Customer Reviews

Brüno [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(50)

 

 

I rented Bruno from NetFlix with mixed feelings. I had seen Cohen's other works, including Borat and the Ali G Show, both of which I found deceptively intelligent and political. His ability to make his characters' stupidity an incisive mirror which he holds up to society is mind-boggling. With Borat, I thought this form of comedy had reached it's highest point. I was wrong. Bruno goes further. Some are offended by the gratuitous male nudity. Deal with it. If looking at penises makes you deeply uncomfortable, you probably have issues that run deeper than Bruno. It's true that a lot of the content of the movie revolves around Cohen using his flamboyantly gay character Bruno to make conservative anti-gay types uncomfortable. This can be uncomfortable for the viewer as well, but with the ultimate pay-off of revealing America's deep-seated homophobia and questioning it.

SPOILER WARNING

The film's finale gathers a large number of red-neck cage-fight enthusiasts in an arena for an event hosted by "Straight Dave", Bruno's straight alter-ego. When they get a touching (if gratuitously gay) scene of male-male reconciliation and love, the fans go crazy with disgust. Some of the audience leave, some yell violent hate slogans, some throw drinks at Bruno and his lover. Several of the fans looks shocked and betrayed, several of them comically wearing "Straight Dave" T-shirts they'd gotten for the event. I even saw a few in the crowd who looked like they understood the point that Cohen was making. People who were suddenly more disgusted by the gross display of homophobic violence on the part of the fans than the homosexual love that was taking place within the cage.

While his methods may be questionable, I feel America is indebted to Cohen for his bravery, and that he is one of the single largest contributors to intelligent social commentary through comedy today.

After the movie Borat in 2006 Sacha Baron Cohen returned to the big screen in 2009 with another of his characters, gay Austrian (you read that right, it's not Australian) Bruno. 19 years old Bruno is known for hosting what is said to be the most famous German speaking television show outside of Germany "Funkyzeit mit Bruno", a show about fashion and for his flamboyant style. Bruno is doing well in the world of fashion but when he gets fired, his assistant leaves him and his lover dumps him he decides to leave for America in order to become famous by any means.When he comes to America Bruno tries a talent agency to get to stare in a big Hollywood movie and become famous, he unsuccessfully tries to starts a new television show, he does an interview, interviews people and he even tries to become straight amongst other things. He will do anything to get famous and is not ashamed of it which will end up in hilarious situations . Bruno to me was really funny, there were some moments were I laughed, others were I was in shock and others in which I didn't quite know what to think which I think was Baron Cohen's goal with this movie. There is a lot of nudity and other shocking things in this movie so be aware it's not for children and not everyone will like it because of it. Bruno goes far with homosexuality and if you are not comfortable with this then Bruno may not be for you. I have no problem with it at all and therefore enjoyed the movie and thought the character was great.

You may not like what Baron Cohen does but you can't deny his ability to re-invent himself, from his Ali-G character to Borat and others and keep what he does controversial, fresh and interesting . Bruno stands on its own and is not a Borat clone, there are a few similarities but the two are very different while retaining the same style of humor Baron Cohen is known for. If you are easily offended don't watch this, it's a different kind of humor that not everyone can appreciate. When it comes to Bruno it's pretty simple you will either love it or hate it. The rating here on amazon may prove otherwise but it's because of the mix of very positive and very negative reviews, there is hardly any middle ground.

For those of you who may be "different" or gay and have been hurt, intimidated or shunned by society, you will love this fun-filled jab at your tormentors! As a gay person, I admit to a sadistic thrill out of seeing every single uncomfortable straight person in the film, and those watching it. The hillbilly's, the conservatives, the testosterone-filled and religious nuts all get a taste of their own medicine in this 'Borat-as-a-gay' fun fest.

Some of the scenarios are screamingly funny (the 'channeling Milli Vanilli' scene comes to mind) and you really have to admire the fact that Sasha Baron Cohen is a straight man creating these outlandish situations. So much of it comes off the top of his head, and he has an amazing ability to stay in character.

If you are "offended by male nudity"...then get a life! I saw that phrase SO MANY times in the reviews on here! How many times have you been asked if you were offended by "female nudity"? How many hundreds of movies have you seen with breasts (and "other parts") displayed across the big screen, larger than two-car garages? Did we gasp? Did we run home and complain about how "offensive" it was? I doubt it. Bruno has a penis and we see it, big deal! Well...it DOES have a urethra that talks...but still. He's an unconventional fella...

Why so many Sarah Palin-type Americans chose to view this film anyway, is a mystery. Bruno is UNMISTAKABLY gay on the cover, and they knew he was played by the same guy who was Borat. What were they expecting, a Liberace concert? The truth? Borat was offensive and STRAIGHT and everyone loved it. Bruno is offensive and GAY. And that, apparently, is 'not allowed.'

I say, buy this film. Play it when you're feeling down and it will guarantee you lots of laughs.

This movie shows how perverse our society is. Americans like to hide behind a righteous attitude of being the best and most civilized people on earth. Mostly this attitude comes from the religious zealots who make up the majority of our society. The people who did not like this movie should have gotten up and left but they did not. No one left during the two times I viewed it. And all of the people commenting negatively on here have not walked out either, neither from the theater or their living room.

