Sacha Baron Cohen wreaks havoc on Middle America once again, this time with a gay Austrian Fashion TV Show host.
Doing what he does best, Cohen loses himself in Brüno and travels around the country messing with people’s ignorance and homophobia. But there is more than that going on in this film, and that’s makes it truly great.
On top of being an expose of the homophobia that still runs rampant in this country, Brüno is also a commentary on fame and what it has come to mean to Americans and what lengths people are willing to go to, to achieve it. No where is this more apparent than when he interviews parents to see what they are willing to have their infant children do to be in a photo shoot.
After all the hype Borat received it’s almost shocking to think that he was still able to find people who didn’t know who he was, but I suppose therein lies some of the humor. At this point we all know the shtick: So it’s not so impressive to seem him maintain character when being whipped by a half naked dominatrix or while making out with his partner Lutz (Gustaf Hammarsten) in a cage match while having a metal chair thrown at him by angry drunken rednecks. What’s impressive is how he gets out of some of these situations alive, such as when he tells a terrorist leader he is meeting with that his king Osama “looks like a homeless Santa Claus.”
However you want to look at it, Brüno is a hilarious film that even in today’s cynical over exposed society manages to push buttons and provide shock, but not just for shock’s sake. Cohen definitely has something to say with this film and if you’re open to listening to him, you’ll surely be taken for a very entertaining ride.
The film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound. For a steadycam shot comedy, often with hidden cameras, this is a great looking film.
Commentary with Sacha Baron Cohen and Larry Charles: This is a fantastic commentary. Cohen and Charles talk about how scenes were done and sometimes, when they have more to say, they pause the film and keep talking; so the commentary is actually about 25 minutes longer than the film. Very funny and very insightful. If only all commentaries were this entertaining.
Extended, Alternate & Deleted Scenes: (60 min.) These are all really hilarious, with Pete Rose and Latoya Jackson sitting on the Mexican workers (note: in the commentary they point out that these guys were in on the joke) just as Paula Abdul did. This is all really good stuff and very entertaining to watch.
An Interview with Lloyd Robinson: (5 min.) Robinson was the man who became Brüno’s agent. And no, he was not in on the joke. Here he talks about his experience’s with Brüno and what happened when he learned that it was all an act. This guy has a sense of humor and this is a nice little interview.
Not only is Brüno a hilarious film that is both shocking and revealing of American Culture, it’s also got fantastic special features. I saw this theatrically and was curious how well it would hold up upon second viewing. Happily it was still very hilarious. This is a great DVD and worth you’re heard earned bucks.
Sony Picture Classics presents Bruno. Directed by Larry Charles. Written by Sacha Baron Cohen. Starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Gustaf Hammarsten. Running time: 82 minutes. Rated R for pervasive strong and crude sexual content, graphic nudity and language. Released on DVD: November 17, 2009. Available at Amazon.com
