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

[ILoveHuff]

I saw this coming months ago. he needs the hors efor attention.

Gay comedy is over. It's old news!

If you want some fesh decadent comedt check out COMING SOON, the films that sparked a Bestiality-Rights revolution.

It's stremaing for free here: http://www.comingsoon.cz

[jsar70]

Interesting points all around, but honestly, the best teacher is satire. It makes you laugh and think at the same time. Comedy dulls the sword of hate, and pokes us in the gut. Ask any gay man or woman with the ability to laugh at themselves, and they'll all tell you that they enjoy the Bruno character.

I can remember an episode of "Ali G" on HBO, where Bruno is getting a group of "straight" college frat boys to pose for what they think is an MTV-like show. Flexing their abs, and literally exposing their naked rear ends, he tells them to say, "Say hello, to Austrian GAY TV!" The frat boys react as you would imagine, all the while, acting like go-go boys only minutes earlier. Satire, people, satire.

[futate01]

"Say hello, to Austrian GAY TV!" The frat boys react as you would imagine, all the while, acting like go-go boys only minutes earlier. Satire, people, satire.

That is not satire, that's ambush, and just because one can take advantage of another does not make it OK. Just as one human being can take advantage over another with their wit, it can also be done with physical strength. How would you like it if man stronger than you would toss you around and knock you against some walls for kicks and a few giggles, how would you like that?

Yes I know it's not the same, but it's similar. One human being should not take advantage of another whether physical or psychological when one has the upper hand. Some of us have the upper hand more often than others and the world is only as fair as we make it. Fairness is not some mysterious magic in the universe, it's the way we treat one another.

[Kaila]

Oh puhhhhhhleeeeeze are you SERIOUS? AMBUSH? It's a freakin comedy show for god sakes. Did you protest for the rights of the people on Candid Camera? Listen I know you wan't to prove your intrinsic woorth by defending the patriarchy but you're going to have to come up with a better argument than that.

[coastalcarla]

All it does is expose people's prejudices and bi otry that they usually keep in check. There is no ambushing about it. If those cre tins didn't react that way, it wouldn't be funny. But because we have so many phobic people available to make jerks out of themselves on film, actors like SBC will always have material.

[nolabels]

And if he caught you in the same stunt? Would you feel abused or laugh at yourself. That is the question the movie asks.

[yannb]

When one has so much fun playing a flamboyant g.ay man...

[hjo4]

My thoughts exactly from day 1 about Miss Sacha, too much fun. I bet he did his own "research" too ;)

[PresidentRobertBooth]

***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***

The same thing happened with Archie Bunker.

He was supposed to be a parody of racist bigots but ended up being a hero.

American audiences for the most part like "Everybody Loves Raymond" humour, where merely saying the word "monkey" will get a laugh.

[NHBill]

indeed

[sweetwhine]

Some but not all. I think that's what he's counting on.

[gascelebrations]

I have mixed feelings. Of course, the movie is hilarious, what I've seen of it. I'm going to see it. I'm probably going to like it.

But like African-Americans laughing at Flip Wilson or Chris Rock's "black people vs.--s" routine - I feel strangely uncomfortable that a movie uses extreme stereotypes to elicit laughs. There are obviously going to be some people who aren't going to "get it". Maybe the majority. For instance, I could see my dad watching the Ron Paul scene and saying, "I'd have had the same reaction."

Isn't there a better way to teach people homophobia is wrong than to traffic in the same tired cartoonish images to make a point? Where are our gay firefighters, teachers, and cops? Probably hiding because of movies like this.

[StephenJK]

There are plenty of people out there across all spectrums that reinforce negative stereotypes. You need to talk to those people and straighten them out before anything positive happens.

[gascelebrations]

We're nowhere even close to convincing gay culture of the negative effect of publicly displaying the worst we have to offer. That may never happen.

[barackobama4prez]

Well when black directors got tired of black stereotypical films they pushed their own positive films.

[gascelebrations]

I often think it's time something like that came along, but it seems it's always one step forward, two steps back.

[sethrp]

Well... MILK is a start. I don't even ask for "positive" films, though. I'd be more than happy with films that feature COMPLEX representations of GLBT people. Not to mention gay people of color - like everything else, "GLBT" always seems to be associated with white men in Hollywood.

[seachild]

i agree...bu­t Sacha Cohen himself should have a 'message' on a serious nature (with no jokes) either prior to the film or just after, stating the obvious homophobia and his feelings on the whole matter...j­ust so he won't confuse the masses...a­nd yes, the masses will NOT 'get it' and thus feel validated

[Kaila]

Yeah I know what you mean this movie has the propensity to fall victim to Poe's Law. You just can't parody fundamentalism, because there is always somebody out there with REAL views that are even more extreme.

