelessly. However, he finds the girl of his dreams in "Baywatch" star Pamela Anderson while flipping the TV dial in his hotel room. He must go to Los Angeles to meet her, and there's your plot.

Along the way Borat meets a humor coach, etiquette teacher and sings a fake version of the Kazakh national anthem to the tune of "The Star Spangled Banner." At the rodeo event he initially wins the crowd over by saying that Kazakhstanis support "your war of terror" and then goes on to lose them faster then you can say "weapons of mass destruction" with his insulting lyrics. Another highlight is the hilarious naked wrestling match in a hotel room with Azamat that results in much destruction of the room and goes in unspeakable comic directions. Without getting too descriptive let's put it this way: Azamat is big (really big) and at one point Borat ends up in a sexual position with him that, well, two heterosexual guys would not want to end up in.

There is a scene towards the end of the film where Borat hitches a ride with a bunch of drunken frat boys from the University of South Carolina. I'd read about the scene, and the disturbing misogynistic views that are expressed by the brothers. I have to admit that the theater fell silent during this part of the film, as well as another when Borat and Azamat spend a night in a bed and breakfast run by an older Jewish couple. You really find out a lot about the values of the people you live around during a film with such a take no prisoners approach, based soley on what is laughed at and what is not. It was very revealing.

I read recently that a Russian agency has declined to grant permission for the film to be shown in Russian theaters. Interestingly Kazakhstan, a country with close political ties to Russia that has been up in arms over the film, hasn't banned it. After seeing the film I can see why some would be angry, as Kazakhstanis are portrayed as bumbling, sexist morons living in a backwater country. On the flip side the film doesn't exactly paint the denizens of the American South and the American Heartland in a flattering light either, as they come off as prejudiced against gays, Jews, Muslims, you name it. Whether intended or not, the film strikes at the heart of the "Red State/Blue State" divide that has deepened during the Bush presidency.

Perhaps the fact that I had seen so many of the film's great moments during reviews and talk show appearances by Borat took a bit away from the overall impact. Nevertheless, "Borat" is a laugh out loud riot that deserves the attention it is receiving. At times it might offend you, at times it might shock you, but I guarantee this: If you can watch this movie and not laugh once then you need to have your funny bone checked.