Borat's Overexposure Is Not Cool

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 11/30/06 at 6:47pm

James Berardinelli has a point.

Borat is becoming so overexposed that the movie and the character are both ceasing to be funny. He is everywhere; a new talk show whore. I really abhor Cohen for letting this happen to his creation. It's becoming an easily disposable product that completely belies the overall point of the movie. And it hurts so much because, unlike Austin Powers or Napoleon Dynamite (Which both had similar commercialized fates), Borat is actual quality. It's a good film/character/idea.

This sort of reminds of all of the talk show whoring Quentin Tarantino did after Pulp Fiction.

Borat's 15 minutes are nearly up and that would be a shame. This character is quite an achievement and one that should last throughout the centuries. Because of his rampant over-commercialization, he will become nothing more than a footnote in pop culture. I can already see the Borat's segments in my mind on VH1's "Hey! Remember The '00s?"

[Luscious]

Posted: 11/30/06 at 7:19pm

Everything gets old, eventually. So what? He'll come up with another character. Borat wasn't his first, and I'm sure it won't be his last. In the meantime, the movie has grossed over $120 million. Not bad for a low-budget, independent, pseudo documentary that wasn't even guaranteed of finding a distributor.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/30/06 at 7:20pm

I was never on the Borat Wagon and avoided his tired shtick from the start, so if he fades into the sunset quickly now... s'okay by me.



Wasn't laughing then... still not laughing.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/30/06 at 7:23pm

I'm sorry, but if you were actually serious when you wrote the phrase "it hurts so much," you've really got to get a grip and maybe focus your energy on something real. Like real life.

[Kringas]

Posted: 11/30/06 at 7:39pm

Is it koo?

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 11/30/06 at 8:20pm

i dunno, him getting the sh*t beat out of him the other day and house having to save him was pretty damn funny.

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 11/30/06 at 10:45pm

I don't mean this the wrong way, because most of the time you had a great deal of input on this community.

But isn't there another movie board where you can post this at? Say, Borat's IMDB board?

Or did you post it there too?

Just curious. From what I can tell, BWW isn't a big Borat-fan. I'm with Best12. I didn't like him as Ali G and I don't like him now. It's like having a "I love George Bush" thread. We're gonna bash it to pieces.

[paradox_error]

Posted: 11/30/06 at 10:55pm

"...Borat is actual quality. It's a good film/character/idea"

On what planet?!?!?! Like, I laughed, but a lot of it was out of embarrassment and discomfort. The only truly funny bits were the interviews with ignorant people...

No way in hell would I ever consider that film to be quality...

[Kringas]

Posted: 11/30/06 at 10:59pm

BWW is the new blog.

Posted: 11/30/06 at 11:47pm

Hey I like Borat! Loved the movie, loved the few places I've seen him. I thought I was pretty media saturated but I really haven't seen him on much-- lots of stories of who's suing him now but those are all lots of fun so I'm all good with Borat. Why wouldn't people on here like him?

[DG]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 12:33am

I haven't seen the movie - but if what I'm reading is valid, and he's shining a light on the real ignorance that exists in this 'greatest country', then I'm all for whatever publicity he generates.

[matthius202]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 12:36am

That's exactly what he did, DG. And I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed the film...and more importantly, I felt that the film spoke volumes. I honestly do not care if Cohen is doing a lot of publicity appearances...that does not discredit the film's integrity or material.

[Kringas]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 12:39am

There's a great Rolling Stone interview (and despite the fact that I've mentioned it twice today, I'm not a shill for them) with Baron Cohen that touches on the sort of paradox of success with Borat.

Chances are he will never be able to pull off anything of this scale again. That's nothing against his talent, which I think is considerable. He might as well ride this wave, because he'll probably never be at the forefront of such a phenomenon again.

[DG]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 12:44am

Can you believe his next public outing is in SWEENEY? I am in AWE of what this man is orchestrating!

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 12:45am

I haven't seen the movie- I don't even have cable television and yet I'm sick of Borat in just my limited internet exposure. From what I've been exposed to, I haven't seen any "shining light on real ignorance". He just seems like the new Jackass. Am I missing something? Because from what I've seen so far he just seems like a contributing factor in the dumbing down of America. Antics and stunts meant to draw attention with no further agenda.

If I'm wrong I'll happily recant, but that's what I've seen thus far. What's the appeal?

[DG]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 12:48am

WW - what I'm most intrigued by are the number of lawsuits that have been filed on behalf of people who claim he tricked them - but the reality is he 'tricked them' into expressing what they really feel - and it was recorded.

All this has seemed to me is a case of the ignorance of some of our populace being brought to light - and the extreme anger that results when some people's reality is exposed.

[Kringas]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 12:51am

For me, it's that I have a crush on Sacha Baron Cohen. It's really no deeper than that.

Updated On: 12/1/06 at 12:51 AM

[matthius202]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 12:53am

AGHHHHHHHH..Correct order of forming your opinion: 1. See the film. 2. Form opinion.
I'm sorry..I'm not trying to be rude, but I don't understand how you can possibly take a stand when you haven't seen it. The film speaks volumes about our country. NOONE can deny that. If the people are claiming they have been DUPED, it is only out of embarrassment for being revealed as the bigots/misogynists/racists that they are.

Updated On: 12/1/06 at 12:53 AM

[paradox_error]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 1:18am

But are you guys really surprised by the ignorance shown? It's hardly the first film/tv show to expose American ignorance..."Talking to Americans", anyone?

But at the same time, I'm loathe to applaud showing American ignorance, because it's been done to death...at least outside the US.

I don't know...if it gets the American population to do some self-examination about ignorance of all things foreign, then I can support the support for the film. Otherwise...it all just seems pointless and offensive...

[DG]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 1:22am

Doxy - trust me - self-reflection is not an American stong-suit. Look at this board

And 'hi', by the way!

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 2:37am

I thought the film was great and I applaud him, expecially for the reason DG mentioned.

[DG]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 2:40am

Suck-up.

I mean here. Only here.

Whatever.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 3:34am

Wow, imagine an actor promoting his film by making appearances!

That's NEVER happened before....

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 5:02am

Nope.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 9:24am

I don't get the problem with Cruel posting his blog-thoughts on Borat's instant fame. It's a valid topic for discussion.


Nine out of ten threads here turn into a chat room, so I don't get the fuss.