Open Thread: ‘Bruno’
by Big Hollywood
So what did you think? Debate, discuss, write your own review…
The Big Hollywood review is here.
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68 Comments
Mindless movies for the summer…….
[...] is the original post: Open Thread: ‘Bruno’ This entry is filed under America – Blogs, Big Hollywood. You can follow any responses to this [...]
Hey not for anything but how much can you talk about this Banana. Whether he's Boorat or Bruno or whoever He's not my cup of tea. So I say Good Luck to Him, Make and Save your Money and Enjoy your 15 minutes of Fame and then….Go Away…Please.
my 18 year old daughter asked to see this film. i told her no. why would i want to have her witness anything that is vile and soulless?
Out of curiosity, why does your 18 year old need your permission to see a movie?
Maybe she's still in school and/or under the family roof and is therefore a dependent.
It says a lot about film critics when they give this which features many disgusting "in your face" male nudity scenes a 70 percent approval rating not to mention the general movie population as it made over 14 million on Friday alone. One can bet that if this would have being in your face female nudity the majority of critics wouldn't have touched it and be damning it for bad taste. But for some reason in the world we live in today male frontal nudity to film critics, no matter how disgusting, is something preceived as funny and acceptable. Hummm.
True, but I lived at home before heading to college at 18 (and summers during while I worked), and while there were certainly reasonable rules about in-home behavior (how late you got in, no parties, etc.), I could go to movies that I wanted. 18 is adult. You don't need permission slips anymore.
My favorite parts were when he made the "Charity PR consultants" and the showbiz moms look like fools.
The consultants were the among the most vacuous bimbos I've ever seen on film. I hope their business disintegrates after this.
Don't get me started on the moms…..
Yup, you don't "need" 'em!
Nothing really changes for a child until he graduates from high school, even if 18 before that. If he were truly emancipated at 18, he should start paying rent to his parents out of his wages from his job at Abercrombie.
I think in some quarters it is customary to ask your parent's permission. For instance, my children who are at home on college break ask me about eating meals at other people's house and they respect my curfews and rules of the house. In addition, my young adults do listen to things I say about TV and movies. It is different from family to family (and that's a GOOD thing, right? I do it my way and you do it your way…no state mandate.)
I respect your daughter for asking permission….. PARENTING is the biggest thing this country needs to get back to in my opinion!!!! parents need to be parents NOT FRIENDS!!!
There are some showbiz moms who don't recognize SB Cohen? Maybe they did and they wanted the exposure – kind of like going on Jerry Springer.
"in your face" male nudity?
Thanks for that rather potent and unappealling visual.
Oh, absolutely…to each his own. I guess I just can't really imagine anyone I know asking permission at age 18 to do something legal. I can see asking the parents for money to see the movie and being turned down; that's fair enough. Or maybe the kid has no vehicle and the parents are the only way to get anywhere. But if you're earning your own money and you have your own wheels (even a bike), you can see what you want to see. But you are correct–at the end of the day, it's none of my damn business!
Good Lord! Do we have to devote time to this trash? Let it wither and die, please.
Despite being WAY over the top, Bruno is a hilarious waste of time summer film which I'll more than likely see again. It's far more satisfying than being held hostage at Transformers – even my 18-year-old son couldn't explain the plot to that special effects jumble – because it doesn't fit the typical Hollywood formula. I had a great time: it's hard not to laugh when Cohen is backstage at a fashion show getting models to explain how difficult it is putting one foot in front of another, being chased by religious Jews for his Orthodox-styled short shorts and his adventures in a US that most of us don't even know exists. It certainly isn't for everyone – if you'll be offended by a skit involving learning self defense against being attacked by a person using sexual aids, you'll probably want to see Harry Potter – but don't prejudge it just because there's male nudity and an abundance of in-your-face homosexuality. It's smarter than most films and not afraid to put it on film. I though I wasn't going to like "The Aristocrats" – one of truly dirty movies – but it was a scream.
Also, my 18-year-old does not need my permission to attend a movie or concert. I would give my opinion but the idea that I'm going to dictate what he sees is alarming.
Just seeing his azz in Eminem face at the MTV Awards gets S.B.C. a nod from me! Two azzholes face to face….
Bruno:
Ten times more fashion-conscious than your average democrat.
I cannot believe I wasted money on this piece of garbage. My adult children begged me to go with them because I laughed at 4 minutes of Borat. I walked out of this movie right after the Harrison Ford "interview." Sasha Baron Cohen had better stay married to Isla Fischer, because after this movie he should be doing guest shots on remakes of old game shows. It was awful, and the only redeeming feature was that I only paid matinee prices.
