Bruno

[megoat]

OK so people from the south should be disrespected and made fools of because the don't know him.
Good information to know - thanks

Ok, you've made it clear you don't like Cohen. Just curious, are there any satirists you do admire?

[darklord1967]

My wife and I walked out of Bruno after the first 25 minutes.

THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE FILM. It was lowest common denominator type of stuff. Not my cup of tea.

I'm no prude, but porn should NOT be used for comedy. Honestly,... a singing penis???

This was just another example of the cynical dumbing-down of our society.

I literally felt filthy and dizzy after walking out of that first 25 minutes.

[toysrus]

Funny you said that. About 5 of my co-workers said the same, they said its " low class garbage" I wont go see it from what i heard from them and now you. Sounds like a trashy, no class movie. Since I havent seen, i cant say for sure, but i'll trust the opinion of you & my friends from work.

My wife and I walked out of Bruno after the first 25 minutes.

THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE FILM. It was lowest common denominator type of stuff. Not my cup of tea.

I'm no prude, but porn should NOT be used for comedy. Honestly,... a singing penis???

This was just another example of the cynical dumbing-down of our society.

I literally felt filthy and dizzy after walking out of that first 25 minutes.

[txteach]

The hangover was really funny. The baby masterbating was disturbing though. They didn't need that.

[megoat]

This was just another example of the cynical dumbing-down of our society.

But isn't that exactly the point of satire? To make fun of things like the "dumbing down of our society?"

I mean, so much stuff in our culture IS DUMB--but the kicker is that it's not meant to be. I mean, look at the success of Transformers for crissakes. What level of intellect is a movie like that aimed at?

Again, Cohen is pretty much a social satirist. Of course, like many satirists, his methods are crude and misunderstood. And I'm not saying he succeeds everytime, but I think at times he's GENIUS in his criticism of AMERICAN culture.

[Captain]

You want to crack up, go see Hangover! Funny movie, I laughed till I cried.

Agreed!

I have been afraid to open the trunk of any car ever since seeing that film!

[Hector]

Thanks for the reviews...now I'm definitely gonna see it thanks to you all.

[darklord1967]

But isn't that exactly the point of satire? To make fun of things like the "dumbing down of our society?"

I mean, so much stuff in our culture IS DUMB--but the kicker is that it's not meant to be. I mean, look at the success of Transformers for crissakes. What level of intellect is a movie like that aimed at?

Again, Cohen is pretty much a social satirist. Of course, like many satirists, his methods are crude and misunderstood. And I'm not saying he succeeds everytime, but I think at times he's GENIUS in his criticism of AMERICAN culture.

Yes, the point of satire is to make fun of things like the dumbing-down of our society. And in doing so, a subliminal social commentary is made about ourselves.

But what Cohen does here is CONTIRBUTE to that dumbing down by reinforcing / encouraging it. He does NOT "satirize" it, nor does he make any such attempts at social commentary.

I don't mean to suggest that comedy should always have social relevance and purpose. Ultimately, the main goal of comedy is to entertain.
And hidden camera humor (whether it is Punk'd, The Jaime Kennedy Experiment, Scare Tactics, or the classic Candid Camera) typically always places unsuspecting people in extraordinary circumstances (that are, for the most part, cleverly written), and captures their comedic natural reactions.

This type of humor has always been a perfect platform for social satire and commentary... a mirror held up to our own faces to view how ridiculous we can all sometimes be.

But when the staged situation for the hidden camera gag is so patently outrageous and offensive that it overshadows the reactions of the pranked "victim"... when the prank is written purely for the sake of maximum shock / gross out / pornographic effect (as Cohen does here), then the value of any social satire / relevance is lost.

That type of humor becomes no different than Howard Stern's idiot cohort "Studdering John" who's only real comedic "talent" seemed to be to go to elegant gatherings and be as offensive as possible to one of the celebrity guests, and then get thrown out by security.

Some people may like that type of humor.

To me, however, it is pointless , vulgar, and crass because it really requires no comedic skill, finesse, talent, nor comedic timing. As far as I can see, that kind of humor is really designed to appeal to the lowest possible common denominator, and to reinforce / encourage idiotic behavior rather than making social commentary about it through satire. It legitimizes mediocrity, and laziness by somehow making those traits the basis for the comedy while simultaneously catering to viewers with those very traits.

