Borat:
Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation
of Kazakhstan
(originally
posted by Jamie Kelwick at his own site -- www.the-usher.com.)
Jagshemash.
Kazakhstan TV reporter Borat Sagdiyev (Baron Cohen) travels
to the US of A, with famous Kazakhstani documentary filmmaker
Azamat Bagatov (Davitian) to help his government and people
understand western cultures. Starting in New York, they
travel across America to California, meeting people along
the way to will show him things that he never thought was
possible, proving he has a lot to learn.
British comedian
Sacha Baron Cohen leaves Ali G and the Staines massive behind
to concentrate on his better creation, Kazakhstan broadcast
journalist Borat with hilarious results.
After
letting his fans down with the lacklustre Ali G Indahouse,
they will rejoice when they see Borat: Cultural Learnings
of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.
Instead of changing the character to suit a film plot like
he did with Ali G, Borat does what he does best, interview
people to find out about America.
The plot of the
movie is very slight. He is sent by the Kazakhstan ministry
to find out about the cultural differences between his glorious
nation and the US of A. Here he discovers equality between
the races, religions and sexes, hotel rooms that are bigger
than every house in his village combined, toilets and fresh
running water from a tap and even discovers love at first
sight. He does this by interviewing members of the American
public, how they try and embrace his differences and americanise
him.
Sacha
Baron Cohen exploits this cultural naivety with supreme
skill to provide some absolutely hysterical moments. The
Borat character is an exceptional comedic creation and one
that has appeal across generations. While he may say offensive
and politically incorrect things, nothing is said with malice
or hatred but it is just the way that he has been educated
and brought up in this country.
From
degrading women to continual anti-Semitic jokes, it is the
shock value and how he delivers these observations and statements
with such honesty and confusion as to why the American's
don't think the same way as he does. Sacha Baron Cohen gets
away with the anti-Semitic statements because he is actually
Jewish but the rest he pushes as far as he can go.
The
mockumentary style of the film means that it is all about
the performance of Sacha Baron Cohen as Borat. He has some
support along the way from Ken Davitian as famed Kazakhstani
documentary filmmaker Azamat Bagatov but apart from that
it is just Borat and the American people he meets on his
journey.
Because
the character isn't that well known in the US, having only
appeared on HBO, it is possible for the performer to get
away with saying anything to his interviewees and they will
just think it is cultural differences. This leads to some
hysterical situations at the Rodeo, in New York, in a church,
at a dinner party and in the lobby and conference room of
a hotel. Each of which will have you almost crying with
laugher because some of the time you can't actually believe
what he is saying or doing to the people who have agreed
to talk to him.
Borat:
Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious
Nation of Kazakhstan is one of the best comedy movies
to be released in a very long time. Its mockumentary style
puts it in the same category as This is Spinal Tap
and over time it will become as big a cult classic.
With
lines that you will be quoting for weeks to follow and situations
that will have you giggling to yourself every time you think
of them, Sacha Baron Cohen has announced himself to the
world and proved that he could be as talented as we knew
he had the potential to be. While the film could be a little
to controversial for some, especially the country of Kazakhstan,
most people will definitely find a moment in this movie
that will make them laugh out loud. Niiice!
Rating:
(for
the American perspective, click here)
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