So why are we supposed to care so much about this Borat guy?

[Skidmore]

I'd never heard of him before last week. I've seen a couple bits of his schtick and he's pretty lame, in my estimation. He goes around baiting people, who probably don't know about him either. Gets himself decked and I'm given to understand that I'm supposed to be outraged. Did I get this right? Why am I supposed to be outraged?

[FormerDittoHead]

1. I don't get it either. Just not funny. Didn't Andy Kaufmann do this like 20 years ago?

I keep thinking there's supposed to be some subtext I'm not getting.

I get the "humor", but I'm not laughing as with Ali G.

[Mojambo]

2. Who says you're supposed to be outraged?

Cohen's not the first performer to do stuff like this. I'm sure he goes into these things fully expecting that stuff like this can happen.

He's a big boy.

I thought the movie was effing hysterical, but that's just a matter of opinion.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. I thought he baited everyone.

Including bleeding heart liberals. Things have changed quite a bit since PC died. I guess he's not very tasteful to most people, but I think we're in an era where we're all facing our cancers.

[Kelly Rupert]

4. Yyyup.

And here on DU, we keep angrily taking the bait.

[MadMaddie]

5. My partner wanted to see it....so reluctantly I went...

gotta sacrifice sometimes....

Anyhoo...I hated the movie....hated it...hated it...hated it..
I don't like the actor in his Ali G character....I don't like him as Borat...

The rating on the movie should have been higher....and just across the board it was offensive.....

I like stupid funny movies but this did nothing for me..

[Tesha]

22. Stupidity is very popular these days. (NT)

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

6. I'm With Ya. n/t

[seabeyond]

7. he isnt my kinda humor. when i saw his clip it was to me just another

way to bash people and feed the ugliness. people are raving about him, but i have no interest in watching his movie and giving him my money

[IDemo]

8. Am glad see I not only American feel like this...

[SidDithers]

9. Borat is a character...

Sasha Baron Cohen is the guy who got decked. You can tell the difference, right?

Sid

[Skidmore]

12. I've seen lots of threads about someone named Borat and

news stories about Borat. Who knew?

Well Sasha, in my opinion, is not a lot brighter than his character then.

[flying_monkeys]

10. Duplicity? Honesty? Fully getting permissions?

Near as I can tell, his team misled many of the "actors/real folk" in his film to believe they were doing a documentary.... And there are suggestions that he implanted many props himself to skewer the perceptions of the audience (like, putting livestock into a home in K-stan where none lived, to suggest that all there kept large animals defecating on their floors). While "Borat" was a movie, he may have ummmmmm "cut some corners/permissions/not done full disclosure" about said movie..... And some people are a wee tad ticked off.


Seems his team paid $300-$400 a head for the people umm "shown" in his film - - some of whom thought this film would bring help in dollars, not laughs, to their region - - so possibly this is an example of exploitation at its best. The movie makes millions, the people ummmm "maybe misled" got a pittance (that perhaps they would NOT have taken if the team were a bit more forecoming about their purpose)....


Duplicity matters to me - - whether it exposes bad character in others or not.


It seems hypocritical to me to show others for a laugh/exposure while the basis of getting the interview was based on a lie/duplicitous means. But that is just me, YMMV....

[Blackthorn]

11. This is why "The Office" was re-developed for the US

Americans (generally) do not understand satire, parody or irony. Borat is in the same vein as Stephen Colbert. If you take him at face value you will not understand A) the joke, or B) the point that is being made by the joke.

If you don't like Borat because he's a sexist, racist dickhead, then you don't understand Borat.

[FedUpWithIt All]

14. Agreed,

I saw it. Although some parts made me cringe, overall i thought it was funny. The end dragged a LOT but i digress.

The actor who plays Borat comes from a devoutly Jewish family. Yet even Jews are not exempt in his comedy style. He is very much like Colbert. He is pretending to be the worst of us to show us exactly how demented and laughable this side of us is. Most of the responses of the people to his narrow, sexist and racist character are what responses should be to this type of behavior and mindset.

Sure along the way we saw some people who's own viewpoints and behaviors rivaled the characters. And the audience response to their behavior is just as warranted as it was for the Borat character, IMO.

Edited to add...Colbert is able to show the "otherside" in his guests without misleading them. If the people in this movie feel that they have grounds to sue than they should do so. I suspect that the filmmakers anticipated this.

[trotsky]

24. Thank you, Blackthorn. Well said. n/t

[and-justice-for-all]

13. because Rpuketards will find....

...ANYTHING to cry about, their desperation days are not over so they will kick up dust at every possible chance.

[donheld]

15. I don't give a rat's behind about Borat

I just don't, sue me.

[moondust]

16. Vulgar. n/t

[Bombtrack]

17. please

[AspenRose]

18. That guy (preacher dude) is disturbingly funny

Can't believe how famous he's gotten via internet....it's like watching a train wreck

[Connie_Corleone]

19. I don't think he's funny either.

I know it's satire, but it sucks as far as I'm concerned. I'm sick of hearing about him.

I guess he's just the flavor of the month.

[PVnRT]

20. Because some people around here worship him

and the ground he walks on. You cross them at your own peril.

[mwb970]

21. The whole thing seems dumb to me.

The clips I've seen from the movie are stupid and tasteless. I assume that's why it's a huge hit. I don't plan to see the movie myself. Ever.

[mondo joe]

23. I don't know why you think you're supposed to be outraged.

Would you be outraged if you didn't think he was lame?

[Bad Penny]

25. most disgustingly unfunny idiot since Tom Green

Comedy is on life support and quickly fading

[BlooInBloo]

26. It's funny. (shrug) I can see how that wouldn't appeal to you though.

[grizmaster]

27. the movie was hysterical

the humor was vulgar, but it was some of the most barbed satire I've ever seen exposing just how bigoted so many Americans still are.