Mixed Emotions Over Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno

nytimes.com:

"Brüno," a movie that, in mercilessly exploiting the discomfort created when straight men are ambushed by aggressive gayness, happens to (surprise!) expose homophobia. Gay groups are reacting with deeply mixed emotions, heightened by the recent triumphs (Iowa) and losses (California) in efforts to legalize gay marriage. Is the film then vulgar, inappropriate and harmful? Or bold, timely and necessary? All of the above?

Ultimately the tension surrounding "Brüno" boils down to the worry that certain viewers won't understand that the joke is on them and will leave the multiplex with their homophobia validated.

Read the whole story: nytimes.com

Comments

[pfitzner]

What a patronizing idea tolerance is. I just want society off my back. I don't want anyone fighting for greater "tolerance" for me. Certainly not SBC.

But then I look at the GQ cover, and the body is undeniably hot, even if the face is a bit horsey. Surely he's been waxed to the last follicle.

[Zoe1]

I like the Lipizzaner he's sitting on.

[RoBrGo]

Though I haven't seen the film (I'm not his target audience, I don't think), the "emperor's new clothes" aspect seems to me to be the fact that more than anything else he is (selling tickets by) mocking effeminate gays, at least as much as the many homophobes he targets.

[TimLB]

LOVE SBC. Can't wait for the film!

[RobinL]

Cohen's hysterical. I can't wait to see Bruno! I admire his courage and deep, dark sense of humor.

[kitty3363]

Boring Borat. go away. Snore

[slithers]

it's a comedy... grow a pair.

[Eric8869]

Please if gay people were offended by every gay joke we'd be offended 24/7 - we are allowed times to say enough is enough

[kiwiman122]

So, you have never made fun of a man for being straight?.­....the movie is all that is made fun of.

[brandnewstuff]

effacement of all- one word for a man - and I would hardly classify this person as a artist- shock and awe- greatness and talnet- just a media horror for a groupie following

[Wombaticus]

Cohen points the spotlight at the parts of society where we normally avert our gaze, and cracks jokes while doing it.
Anytime a hypocrite is exposed it is inherently embarrassing for the hypocrite, and almost always enjoyable for the rest of is. I think that is a huge part of Cohen's humor. But its no surprise that the people who have been embarrassed feel like suing him for their humiliation. After all, for many many people its OK to think badly of, vote against, bully and snicker at "The Other", but not OK to be spotlighted for it.

[FabulousAt52]

I do agree with you... when a person is obviously waltzing through life, *actively* making others miserable and disrespecting them because of their lifestyle, race, beliefs, etc... there's nothing wrong with highlighting those wrongdoings and letting the chips fall where they may.

However, that being said and agreed upon, what Cohen is doing in this film is not the same. There is no wrongdoing going on... he's not stopping anyone (gay) from being hurt or insulted, or turned down for a job, etc. He's just using (some) people's misconceptions of gay people and making over the top jokes about it while giving each side a good laugh. (well, SOME people get a good laugh out of it; I don't, myself)

Is he seeking out and ambushing people supposedly to 'expose' how they feel and shock them into thinking differently? If so, his methods will not now, and never will work. In the meantime, those who find his brand of sophomoric humor and sight gags amusing will pay $10 to see this movie, and the whole time enjoy a good laugh at others' expense... both the gays and those who don't understand them.
I will never be convinced that Cohen is merely "using humor" to teach anyone anything about bias or bigotry. He's using crass insult humor and flamboyant gay stereotypes to get $10 bucks from each person who walks into the theater to see that mess...

[Halfwit]

I am a gay man. I virtually never agree with GLAAD. I don't this time, either.
But at least the professional victims and whiners in the gay community have someone to take up their cause.
So California­...

[Eric8869]

Then you have no perspective and you don't know how potrayals in the media affect gay people in real life.

Read the Celluloid Closet by Vito Russo.

[kiwiman122]

Why do gay people love portraying themselves as "the victim"...­...The media treats gay men as people that can say anything, and do anything, and never get ridiculed for it.