Technically the parent has no authority over what movies the daughter goes to see. Legally the daughter can see any movie she wants, and barring rules pertaining to the type of movies being watched within the house, I can't imagine any 18-year-old asking permission either as none is needed. Hell, I can't even imagine any parent attempting to shield their 18-year-old children from "inappropiate" movies. My parents luckily stopped caring what I watched once I was 13 and I didn't turn out to be a sexual deviant or violent psychopath.
But caring what your mom thinks of your choices and your mom controlling your choices are two completely different things.
the reason one might ask permission is out of respect. Most kids these days dont know what that is but i applaud "hopeandchange" for raising a fine daughter.
Dylan-
Some people aim for something a little higher than not having their children become "sexual deviants or violent psychopaths." Some aim to raise children that grow up to be adults with high moral values. (eg. People that don't use profane language unless they are under gunfire or something-(smile))
I think influence and control are wildly different things. A good parent does offer advice, of course, but you can't mature without making mistakes, and a good parent has to let a child make them. (I don't mean criminal or self destructive acts, of course) I don't have kids, but I ask with respect, wasn't there a point when you felt your control over your kids ended? Denying an 18 year old permission to see a raunchy movie just seems excessively controlling, and I don't seem to be the only one who thinks so. I also pity a teenager so cowed at 18 years old that they'd accept being forbade to do something so innocent without a knock down drag-out fight.
Funny fbeditor-
Just got off the phone w/ my 25 year old married daughter and she happened to tell me that she and her husband have decided not to check out Bruno due to reviews and a good rethinking.
My son, 22, ( and my husband) won't go b/c they do not find the commercials funny or of interest.
My daughter 18, could legally see the movie but has already ordered Harry Potter tickets and has thus spent her entertainment budget for the week.
As to being alarmed that 18 year olds are constricted at all by parents opinions, I would say that it does not alarm me in the least. I am 51 and I still care what my mother thinks about books, movies, politics and religion. We have many interesting discussions though she tires easily and does not suffer fools as gladly as I do.
Shock value high (flapping/talking penis). Humor value medium (Ron Paul gets punked). Script/character value low (who wrote it?).
Definitely not worth a second viewing/repeat business.
Dylan,
A parent controlling one's choices or influencing one is *different* but not "completely different." A parent hands down a heritage of wisdom through word and deed well past the the teenage years. In the middle age and older years a human has much example to set for their child. The idea that young and attractive people are fonts of opinion and should be set on a pedestal are part of the problem with the culture today.
Moreover, the average 18 year old, without the assistance and guidance of parent or guardian would be swirling in a pant-load of debt or living in dire circumstances today. They need help "with strings attached."
Sorry – not my basket of fruit.
I'm burned out on this just from all the pre-publicity.
"One can bet that if this would have being in your face female nudity the majority of critics wouldn't have touched it…"
I'd touch it if it were female nudity.
Jamie Kennedy had a show about 7 years ago and pulled the same prank on stage moms.
I thought the Harrison Ford "interview" was funny. The Ron Paul thing was pointless.
Technically she doesn't need permission, but she is taking advantage of her parents' wisdom in seeking out their approval for the entertainment material she consumes. I wish I had done that a little bit more when I was her age.
Saw the movie "Bruno" last night – not as funny as it has been portrayed on commercials and in the media. Pretty much a waste of money; I feel this way alot of times after seeing movies. Most of them are disappointing; these people get paid good money to write, direct and act in these movies and this is the best they can do? What more can I say, except I probably will not be wasting any more money on these stupid movies.
Wow.
I was primed to enjoy Bruno since I loved Da Ali G Show and even found Borat funny despite its smugness and vulgarity. But I thought Bruno was absolutely terrible. I laughed a few times here and there but not nearly enough to recommend it to anyone. It's just one obscene set-piece after another masking as a story. It was almost as embarrassing as Ali G Indahouse, and only marginally funnier than The Hangover, but at least with The Hangover, you knew it was going to be stupid going in. But this is supposed to be cutting-edge satire.
Jaconde-
I received your reply to this but it does not appear on this page (yet?).
Let me say that I was not the original poster of saying that my 18 yr old kid(s) "needed" my permission to see a movie. I was saying that my kids discuss and "ask" about my opinion. (Maybe they have run out and see one's I think are stupid and a waste but I doubt it! (smile))
Someone else started this discussion above and I defended that person's parenting b/c, unlike a lot of folks, I feel like you can keep a good relationship with lots of respect with young people as they grow into young adults. I don't think it has to be a negative and contentious battle 24//7. IMO!!! ha-ha!
I'm not denying any of that. However, the impression I got from the original post was that the parent was not allowing her adult daughter to go see the film. That is completely different than just offering wisdom, assistance or guidance in helping them make decisions. That is making the decision for them. That's part of a whole other problem today, particularly the overprotective parenting that is so prevalent today.
