I went to see Bruno on Friday, the opening night, and was surprised when the man checked my I.D. at the door. After watching the first scene, however, it became clear why.
The theater echoed with in-sync gasps as Sacha Baron Cohen exposed everything, and I mean everything, to the audience. People were covering there eyes at parts, squirming in their seats, and at one point, an older couple got up and left, clearly not prepared for what Bruno had to offer. To put it simply, I left feeling like I needed to go to church.
Cohen, who generated controversy with the character of Borat in 2006, pushed social limits to the fullest extent in his newest movie, Bruno.
The character of Bruno is portrayed as an off-the-wall, flamboyantly gay Austrian man who, after losing his T.V. hosting gig in Austria, decides to come to America to try to become a big name movie star.
In an effort to get his name out there, we see Bruno adopt an African baby who he names O.J., become a host for an entertainment show, attempt to get kidnapped by terrorists, try to “convert” to heterosexuality by engaging in things such as hunting and enlisting in the military, among many other controversial acts.
Cohen puts his safety on the line in many scenes, including one in which he participates in a male-on-male love scene in a wrestling ring while a stadium of angry, and clearly upset, onlookers hurl food and chairs onto the stage. And in another scene, Bruno has an interview with a terrorist leader and says “your King Osama looks kind of like a dirty wizard or a homeless Santa,” after which the terrorist leader instructs him to get out immediately.
Cohen was arrested in three continents while making the film, according to an article written by BBC. I’d say this is getting off easy for all the stunts he pulled.
Much like Cohen’s previous movie, Bruno comes to America to baffle the locals, test people’s patience, and generally make everyone he confronts feel exceedingly uncomfortable.
What makes Cohen’s movies different from your average film is that all the people interviewed or confronted in the movie are supposedly “real” people, meaning they believed that Bruno was actually an Austrian tourist and did not know that they were contributing to a movie.
As of today there is only one lawsuit filed, that I could find, involving an elderly woman who was allegedly injured during a bingo tournament after wrestling the microphone from Bruno who was making vulgar comments. Give it a few days, however, and the lawsuits will start flooding in. Maybe from the mother who said she would tie her baby to a crucifix for a photo shoot and allow her toddler to undergo liposuction to get down to 20 pounds? Or maybe from the three hunters who sat uncomfortably around the campfire while Bruno compared them to the girls of “Sex in the City?”
While it is just a matter of time before the Americans featured in the film raise their voices, members of the Gay and Lesbian Alliances Against Defamation have already expressed their concern.
As quoted in an AP article, the senior director of media programs for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Rashad Robinson, said, “We do feel the intentions of the filmmakers are in the right place–satire of this form can unmask homophobia–but at the same time it can heighten people’s discomfort with our community.”
In one scene, while waiting to interview 2008 Presidential candidate, Ron Paul, Bruno corners him in a hotel room, which was clearly set up for seducing. Stripping down to a thong, Bruno starts dancing around the room and comes onto Paul in a very obvious manner. Paul rushes out of the room after calling Bruno “queer.”
Much of the movie focused on homosexuality, but did so in a way to make people feel uneasy rather than to make a statement.
Bruno was easily the most offensive movie ever made. I found myself thinking, “Wow this is incredibly repulsive, tasteless, and infuriating. Is it okay that I’m laughing?”
While there was way too much full-frontal nudity for my taste, the movie did have some golden moments. One in particular involves Bruno trying to bring about peace between two Middle Eastern rival camps. In this scene, Bruno confuses Hamas with hummus, which leads to both parties agreeing that hummus is indeed healthy and participating in a heartwarming song. Also the scenes with the adopted African baby target the celebrity adoption trend in a way that is funny and not too crude to watch.
I can’t help but wonder that if something this crude, with this much nudity, is rated “R” by today’s standards, what will an “R” movie be in 20 years? I’ve already warned my parents not to see it. When my parents’ generation was growing up, a slip of a bare leg might have been considered scandalous. I can’t even imagine what my parents would say if they saw Bruno.
Take my word, if you are easily offended do not go see this movie. It made me uncomfortable at times, and parts were very out of line (wait, actually there was no line), but I’m glad I saw it just so I can understand what was being talked about when all the lawsuits come out.
Film Snobs
“A brilliantly rude, deliriously insane closeted sexual politics on steroids mockumentary. Boasting Bruno as the anointed White Obama, waxed rectums, defense moves against multi-hued dildos, and Ron Paul as peeved object of erotic desire.”
07/11/09
Prairie Miller
NewsBlaze
“A downer amounting to an over-indulgence in exploitation and vulgarities of no redeeming social value calculated to set back gay-straight relations.”
07/11/09
Kam Williams
Sly Fox
“Bruno has enough gay heat to toast a Pop Tart in the Pope’s ass.”
07/11/09
Mike Ward
Richmond.com
“Unless you are really, really, really, really difficult to offend, you will be upset by something in this film. Seriously, count the “really”s. Do the math. Prepare yourself. Sacha Baron Cohen does not pull punches. If you were disturbed by BORAT, you are”
07/11/09
Jenna Busch
UGO
“Those who last beyond the first few minutes will be treated to a film that’s more focused than Borat, with more jokes, less fluff, and enough social awareness to step on some toes. And it saves the best stunt for last.”
07/10/09
Robert Davis
Paste Magazine
What did you think?