The good and the bad of Borat
There are some movies that you’re ashamed you laughed at so hard. You have your own list, which might include Jackass and other such ventures. Add Borat to my list. Saw it last night. Keep thinking about it today, keep going over some of the scenes and the highly-quotable lines. There’s no doubt there is much to laugh about. Sacha Baron Cohen is so completely over-the-top outrageous you can’t believe you’re watching a human being act that way.
BUT, and it’s a big but, I really can’t bear all the stuff about the Jews. I know Sacha is Jewish, and that his hateful comments are just part of his schtick, but it made me really uncomfortable to hear people laughing because I suspected they weren’t in on that joke. They thought it was funny to talk about what gun would be appropriate for killing Jews, or that making fun of that sweet old Jewish couple who ran the bed and breakfast was nothing but good times.
I love that he exposed some of the piggy behavior out there–the misogynistic frat boys, the homophobic rodeo guy, etc.–but the Running of the Jews wasn’t funny to me–particularly when the little kids came out to kick the Jewish egg before it hatched.
Yuck. So much of that movie had me laughing so hard it hurt, but the anti-Jewish jokes just plain hurt.
What do you guys think?
[tags]Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen[tags]
November 18th, 2006 at 10:20 am
I think that SBC’s use of that humor is meant to expose the bias of others which,while not the most tasteful,is a good form of social satire. It is possible that many who laugh at the Jewish jokes don’t get the true purpose of them but sometimes in art,you can’t water down your content for your audience,otherwise your intent becomes inert.
I was exposed to comedians earlier than most people-guys like Richard Pryor,George Carlin,etc-thru my parents who always pointed me and my siblings on the right moral path. We always talked about social issues,how society treats different groups of people and how to deal with it. If more people took the time to discuss these things honestly and openly,so much prejudice would be erased from the world.
November 18th, 2006 at 10:33 am
Wow, Lady T, I like what you said in that second paragraph in particular. I like how your parents dealt with this. I think you’re right about the need to expose these prejudices and talk about them openly, instead of just shushing people and saying, “That’s not nice.”
You’ve really given me something to think about. Thanks.
November 18th, 2006 at 5:08 pm
hubby and i saw it–definitely would have taken a pass.
November 18th, 2006 at 7:13 pm
I agree with you completely. Although they really know how to set people up into believing it is professional and legitimate, people respond with their own character (which often isn’t very pretty).
dp
They really make Americans look bad, which is why I’m contacting as many people as I can and inviting them to read about my personal encounter with Borat.
If you’re interested, go to http://BeatingBorat.blogspot.com
It’s not vulgar, I promise, although I did need to put him in a headlock when he attacked me physically.
November 19th, 2006 at 6:36 am
I think Borat might be right about the Jewish. He said on one of the late night shows that they were responsible for killing the dinosaurs and I can never forgive them for that.
November 19th, 2006 at 7:55 am
Patrick, you’re always so well-informed. It’s scary.
November 19th, 2006 at 12:52 pm
My husband and I saw Borat last week along with a theatre full of college students. We had not seen the main character on HBO; we were drawn to it based on the teasers. We laughed the longest and loudest because it was so outrageously funny. What could be better than a movie that has a strong message (Gentiles’ attitude toward the Jews, we have not progressed) and some humor to prove the point.
November 19th, 2006 at 12:58 pm
Robin, do you think maybe you didn’t like the whole Jewish part because you’re not Jewish? I dunno how to put this without sounding like a jerk, but maybe this is one of those situations where you’ve been told your whole life that something’s not funny or not PC, and you get offended on behalf of the people who should be taking offense? Because I’ll tell you, I thought Borat was one of the best social satires I’ve ever seen…and that the Running of the Jews was SO FUNNY!
You’ve gotta remember, we Jews invented self-deprecating humor - SBC just ran with it.
November 19th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
Lizzie, you make an excellent point. Maybe that’s exactly what it is–being raised to be PC. Although I think that’s a good thing. I’d rather notice when someone says something offensive than join in because it seems normal.
BUT I seem to be the cheese standing alone here about whether those jokes were funny. The rest of you see it as great satire, and (as MJG and Lady T and others have pointed out) as a good way to point out the prejudices that we’re still dealing with, no matter how PC we think we are.
And if Lizzie says the Running of the Jews was funny, who am I, a little Gentile girl, to complain?
November 19th, 2006 at 1:15 pm
To your credit, I can tell you that 4 high-school-aged girls got up and left when I saw it (Saturday night, 2nd weekend, sold-out croud)… althought they left during that…other…scene. You know which one I’m talking about.
I couldn’t believe people would leave! You’ve gotta know what you’re getting yourself into going to a movie like that!
When I saw The Aristocrats the second time, two separate couples walked out! It’s billed as the most vulgar movie of ALL TIME!!! How could you willingly pay for a movie like that and then be surprised by its content?!
That’s happened to me at a couple movies actually… some people just don’t pay attention before they see a flick…
November 19th, 2006 at 1:53 pm
That’s pretty funny–especially about the Aristocrats. Maybe the people thought it was the old Walt Disney animated flick The Aristocats.
I agree–if you’re going to pay for gross and sophomoric, you might as well stay and get your money’s worth.
But Lizzie, what are you still doing on this posting? Don’t you have something to say about poor Katie Holmes?