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74%
Overall Rating
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Ranked #393
...out of 20,725 movies
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Kazakh TV talking head Borat is dispatched to the United States to report on the greatest country in the world. With a documentary crew in tow, Borat becomes more interested in locating and marrying Pamela Anderson.
--IMDb
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Sneak previews are a wonderful thing. And, while I was unable to catch "Borat" last week during the huge global MySpace premiere, Birmingham, Alabama, received its own sneak preview of the film last night and I was front and center for what unfolded. I first became familiar with Sacha Baron Cohen in 2002 when I was in London. His film "Ali G Indahouse" was everywhere - on posters and billboards and television - literally everywhere I turned. When I returned home, that was when he started taking on in the states. I never enjoyed his show, and never really watched much of it, especially his character Borat. This is a shame. "Borat" turned out to be probably the funniest film I have ever seen. It also probably turned out to be the most offensive and insanely vicious film I have ever seen. I found myself literally laughing so loudly, I probably would annoyed everyone else around me, if they hadn't also been laughing just as hard as I was. "Borat" is a genuine delight, a real edgy comedy, and the best thing to come around in ages. It has already made by end of the year list, and could possibly top it, with more thought and consideration. It is rare when a comedy makes me laugh this hard. "Anchorman" was probably the last comedy to do so, and "Borat" makes that film look pedestrian in almost every way. "Borat" is the best comedy in over a decade.
Sacha Baron Cohen stars as Borat Sagdiyev, a television journalist in his native country of Kazakhstan. We first Borat introducing us to his family - his sister, his mother-in-law, his wife and his asshole neighbor. We never officially meet his retarded brother. Borat is hired by his country to travel to the United States and document his adventure so that his people might learn more about America, and vice versa. Along with him for the ride is his cameraman Azamat Bagatov (Ken Davitian) and his pet chicken. Beginning in New York City, Borat eventually develops of a fascination with "Baywatch" star Pamela Anderson and decides to travel to Los Angeles in order to marry her, a journey that takes him through Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, and various other locales, all along his way to meet the beautiful blond. Some of the more humorous moments involve Borat's visit to a yard sale, where he confronts someone he assumes is a gypsy, and his trip to a bed and breakfast owned and operated by an old Jewish couple. Cohen's ambush-style tactics lead to some real shock laughs, especially when you consider that most of these people really think he is Borat, and not an actor. You accept certain sequences as staged, because you know Cohen would have likely arrested and sued for doing what he does, but most looks authentic, and most probably is. This is what separates this kind of comedy from every other comedy in the market today.
This was a film that never let up - from beginning to end, you find yourself laughing hysterically and sometimes feeling terrible for doing so. Cohen pokes fun at everyone. No one is left unoffended, from referring to African Americans as 'chocolate faces' to referring to Jews as 'horned devils' to his continuous verbal abuse of women and individuals with mental handicaps. But, that is how this kind of comedy should be. If you single out a group, you will be called on it. If you terrorize every group, you are less likely to be labeled a racist or a bigot. Even the gays and the evangelical Christians are targeted in two of the funniest scenes in the film. Director Larry Charles, who has directed a great deal of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is still in his element here, and he takes the same kind of approach with "Borat" as he often does with Larry David on the television show. "Borat" uses Larry Charles' ability to its fullest extent, but you have to believe that Cohen probably had more of a directorial input that Charles' ever had. This is all Cohen's baby. He is what makes the film work, and it is his energy and passion that make the character offensive, and totally lovable.
Speaking of Cohen, I don't see how a performance like this could be ignored come Oscar time. You are probably questioning my sanity right now, but it is the truth. This was the single greatest male acting performance of the year, especially when you consider how versatile this guy is. "Borat" took an exceptional amount of talent, and patience, and perfection to nail, and Cohen does it. He convinces these people that he is this foreigner and he is so convincing that we believe it too. Most people are shocked when they see Cohen on talk shows and see how different he is from the character he portrays. That is true talent and he should be rewarded. I also thoroughly enjoyed Ken Davitian as his overweight friend, especially when Borat catches Azamar having 'relations' with his Pamela Anderson magazine and is forced to do terrible things that I will not reveal. Needless to say, it is a scene that will live in the mind of all audience members for a long time to come.
Personally, this film just rocked my socks off. I cannot wait until it hits theatres so I can see it again and take everyone I know to see it multiple times. "Borat" is one of the funniest and most genuinely delightful comedies I have ever seen, and it is one of the best motion picture experiences I have had all year long. Sacha Baron Cohen is a comedic genius and this film alone makes me want to give his other work another try. But, I will deliver this warning. This film is not for children. You are subjected to everything from terrible language to some of the most obscene and disgusting nudity you could ever want to see on film. Cohen leaves no resource untapped in his quest to make you lose your lunch in a non-grossout humor way. "Borat" is amazing. See for yourself...without the kids.
10/10.