Cohen's style of humor in THIS film, while masquerading as "social satire" really is just an excuse for toilet / shock humor. Showing images of dancing and singing erect male genitalia to a TV series focus group and then filming their dismayed and shocked reactions via a hidden camera is NOT clever writing and it is NOT satire.

It is, at best, only funny to a drunken, high, beer-guzzling, pot-smoking cross section of dim-witted individuals.

What is the satirical "social commentary" of "Bruno" having GRAPHIC on-screen sex with his midget gay lover? Is it that we are a prudish culture easily offended by public displays of homoerotic sex acts?

Or in the end, is it just Cohen looking to "push the envelope" by taking comedy to new lows of crass vulgarity?

To me, the answer is painfully, and nauseatingly plain.

Honestly people, when I see this type of stuff, I truly fear for the future of this country.

You know, there's a reason why shows and movies like "Jackass" are so titled. It isn't just because the people depicted in them are engaging in extremely foolhardy stunts that can often lead to horrible maimings, disfigurements, disabilities, and even death. I think it is also a suggestion for the type of mentality that is required in order to enjoy this material.

Such is the case with "Bruno". There's your "social commentary" (courtesy of the filmmakers). It is the only one that can I see, anyway. And it is a cynical one, at that.

The type of comedy introduced in "Jackass" came to the American consciousness only about 9 years ago. Now "Bruno" is a horrifying extension of that same cynical, crass and vulgar state of consciousness. I fear that this phenomenon will only continue to degrade exponentially and spiral completely out of control.

If this is where the state of "comedy" is today, where will it be 20 years from now?

Are we going to have hidden-camera pranks of people's grandmothers being hurled into shark-infested waters, just so that we can all have a laugh as we watch the horrified reactions of others?
Are real-life maimings, tortures, and murders of men, women, children, defenseless animals, etc. going to be used as fodder for hidden camera pranks a few years from now?

I fear the Pandora's Box has been left wide open for quite some time, and now we're seeing the horrible results in our entertainment, in our culture, in our lives... indeed in our very spirit.

[Seeker]

[wolfie]

I have not seen the film so can make no comment about it.

[AJ Collector]

The hangover was really funny. The baby masterbating was disturbing though. They didn't need that.

I agree with you there! The baby had such a comical face they did not have to go there....

[AJ Collector]

Thanks for the reviews...now I'm definitely gonna see it thanks to you all.

Hector bring some laugh tissues bro! Fun tears will roll.

[Gorn Captain]

Personally? I see no harm in making fun of people who are overtly racist or bigots, for instance. I'm not a big fan of Cohen, but he does have his moments.

If you can't make fun of people in a real life situation, then Punked is even worse, I guess. They really get people all riled up, upset them. Hey, somebody could get a heart attacked from the aggravation. And then what do you say, on the way to the ER: "You got punked, man! Now bring on the crash cart.....!"

My best advice: if you don't like the man, avoid him. His movies are well known for their particular style, so they're easy to steer clear of.
I don't like Ben Stiller or Adam Sandler after having watched a movie or two, so I avoid their movies now. Saves me money...

And to comment on stuff like Jackass. Yes, it DOES worry me that "being stupid" is becoming synonymous with "being cool". I saw some clips of a 16 year old: he had fallen with his skateboard some many times (doing "stunts"), breaking every bone he had, and he still continued because it was "cool".
Yeah, and the folks can pick up all the medical bills.

Kids these day worry me more than Cohen, frankly....

[huedell]

You know, there's a reason why shows and movies like "Jackass" are so titled. It isn't just because the people depicted in them are engaging in extremely foolhardy stunts that can often lead to horrible maimings, disfigurements, disabilities, and even death. I think it is also a suggestion for the type of mentality that is required in order to enjoy this material.

Your whole post made a lot of sense darklord...I have to agree on most
of your points... if not all...and if what I quoted above is "insulting" to
the ones who enjoy this stuff ---to point out out that it's vulgar and
an abomination to entertain our culture by playing grossout games----especially ones at other people's expense and to lead with that as today's
example of comedy...then so be it.

I simply don't want to add to the "down the drain" mix...altho' as
an artist myself, I'm sure SOMEHOW I am doing just that,
still, I certainly don't consciously strive to lower the bar----
that's for sure.

[huedell]

Kids these day worry me more than Cohen, frankly....

Really?
You don't have to calculate all that much to see the solid connection
darklord made between the two.