Looks to me Bruno, like Borat, is a profound artistic expression by a gifted comedian which holds up a mirror to the way in which people so easily allow anger, prejudice and stupidity to rule their lives. I'd much rather see how vile our society can become in an entertaining movie than to read it on this thread. Some of these comments are so ignorant and uninformed, and seething with jealousy and hatred. I think people can learn from these films to be nicer to each other. God bless you all, or if your atheist, may you have a nice day.
Vile. Offensive. Tasteless. Shocking with many shots of male genitalia and anal sex. And we're supposed to laugh.
The perfect left wing film.
I refuse to participate in anything that costs IQ points
Dylan-
overprotective parenting or "the hovering parent" is a syndrome that many well-off people indulge in. The problem that an 18 year old ASKS HER PARENTS ABOUT GOING TO AN R RATED FILM IS NOT A PROBLEM. Really, I have had just about enough of this annoying conversation which belies the fact that you have not raised children, let alone teens ( or ushered any into adulthood.)
Its over. Have a nice evening.
My wife and I just returned home from seeing 'Bruno'. She didn't think it was all that funny (thought 'The Hangover' was better) I thought it was very funny and laughed quite a bit. It's so outrageous I found it hard not to laugh. Maybe it was just the mood I was in and on some level, living in this PC world, 'Bruno' was like a cool glass of water on a hot summer afternoon. Anyway…
I can't help wonder what Lenny Bruce would have thought of Sacha Baron Cohen and his work?
"People can learn from these films to be nicer to each other"??? You are joking, right? Be nicer to people by filming them as you put them in unexpected and unwelcome sexual situations? The "pranks" in this movie present nothing more than a petty and adolescent attitude toward nudity and sex. I have visited nudist resorts where such behavior would get you thrown out on your naked butt. That is because ADULTS with a mature appreciation for sex and nudity visit such places. If you want people to "be nicer" to each other, then start by respecting other people's sensibilities. Lewd behavior in public is immature, ignorant, and disrespectful to others. Rude, childish behavior like that depicted by the character Bruno is WHY people are not nicer to one another.
I read an article/review that said something very unusual (it used the word "shocking") happened with this Bruno movie. It opened strong, in #1 place, since nothing else was really up against it, except that girl from Heroes who plays a cheerleader in all her movies.
Anyway, the drop from Friday to Saturday was unprecedented. It seems people twittered and emailed and talked and collectively decided not to bother with this piece of junk.
I hope this turns out to be true.
I really want to think that we are better than this, more grown up and well, just nicer people, than Baron Cohen believes we are.
The article is on Yahoo.
Very true! More heat over this side topic than the stupid movie!! (But it's whipped, timid 18-year old that still feels the need at 18 to ask permission to see a movie. Buy a motorcycle maybe, join the army, maybe, but not see a movie. And if you've raised someone without the stones to make such a simple decision on their own…well…God bless you, but you haven't raised a strong human.)
Box Office Weekend: Bruno — A One-Day Wonder? – "Did Bruno get Twittered?"
http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1910...
My children ask my opinion on movies because they know I read up on them. I do not go to very many movies. Nothing looks good, and I refuse to see R movies.We have had plenty of discussions on what is appropriate and what is the image you want to have engraved in your brain. Not to excited about having my 17 yr old have the image of Megan Fox butt on his brain. Sorry. I did not have the answer to his older brothers question
"Where do I look when I girl bends over to pick up a pencil and I can see down her shirt?" He was in ninth grade. When does is stop being funny? Do you have to go to the edge for a laugh?
Some parents have more rules and morals than others that they want their children to abide by. Simple. If the 18 yr old lives at home, and mommy and daddy pay the freight, they dance to their fiddle. Hopefully. At least in a good home.
Yeah, I am def no prude, but Cohen's hoo hoo is not going to be my fave movie getaway vision this summer. Thx but no thx.
"Alarming?" Reaaaallllly? I find that word a little "alarming" myself. And there are also other words better used than "dictate." Sounded like the mother whose 18 y old daughter asked to see the movie has a good relationship w/ said daughter, and said daughter understands how to mind rules. How refreshing.
As I said above, it boils down to respect of parent's views, and child's dependence on the family funds, sometimes. I think your kids sound great. And yeah, I have a 19 and 21 y old. So I understand this, and where I made mistakes. Hopefully, parents will continue to hep their almost grown kids in all areas, as needed.
Debbie,
rec'd your post. Yes, this discussion has taken a turn into "the parenting" arena! Sounds like you feel like I do–Your older children and young adults have important dialogue with you. A movie ticket $8.00, a date to the movies $35.00. The influence of a caring and knowledgeable parent is priceless. ;o)
Overprotective parenting. Yep. That is real pressing problem today. Maybe your cable company only offers Leave It To Beaver and Mayberry RFD?