[sweetwhine]

Did he set out to help the gay community with this movie? I didn't get that at all.

[kennybean]

Agreed. My gay brother has stereotypical traits of a straight man and because of this he is very often present when people make "harmless" homophobic remarks. Most people don't get that men who seem straight make up so much of the gay community. What we need to learn is that you really can't tell who is gay unless you follow them into the bedroom.

[deepblue13]

I have no admiration or respect for Mr. Cohen's work. He is a poor excuse for a comedian and satirist.

Mr. Cohen defamed Kazakhstan for no good reason in Borat and I never heard of him giving any profits to schools or charities in Kazakhstan. Why pick on Kazakhstan? Why not made-up-i-stan?

The persona of Ali G can be considered bigoted because of its portrayal of a negative stereotype of white urban youths who identify with the hip-hop sub-culture as being ignorant and uneducated. It could also make it more difficult for the next independent or novice journalist to get a real interview.

Bruno looks set to somewhat embarrass Austria, promote the idea that all heterosexuals are outraged by someone being homosexual and re-enforce a negative stereotype about gay men. How is this positive or funny?

I would have so much more respect for Mr. Cohen if he used his talents and resources exposing Jewish prejudice against Arabs in Israel or British prejudice against Poles and other Slavic immigrants in Britain. That would be would be cutting edge. Mr. Cohen isn't creative; he is exploitative.

[blueshifter]

wow, dude - i bet you are a real crack up at parties.

[sweetwhine]

You have to know this movie is going to be very uncomfortable for some. But also very very funny.

[babyboomerorig]

I must be getting older than I think....o­r maybe I just need to see the movies to understand.

[dengal]

I cant wait - Borat had me laughing outloud
I love ali g

its comedy - shock and exaggeration are key elements

personally I find all that rednck blue collar stuff to be so boring and tired

[deepblue13]

I have no admiration or respect for Mr. Cohen's work. He is a poor excuse for a comedian and satirist.

Mr. Cohen defamed Kazakhstan for no good reason in Borat and I never heard of him giving any profits to schools or charities in Kazakhstan. Why pick on Kazakhstan? Why not made-up-i-stan?

The persona of Ali G can be considered bigoted because of its portrayal of a negative stereotype of white urban youths who identify with the hip-hop sub-culture as being ignorant and uneducated. It could also make it more difficult for the next independent or novice journalist to get a real interview.

Bruno looks set to somewhat embarrass Austria, promote the idea that all heterosexuals are outraged by someone being homosexual and re-enforce a negative stereotype about gay men. How is this positive or funny?

I would have so much more respect for Mr. Cohen if he used his talents and resources exposing Jewish prejudice against Arabs in Israel or British prejudice against Poles and other Slavic immigrants in Britain. That would be would be cutting edge. Mr. Cohen isn't creative; he is exploitative.

[SeaBoatbuilder]

White urban youths who identify with hip-hop subculture could hardly be considered victims when they themselves carefully crafted this stereotype. They are viewed as being ignorant and uneducated because they both sound and appear to be uneducated. I'll cheerfully eat my words if you can show one profession that requires an education where wearing your belt below your asscheeks wouldn't seriously diminish your credibility.

[disgustedbyitall]

Mr. Paul said: “I don’t like the idea that he lies his way into an interview. To me it’s a real shame that people are going to reward him with millions and millions of dollars for being so crass.”

wow. that's exactly what i said about mel gibson when he made 'passion'.­..

[SpaceboySD]

I CANNOT FREAKIN WAIT!!!

[Dale Doback]

I am tired of the deconstruction of masculinity.

[discourse jockey]

I suppose you're talking about your own masculinity, for which you yourself are solely responsible.

[XCITIZEN]

Ba-Boom!

[clabberty]

If he was pretending to be a woman there wouldn't be so much controversy.

[discourse jockey]

Men dressing in drag for some homophobic laughs is almost as bad as a black face routine.

[disgustedbyitall]

actually it's the same thing.

in any case, everyone who is not naked is in drag. it's only a question of taste and degree.

[Tena]

I have decidely mixed emotions about Sasha Baron Cohen myself. I'm just not a fan of that kind of humor and let's face it, when it comes to role playing, Cindy Sherman already did it and did it right years and years ago. And she didn't get in anyone's face to do it.

[justchill]

i absolutely cannot wait for this movie...sa­sha is a genius