So, I'm guessing you're saying it affects gay men positively­?.........­....Why don't you just enjoy the movie because it is funny and realize it probably offends the demographic he focuses on in the movie.....
And it still is funny.

[James Cinsov]

I liked Borat, and i will probably like Bruno, but one thing that disappoints me, is borat goes after the easy targets, anti-semite and supposed homophobes. By the way i hate that word "homophobes", i may hate gothic kids that doesn't make me a gothophobe.
I would like to see Sascha tackle the subtle idiots- the self congratulating liberals, college students and other smug undeserved sense of accomplishment mooks that spam blog after blog, shouting words like "homophobe!" and "racist!" but who are totally ignorant about the world except what they hear on the daily show.

[MiddleRoadLiberal]

When men obscenely come on to women and women rebuff them, it's the man's fault. But when gay men do obscene acts to "come on" straight men and the straight men rebuff them, it's homophobia?

[FabulousAt52]

Interesting point..... curious to see how others respond... or don't.

[Eric8869]

WRONG! When straight men catcall, stare and harass women they are just being one of the boys.

When a gay man looks at a straight man - he's beaten to death and left to die.

give me a break!

[CarbonDate]

Guess it depends on when and where you grew up, doesn't it?

Attitudes on the acceptability of sexual harassment are changing over the generations. I'm going to guess you're over 50? What you say is probably true of your generation. It's less true of younger generations.

And yes, kissing a woman after pantsing her without her consent would qualify as sexual assault in almost any setting. It's only acceptable here because it was done to a man.

[Indra]

No, if you harass women you are not just one of the boys. You are a slime bag.

[kiwiman122]

hahaha dude you are the poster child of ignorance.­.....way to keep an open mind.

Plus your little analogy is very unrelated.­......in one scenario a person is being catcalled. In the other a person is being touched physically. Much different. Your example seemed well thought out; but you obviously didn't read the comment you were responding too that well.

[OhComeOnNow]

don't respect gays or women, huh?

[FabulousAt52]

Twice this was posted and it disappeared.
I'm not even going to try to put it in as a reply to another poster....­but...

You know what? Even people who are homophobic, whether you or I think that's wrong or not, are entitled to their feelings. They should NOT ACT on those feelings by discriminating against anyone else, or making others feel ashamed or uncomfortable; but as far as simply FEELING the way they do- they are entitled to it and that's their 'right'.

Why is it OK to exploit those who may have those feelings? Make a "joke" out of them, ambush them, make them feel foolish or deny them their feelings about things? What about the reasons they may feel that way? How do we know why they feel the way they do?

Why is it OK to do that-- not in a subtle, ironic, intelligent way... but in a stupid, demeaning, ha-ha-ha you're an IDIOT way? Do you really think that will 'teach' them to be tolerant and open minded?

Well, don't think so, and I also think Sacha Cohen is a boring loser and a one trick pony. Let's not call him a "genius" nor excuse his stereotypical over the top portrayals of gays as anything other than what it is- over the top gay mockery.

[GEM-592]

I'm just not feeling this ... suffrage for those who have discriminatory views? Very surreal. If a movie it all it takes to make you feel foolish about your views, I'd say it has some value.

[FabulousAt52]

Do you mean to suggest people *should be* mocked, derided, and made fools of simply because of what they feel or how they think...? wow....

So then THAT kind of discrimination is OK?
See, that's what I was asking; WHY is that ok? What if I don't like how you feel about .... oh, let's say GOD or religion? Or what if I don't like the way you think regarding politics or government? I therefore have the right to make a mockery of you and how you feel? To hold you up for public ridicule, pointing and laughing? That's the way to change your mind?

So education and example isn't the answer to the issue of bigotry or prejudice; gee, how could I be so silly? Ok, I get it now.

[AGarcia]

"... mercilessly exploiting the discomfort created when straight men are ambushed by aggressive gayness".

Sounds like "Brokeback Mountain" to me.

[jones]

I hope in his next film, he'll play a born-again governor of an isolated state with visions of power and a messed up family.