2008 Woodie Awards
Borat's comedy assaults Americans and their core values
Peter Burke, Opinions Editor
Issue date: 11/21/06
Last Updated: 12/26/07
I was not originally planning on paying to watch the movie "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." The concept seemed so crude that I was skeptical that anything of redeeming value could come from this film. After viewing this "comedic masterpiece," it turned out I was right. Borat himself is a chauvinistic, sex-craving, anti-Semitic, headstrong fool without any personal dignity. His antics and dialogue are perverted, evidenced by his goal in life: to have sex with Pamela Anderson.
But as I watched the movie, I also laughed … a lot. This "mock-umentary" was hilarious because of the absolutely over-the-top situations and Borat's numerous verbal guffaws. The film forced me to laugh because it was so offensive that there was no other emotion that could adequately describe how I was feeling while watching it.
Going into the movie, I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to critique American society based on what we are choosing to watch. I was very intrigued when I learned that Borat was the top grossing movie of the season, with more than $90 million in ticket sales. Why are American's choosing to watch this filthy movie?
When I came out, I had no definite answer. In fact, I was speechless. Borat himself makes fun of almost every group possible. He instigates some feminists. He falls for a black prostitute. He offends rednecks at a rodeo by singing a bizarre national anthem. He speaks tongues at a fundamentalist church service. He makes fun of some sex-craving frat boys. He makes at least 10 anti-Semitic comments that he attributes to his country's hatred of Israel and, in the climactic moment, he wrestles nude with his obese producer for about five minutes, in the process getting into awkward positions and running into a convention hall full of white aristocrats.
So, the best way I can answer this question is to say that Americans like to laugh at people who are less sophisticated than themselves. I am apparently of the same opinion, so I am not in a position to criticize, but if I had a second chance to watch the movie, I would not. I found no message that would help me in my life. Laughing for the sake of laughing is usually good, but at the sacrifice of my moral values, I do not think it is appropriate.
So the best way I can answer my question is to pose another one. Are you willing to throw out your values for 84 minutes for a few laughs? Because if you are, Borat and similar movies rated "R" for "pervasive strong crude and sexual content including graphic nudity and language" are for you.
But as I watched the movie, I also laughed … a lot. This "mock-umentary" was hilarious because of the absolutely over-the-top situations and Borat's numerous verbal guffaws. The film forced me to laugh because it was so offensive that there was no other emotion that could adequately describe how I was feeling while watching it.
Going into the movie, I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to critique American society based on what we are choosing to watch. I was very intrigued when I learned that Borat was the top grossing movie of the season, with more than $90 million in ticket sales. Why are American's choosing to watch this filthy movie?
When I came out, I had no definite answer. In fact, I was speechless. Borat himself makes fun of almost every group possible. He instigates some feminists. He falls for a black prostitute. He offends rednecks at a rodeo by singing a bizarre national anthem. He speaks tongues at a fundamentalist church service. He makes fun of some sex-craving frat boys. He makes at least 10 anti-Semitic comments that he attributes to his country's hatred of Israel and, in the climactic moment, he wrestles nude with his obese producer for about five minutes, in the process getting into awkward positions and running into a convention hall full of white aristocrats.
So, the best way I can answer this question is to say that Americans like to laugh at people who are less sophisticated than themselves. I am apparently of the same opinion, so I am not in a position to criticize, but if I had a second chance to watch the movie, I would not. I found no message that would help me in my life. Laughing for the sake of laughing is usually good, but at the sacrifice of my moral values, I do not think it is appropriate.
So the best way I can answer my question is to pose another one. Are you willing to throw out your values for 84 minutes for a few laughs? Because if you are, Borat and similar movies rated "R" for "pervasive strong crude and sexual content including graphic nudity and language" are for you.
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