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#1:
bluemeanie
- added October 5, 2006 at 4:23pm
Sayeth BORAT: "Do not fear me, Gypsy. I have
come for your tears. If you do not give them to
me, I will take them."
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#2:
BuryMeAlive
- added November 27, 2006 at 11:13am
It was funny when I saw it in cinemas, but I'm not
sure I will enjoy it more or less if I see it a
second time.
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#3:
Crispy
- added January 25, 2007 at 11:03am
I have a feeling me and sobriety are going to have
to part ways for a night before I hit this one.
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#4:
BuryMeAlive
- added April 16, 2007 at 4:59pm
As I thought, it's not that funny after you have
seen it before.
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#5:
Kain
- added June 3, 2007 at 11:04pm
In the eyes of the devout American, this film is
inherently wrong in every way. Could anything
else make it more right? Even if you are somehow
not amused by it, and we all know there will be
those bereft of the ability to laugh, it is very
difficult to argue the quality of satire here.
Borat is clever, original, offensive, and all the
better for it. I agree completely that it is
probably the best comedy of the year, and
realistically, you only need to see it once. The
scenes stuck so vividly in my mind that
quotability quickly became one of those added
benefits. The film does lose some of the shock
that is indigenous to the first viewing, but even
still, certain scenes simply cannot be witnessed
by most human beings without warrenting a
painfully intese laughter. Now even with the
comedic aspect aside, the film as a cinematic
entry is quite venerable if simply for the clever
'third world' feel of the imagery, credits, and
music (and speaking of the music, jesus that theme
song...). The dvd's fabulous menu screen alone is
enough for a hearty laugh, and while on that
subject, the deleted scenes are something to be
treasured by anyone who claims to be a fan of
humor. Without remorse I readily purchased this
film, and received a complimentary "GLORIOUS
KHAZAKHSTAN" shirt that has become a regular in my
wardrobe. Ah marketing... Anyway, I will
recommend this film for anyone really (save for
"rah America" patriots and college frat boys), as
you will probably end up with strengthened abs and
leaky eyes...
-KAIN
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#6:
Edd
- added June 3, 2007 at 11:29pm
Definately in my top 5 best comedies of all time.
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#7:
Cryptorchild
- added October 20, 2007 at 6:34pm
Funniest movie to come out since Super Troopers.
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#8:
Crispy
- added March 31, 2008 at 1:44pm
Well, it was better than I expected, but that
isn't saying much. Sure it had a few really funny
gags, but that's all it was, one gag after
another, and towards the end they started to get a
bit repetitive. I'd go somewhere around a high 4.
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#9:
Tristan
- added March 31, 2008 at 3:29pm
4? Are you kidding? I'm not even going to get into
it with you, as I simply don't have the energy.
9/10
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#10:
bluemeanie
- added March 31, 2008 at 4:20pm
4/10...??? Retarded. Just retarded. I repeat --
10/10.
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#11:
Crispy
- added March 31, 2008 at 9:53pm
4 was generous. I'm not saying it wasn't funny,
but that is ridiculous.
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#12:
bluemeanie
- added April 1, 2008 at 10:15am
Seems like you've jumped on the whole 'cool to
hate this movie'. Any time a film starts out as
kind of an underground cult fave and then turns
into this mainstream success, people find it
'cool' and 'hip' to slam the movie. "The Blair
Witch Project" suffered the same backlash. One
minute, the film is this masterpiece, the next
minute everyone wants to talk about how lame it
is. Ever think your enjoyment of the film was
influenced by your waiting so damned long to see
it, after all of the hoopla? Well, I am sure it
was. If this didn't make you laugh more -- no
film can. It's hopeless.
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#13:
Crispy
- added April 1, 2008 at 5:49pm
You accusing me of not liking it because I'm on a
bandwagon is one of the most laughable things I've
ever heard. In fact, it's almost an inside joke
among my friends that I like a lot of things that
go against the grain from everyone else. I just
don't like 'over the top' comedy. I haven't since
I was 14. I can't stand Dane Cook, I can't stand
Will Ferrel, and I had a sinking suspicion from
day one that I probably wasn't going to like this
one, and like I said, I enjoyed it more than I had
thought I would despite going in actively thinking
I was going to hate it. I'm horribly sorry if you
can't get past the fact that we have different
senses of humor, but I'm sure you'll be all right.
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#14:
bluemeanie
- added April 2, 2008 at 10:25am
No, one of the most laughable things is you
comparing "Borat" to Will Ferrell and Dane Cook --
HA!
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#15:
Nirrad
- added May 1, 2008 at 2:31pm
9/10 for me. This movie was hilarious. Although it
did start to get a little stale and boring later
on, but I still enjoyed it.
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#16:
Strait Killa
- added November 13, 2008 at 7:39pm
4/10? Yeah, that sounds about right. Almost
everything 385 said about this, I'd agree with
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