Movie Review: Borat

I am not a “politically correct” person. Do I go around flaunting that? No. It’s just too damn hard to keep up. I mean what do I call Islanders from let’s say Jamaica who are now Americans? They aren’t African Americans because they were never African. I can understand calling people that who immigrated here from Africa. But those who have been here for generations? Doesn’t make sense to me. I have no problem being called white, in fact at one point being called an Irish American would’ve been an insult, and not so long ago, German American would’ve been.

I know a white guy who was born in Ethiopia. Is he African American? Technically yes. What about all of the South African whites? Needlessly to say, the term is too broad. And these are just examples of one term—imagine all the thousands out there.

That being said, I don’t get sensitive over crude rumor. In fact, I can normally find myself laughing at it. If a joke is funny, it’s funny, period.

So… based on all that… what is my opinion on Borat?

I can honestly say it was one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. Not only was it not funny, but it was insulting. Ahh yes, you think, all of the anti-Semitism in it. No, that’s not the problem. Sacha Baron Cohen, the actor playing Borat, is jewish. No, his stance on the stereotypical person from Kazakhstan was appalling.

I was looking forward to watching this movie very much. Having a degree in film, I like seeing its boundaries pushed. I like controversy. I like different. I like films that challenge the norm. I really wanted to like Borat, but I just found myself sick to my stomach over Cohen’s actions. How he played upon people, lured them into thinking he was something he wasn’t. Taking advantage of people’s hospitality—our country’s hospitality.

And my personal favorite… selective cutting. Cutting to applause at something he’s said when the people did not react that way. Putting scenes into a context that wasn’t there. It is like a lie. I know this was a mockumentary. But the only thing mocking here was the fact that he wasn’t who he said he was. Everyone else was themselves.

Sacha Baron Cohen is an irresponsible filmmaker, a conman if you will. He preys upon the weak, the susceptible. Then he mocks them nationally. He does this not only at our nation’s expense but at Kazakhstan’s as well. I am so happy he’s being sued—may he go broke over this film.