Retrospectacle: A Neuroscience Blog

I’m sure you’ve heard about “Borat.” Like Snakes on a Plane, its been the object of a huge amount of hype and word-of-mouth style promotion. I went to go see the movie Sunday night, and I gotta say, I thought it was hilarious. Although, several people walked out of the theater about 15 minutes into the movie. And I heard a few others say “That wasn’t funny at all” while leaving. Honestly, if you don’t have a sense of humor (and a flexible one at that) don’t see it. But, if you’re a fan of pushing-the-envelope type humor a la South Park, Drawn Together, etc, chances are you’ll laugh hard and loud.

For the Nov 13 edition of Newsweek, there appears an interview with the comedic mind behind Borat and Ali G: Sacha Baron Cohen. This is a rare event in and of itself, as he is notoriously guarded in regards to his privacy, and rarely gives interviews out of character. Check it out.

To be fair, this isn’t “high comedy” we’re talking about here. This is pretty low-brow slapsticky stuff. However, I personally tend to like that kind of humor (when done well, which this is) so I encourage those who also like it to check out “Borat.” Just check your sense of “PC” at the door, and you’ll be fine.

UPDATE: Now a man in Turkey, who is a local internet celebrity, is claiming to be the “real” Borat.

Comments

#1 JD
November 7, 2006

You can see some entertaining video of him getting interviewed on the Opie and Anthony radio show here(five parts): http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=borat+opie&search=Search
#2 Mustafa Mond, FCD
November 7, 2006

Hilarious or offensive?

Yes.
#3 Paul A
November 7, 2006

If you need an example of him pushing the bounds of good taste (the audience reactions are shockingly hilarious) check him singing ‘Throw The Jew Down The Well’ at a country bar in Tucson. I didn’t stop laughing for a couple of days after watching it
#4 RiverCocytus
November 7, 2006

I think what’s nice about Borat is, like South Park, he makes fun of everybody. Often the people who find him unfunny are people who take themselves too seriously. (Some are parents who rightly take what they want their kids watching seriously, so you won’t hear any quarrel from me on that.)

They say the funniest part is how ordinary people respond. I will have to see it for myself. The fellas and I saw ‘The Prestige’ instead, and it was excellent.

Congrats on the $1000, Shel!
#5 Three Texas
November 7, 2006

I think to qualify as an “interview,” the subject must at least be quoted. I think that link is to an interview with people who know Cohen.
#6 Shelley Batts
November 7, 2006

Hmmm, quite true Texas. Perhaps it would be better labeled as a background piece on Cohen.
#7 vijayachandra
November 10, 2006

I haven’t seen the movie yet but I saw borat on “the daily show with jon stewart” and he was hiiiiilarious!!!
#8 Mustafa Mond, FCD
November 10, 2006

Humiliated frat boys sue ‘Borat’
#9 Mustafa Mond, FCD
November 14, 2006

Now Romanians say ‘Borat’ misled them

…
Now offended villagers are threatening to sue the film’s producers for paying them a pittance to put farm animals in their homes and perform other crude antics.
.
Residents and local officials in the hardscrabble hamlet 85 miles northwest of Bucharest said Tuesday they were horrified and humiliated to learn their abject poverty and simple ways were ridiculed for a movie now raking in millions at box offices worldwide.
…
#10 Shelley Batts
November 14, 2006

Oh man……the plot thickens. I didn’t feel bad for those frat guys not one bit, but I have a bit more sympathy for the poverty-stricken Romanians. Sounds like buyers remorse to me, either way.