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"Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" is not as great of a film as you may have heard. It seems like everywhere I turn, another critic is raving about the film being possibly the "funniest movie ever" or by slapping four-stars onto the final pressing of their review, like Peter Travers of Rolling Stone and Jim Emmerson of Chicago Sun-Times. Now this isn't to say that "Borat" is a terrible film - it's not - it actually IS probably one of the funniest films to come out of this past decade. There's no doubt in my mind that Sacha Baron Cohen, who plays Borat, is a comic genius that quickly becomes deeply fascinating to watch. The man never breaks character; not once. It doesn't matter what completely inapprorite thing flows from his mouth, nor does it matter what response those he's speaking unpolitically to hands back to him, the man continues to be Borat and no one else. There's no giggling, there's no fear and, honestly, there may not be any acting going on either, as Baron Cohen literally becomes Borat. Another thing I'm sure there's no doubt in my mind about when it comes to the film is the fact that "Borat" may just possibly be the most offensive film I've seen to date. The jokes made about the Jewish community, the misconception of common American terms and the just down right vulgar use of language, nudity and disrespect Borat shows to some unknowing parties, literally made me close my eyes, shake my head and take a few deep breaths countless times throughout the entire film. Of course, they also made me laugh. Sometimes more than I probably should have, however a lack of humor is not "Borat's" fault. The film's downfall is the side story with scripted scenes involving Borat and his producer, who make their way to California in hopes to meet Pamela Anderson. When Baron Cohen is fooling the everyday average Joe, the film is on fire, however when he is arguing with his producer, the film and punchlines seem to fall flatter then they should. Of course, the humor is still there, but it's just in smaller doses. The greatest attruibute "Borat" has to offer is the film's look at America from an outsider's point of view. There are scenes in this film where I am ashamed to be an American as my fellow brothers and sisters of this country speak to Borat so matter-of-fact like. Whether it's a gun shop worker not batting an eye as Borat asks him what gun would be the best to "kill a Jew," the three white - yes, white - college kids that tell Borat that minoritys have more power then anyone in this country, the Christian man that proudly declares that this country was founded out of Christian ideas - which I found very amusing because I highly doubt my boy Christ would have a yard full of slaves - or the worst, and probably most hateful comment spoken in the entire film which comes from a cowboy hat wearing man who openingly mocks homosexuals. The scene, which takes place at a rodeo in Salem, Virgina, has Borat telling the man that people are hung in his country for being gay, to which the man responds proudly with something like, "Yeah. That's what we're trying to do here." I sunk my head in despair after the man muttered the words he did, for two reasons: One was just simply that this man does not speak for me, nor does he speak for America. Which lead me to my second thought of, "What if Borat really was a reporter from Kazakhstan that traveled all the way to America to learn our culture, and this is narrow-minded, hateful nonsense he is taking away from us?" These examples I've given you - especially the last one - sadden me for this country of mine and it baffled me as well at how unhumane and ignorant Americas may just be. I doubt that was the message Sacha Baron Cohen set out to get through to us when he began "Borat," however I find those scenes in the film to be some of the most powerful and thought-provoking moments I may have seen in cinema all year long, which could lead to some serious conversations about the subjects. Then again, this film is a comedy - and an offensive one at that - so I doubt the real issues the film addresses about America will be the issues brought up by Americans. Not when there is a film out there that is as distasteful as this one, but maybe next time, America. Maybe next time we'll get that makeover that we're in such a desperate need for that we should have purchased SO long ago. Maybe next time ... right? - SCF email this review to a friend
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