One of two situations exist here: Either you are totally unfamiliar with the disparity between the prodigiously mature and outlandishly childish decisions a seventeen year old (like my son) can make in the span of 15 minutes and feel that in a few ticks of the clock he will need no more guidance; or, your mom and dad have been saying no to borrowing the station wagon lately.
There has never been anything that shows children who watch R-rated movies grow up with low moral values. Indeed, you could make the argument with young children (although it is baseless), but at the age of 18, one is an adult who has already formed their own moral values and beliefs. Children are more susceptible to being influenced by the media. It's silly to believe that an 18-year-old could be corrupted by a movie.
If you cannot see the obvious correlation between overprotective parents and a mother not allowing her adult daughter to see an "inappropiate" movie, I don't know what to say. It really is a problem. This isn't about raising a child; you are no longer a child at the age of 18. You are an adult capable of your own decisions.
It doesn't matter. 18-year-olds can make childish decisions or be immature, yes, but allowing them to make their own decisions is part of the learning process for them. They are legally adults and CAN make their own decisions, whether there parents like that or not. However, this is really irrelevant, as this isn't an issue where an immature decision could be made. The daughter asked to see a movie; worst thing that happens is she doesn't like it or is disgusted by it, in which she learns a lesson to heed her mothers warning next time (note that I say 'warning' and not 'decision').
Overprotective parenting is a real pressing problem today. It has extremely negative psychological implications for children growing up and is fueled by adults misguided paranoia.
What part of over don't you understand, dear.
What part of over don't you understand, dear?
The part where you declare the discussion over after making all your points. You are free to respond or not if you want, as am I. I'm choosing to respond. You have the option not to if you want to end it.
The part where you declare the discussion over after making all your points. You are free to respond or not if you want, as am I. I'm choosing to respond. You have the option not to if you want to end it. But you can't declare the discussion over whenever you choose.
Dylan,
I have a suspicion that you are very young. and have created an argument with me that reflect your idea that I am somehow not allowing you to see a movie! This is really a little nutty. That is why I wanted to end the discussion.
My adult children voluntarily tell me where they are going and what they are doing. Why do you think they do this? Is it because I am mean? No, if so they would move far away and not talk to me. Instead we have fun.
No, you've got me all wrong. I'm not suggesting you are mean or anything like that, and certainly am not suggesting the zany notion that you are not allowing me to already see the movie (I'm old enough to see it on my own regardless, but went as a family outing). My argument had nothing to do with any of this. What I was saying is that I don't believe a parent should be deciding what a child does at that age. It's not weird that the daughter told the parent she was going, but it's weird that the parent refused her permission. Her permission wasn't needed in the first place.
No, you've got me all wrong. I'm not suggesting you are mean or anything like that, and certainly am not suggesting the zany notion that you are not allowing me to already see the movie (I'm old enough to see it on my own regardless, but went as a family outing). My argument had nothing to do with any of this. What I was saying is that I don't believe a parent should be deciding what a child does at that age. It's not weird that the daughter told the parent she was going, but it's weird that the parent refused her permission. Her permission wasn't needed in the first place. I'm not saying the parent can't voice her displeasure of the movie, but saying she can't go? It's a matter that doesn't concern the parent. Matters involving the house (owned by the parents) or other posessions of the parents makes perfect sense, but not another adults movie choices.
No, you've got me all wrong. I'm not suggesting you are mean or anything like that, and certainly am not suggesting the zany notion that you are not allowing me to see the movie which I've already seen (I'm old enough to see it on my own regardless, but went as a family outing). My argument had nothing to do with any of this. What I was saying is that I don't believe a parent should be deciding what a child does at that age. It's not weird that the daughter told the parent she was going, but it's weird that the parent refused her permission. Her permission wasn't needed in the first place. I'm not saying the parent can't voice her displeasure of the movie, but saying she can't go? It's a matter that doesn't concern the parent. Matters involving the house (owned by the parents) or other posessions of the parents makes perfect sense, but not another adults movie choices.
Hey, Dylan!
Are you lonely tonight? Take a deep breathe and ask someone out.
Um…no, I'm not. Thanks for asking.
And while I won't take a deep "breathe", I did let out a sigh of relief when I saw you had to resort to childish insults ironically beneath the maturity level of most 18-year-olds. Insults are typical behavior of those who don't have the intelligence/logic to rationalize their point of view in an argument and a good indication that I was expressing my views quite well. So…thanks!
Two moviegoers in the Northwest don't seem very satisfied. Read what Bruce Chapman and Brendan Woodward have to say.
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