The fact that we see former gay preachers trying to convert current gays is truly American. The fact that we see redneck southerners uncomfortable around someone who is different from them is also typical. It puts American stupidity right in our faces and that is why certain people do not like the movie. Just like his last movie we see all of our racist, sexist, and ignorant flaws right in front of us and we cannot deny the truth. On the surface this movie is funny. Deeper down we see yet another sad social experiment on our own people. And yet again we see that we may not be as just as our false personas would have us be. This country is racist, sexist and homophobic. That puts America way behind many other intelligent and progressive countries. If you need more proof than this movie, look at education statistics, job rates, standard of living and national laws of most all the other developed nations.

This is another classic by Sasha Cohen. While not exactly a "family" film it is funny from beginning to end. Probably wouldnt have grandma over for popcorn and movie on "Bruno" night. Some scenes might be called a bit risque by some, but always humorous "Cohen" style. If you don't mind a talking penis then this film might be for you.

A Hollywood Video store is going out of business in Cookeville, Tennessee. True story here. The girl at the counter said they had 300 copies of Bruno and they were selling them at the counter for 25-cents each! This was the best money, per laugh, that I've ever spent.

Basically the entire movie is skits of Bruno acting and being gay in front of people who are really freaked out by that. Between those skits he's having relationship problems with his boyfriend. Bruno is trying to make it in Hollywood and figures all the great movie stars were not gay so Bruno is attempting to not be gay.

Just get this movie and go to the next to the last scene on the DVD menu. The MMA scene. Then go to the deleted scenes and watch the Pete Rose interview. Pete Rose is a man's man and he ain't real comfortable with Bruno.

The Bottom Line:

Bruno isn't quite as funny as Borat but Cohen certainly gives it a try, mixing scripted sequences with 'Candid Camera" style footage to showcase stage mothers at their worst, Paula Abdul as a "humanitarian," and homophobia across the nation; I understand why people didn't like the film, but I found it fearless and very funny.

3/4

I laughed hard and loud and so did my wife but I'm glad the kids weren't around while we were watching.

Those who aren't bothered by very explicit male frontal nudity, simulated homosexual intercourse, swingers filmed in the act, demonstrations of some basic hetero positions, Paula Abdul sitting on a Mexican, professional wrestling, Harrison Ford cussing, the Middle East peace process or a few minutes of Richard Bey's show are likely to fully enjoy Bruno. I laughed most of the time even at some of the more over the top situations - because the kids weren't around.

The ONE scene I did NOT appreciate was Bruno's attempt at seducing Ron Paul - a most decent, pure at heart, intelligent man. I will probably skip over it if I ever watch Bruno again and I really don't understand why it was included because RP maintains his dignity all throughout.

It would be hard to 'recommend' Bruno. I found at least one scene 'not funny' (see above), most of the movie tasteless but, at the same time, a lot of it was insanely funny - the kind of 'funny' you can't stop yourself from laughing out loud while feeling a little guilty at the same time. But such is the talent of Sacha Cohen.

On the DVD edition, besides the 82 minute movie cut, you get 40 (forty) minutes of deleted scenes, some of them as insanely funny as the scenes that made it into the movie plus 'extended' scenes, an interview with one of Bruno's victims and so on.

Coming back to 'recommending' Bruno or not... renting it may be the more prudent course of action. I bought it myself and I will keep my copy. The movie gets its 4 stars for Cohen's enormous talent - one star is lost for some really unnecessary and sometimes bordering on cruelty excesses.

Bruno is so over the top ridiculous I could not stop laughing, and now my face hurts, hours after watching it. There are so many crazy scenes with multiple jokes, innuendos, puns, double entendres, and overt (as well as subtle) jabs thrown in, that you will still laugh and giggle when you go over them, in your head, later on. There are too many embarrassing moments with clueless people not in on the jokes and their absurd/weirded out/shocked reactions to take in one sitting. I literally had to pause the DVD and walk away from the screen multiple times laughing due to my immense embarrassment at the clueless individuals being played upon by Bruno and his outlandish antics. There are also a plethora of deleted, alternate, and extended scenes included on the DVD that almost double the length of the movie and are not to be missed! Some scenes are so funny it hurts!

Bruno is ultimately a comedic social commentary that takes the ugliness of homophobia, the vapidity of fashionistas, the desperation of fame seeking parents, and the sexist double standards concerning male genitalia (borne out of homophobia/insecurity) and drags them kicking and screaming to their logical conclusions. It is subversive, as well as outrageous, comedy the likes of which is rarely seen. Sacha Baron Cohen is a comedic genius, willing to put himself in harms way in pursuit of where exactly is the line drawn and how far he can catapult past it.

I don't want to spoil any of the movie so believe me, unless you're a prude or a homophobe, you NEED to see this movie. It is satire at it's finest!

It takes quite a bit to live up to the genius of Borat's character and movie, but Sacha Baron Cohen does it again with Bruno. This time, instead of a clueless, womanizing, anti-Semantic foreigner, he portrays a vain, fame-hungry, and EXTREMELY gay Austrian who names his son after O.J. Simpson, calls Mel Gibson "the Fuhrer", and conducts the shortest interview ever with Harrison Ford, among other things.

Although none of the scenes in this film quite match the "ROFLMAO" factor of the hotel fight sequence from Borat, several come quite close. Some highlights of this movie include a disastrous focus group presentation culminating with a surprise "character" shouting Bruno's name, an attempt to bed an unsuspecting Ron Paul for a celebrity sex tape, and an audience of drunk, redneck pro wrestling fans who don't quite get the "man-slamming action" they bargained for.