November 04, 2006
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
This movie is going to piss off a lot of people. It's that good.
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Ken Davitian
Rating: 8/10
Directed By: Larry Charles
Runtime: 84 minutes
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Ken Davitian
Rating: 8/10
Directed By: Larry Charles
Runtime: 84 minutes
Academy Award season is officially upon us and may I be one of the first to suggest the Academy recognize Sacha Baron Cohen for what has to be one of the finest comedic performances of the year if not of all time. As Borat Sagdiyev, Cohen comes off as the unholy offspring of two comedic geniuses, Peter Sellers and Andy Kaufman. Not since Sellers has a comedic actor shown such range (for proof one need only look as far as Cohen's wonderfully strange performance as Formula Un driver, Jean Girard, in Talladega Nights) and not since Kaufman has an actor shown such commitment to a part (all interviews, television and print, have been delivered by Borat and not Cohen). If ever an Oscar was given for the sheer scope of a performance (how often does a part extend beyond the screen?) then this should be it. You can have your powerful emoting, this year I'll take naked man on man wrestling.
The plot of Borat is virtually non-existent and exists only to string together some brilliantly twisted comedic set pieces. In the film, Borat travels across the United States with his producer Azamat Bagatov (Ken Davitian) to film a documentary for Kazakhstan television. Along the way he ensconces himself into American culture while exposing the hypocrisy and ignorance at its core. It's brilliant and dangerous filmmaking that recognizes nothing is sacred in real comedy. It's not a film for everyone but for those that appreciate humor, no matter what the cost, it might very well be the film of the year
The plot of Borat is virtually non-existent and exists only to string together some brilliantly twisted comedic set pieces. In the film, Borat travels across the United States with his producer Azamat Bagatov (Ken Davitian) to film a documentary for Kazakhstan television. Along the way he ensconces himself into American culture while exposing the hypocrisy and ignorance at its core. It's brilliant and dangerous filmmaking that recognizes nothing is sacred in real comedy. It's not a film for everyone but for those that appreciate humor, no matter what the cost, it might very well be the film of the year