2008 Woodie Awards
Letter to the Editor: Borat movie more hype than substance
Elliot Sadlon
Issue date: 2/16/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
"[Borat] is one of the year's most intellectual movies, providing a social commentary on the current state of affairs in the United States."
Such comments seemed to be the general agreement among a lot of the critics when "Borat" was released. The movie is trash and anything but intelligent commentary.
My summary: an idiot runs around America trying to aggravate people, filming their reactions. Yes, some scenes actually pointed out some people's character flaws (check out the racist fraternity brothers), but none of the points brought up could possibly be generalized to anybody off camera, especially not to the entire "state of affairs in the United States."
Take the scene at the Pentecostal church towards the end of the film - a mass of people gathered together, praying, screaming, speaking in tongues. You don't like their religion? Too bad - this is America, where we embrace diversity. Don't want people to threaten you on the subway? Don't be a jerk and let your chicken fly loose. Want to learn true southern etiquette? Don't call the guests ugly and bring a bag of feces to the table.
I put this "film" in the same category as "Jackass" - immature people doing rude things for a reaction. On that level, I'll accept it for what it is - a poor excuse for comedy.
If Cohen wants to produce social commentary, I suggest he shoot a film showing the GLOBAL neglect of poverty-stricken nations like the one he tries to portray as Kazahkstan. Or maybe the ways in which American materialism has affected class divisions. Or a movie criticizing the world's hesitance to resolve the Darfur crisis?
Or how about a film detailing how quick people are to accept what's in a movie as true?
-Elliot Sadlon
Such comments seemed to be the general agreement among a lot of the critics when "Borat" was released. The movie is trash and anything but intelligent commentary.
My summary: an idiot runs around America trying to aggravate people, filming their reactions. Yes, some scenes actually pointed out some people's character flaws (check out the racist fraternity brothers), but none of the points brought up could possibly be generalized to anybody off camera, especially not to the entire "state of affairs in the United States."
Take the scene at the Pentecostal church towards the end of the film - a mass of people gathered together, praying, screaming, speaking in tongues. You don't like their religion? Too bad - this is America, where we embrace diversity. Don't want people to threaten you on the subway? Don't be a jerk and let your chicken fly loose. Want to learn true southern etiquette? Don't call the guests ugly and bring a bag of feces to the table.
I put this "film" in the same category as "Jackass" - immature people doing rude things for a reaction. On that level, I'll accept it for what it is - a poor excuse for comedy.
If Cohen wants to produce social commentary, I suggest he shoot a film showing the GLOBAL neglect of poverty-stricken nations like the one he tries to portray as Kazahkstan. Or maybe the ways in which American materialism has affected class divisions. Or a movie criticizing the world's hesitance to resolve the Darfur crisis?
Or how about a film detailing how quick people are to accept what's in a movie as true?
-Elliot Sadlon
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Tom Paddack
posted 2/16/07 @ 1:29 PM EST
Elliot,
I think you're misunderstanding the point of the movie. In my opinion it is not at all like Jackass, nor is it merely an idiot running around trying to aggravate people. (Continued…)
Dave
posted 2/19/07 @ 1:32 PM EST
I agree with Tom.
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