Slog
News & ArtsWednesday, July 15, 2009
Film Against Bruno
Posted by Eli Sanders on Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Jon Mejia, organizer of—and official spokesman for—Seattle's gay pride parade, sends over a condemnation of Sacha Baron Cohen's latest movie. He's titled it "Et Tu Brüno?"
Mel Brooks said that ‘Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die.’ This film left me feeling as if I had fallen into an open sewer. Let me put it this way, if you thought Al Jolson singing Mammy while in blackface makeup was good entertainment, you probably will enjoy this movie. As a gay man, I found it revolting...While our community is fighting the civil rights battle of our time, Sacha Baron Cohen is making a bundle of money lampooning the LBGT community. I challenge him to publically state his unequivocal support for LGBT equality and to use some of his ill gotten gains by donating to organizations that fight for our community to have the benefits and rights every heterosexual in America enjoys.
Apologists for Brüno tell us to lighten up because the movie actually is ‘pro-gay’, exposes homophobia and thereby espouses tolerance, but as many in the LGBT community see it, Brüno feels less like the wickedly wielded scalpel of satire and more like a crude knife in the back.
Et tu Brüno?
4
What does more to further the negative stereotypes?
The movie or the reactions like this?
For that matter, where did these stereotypes come from? Certainly they were around before this movie, no?
The movie or the reactions like this?
For that matter, where did these stereotypes come from? Certainly they were around before this movie, no?
6
Yup, I watched that movie, and now I cross the street whenever I see a gay person, for fear they will assault me with dildos or wave their penis in my face.
8
Is that the entire article? It's pretty poorly written, to be honest, and he doesn't state WHY the movie is offensive, aside from saying
Oh, ok. Care to elaborate why Sacha Baron Cohen should donate to LBGT causes aside from the fact that you didn't like the movie?
as many in the LGBT community see it, Brüno feels less like the wickedly wielded scalpel of satire and more like a crude knife in the back.
Oh, ok. Care to elaborate why Sacha Baron Cohen should donate to LBGT causes aside from the fact that you didn't like the movie?
9
Is he associated with the SGN at all? It reads like something they'd print. It doesn't make any sense; all flourishes and no heft. His opening metaphor means the opposite of what he intends. Is he a robot, by any chance?
10
@3, my point is that venting righteous indignation at Sasha Baron Cohen for this (or any) movie is a pointless exercise. It makes this gay fellow seem as clueless as the Kazakh Embassy did when they complained that Borat wasn't an accurate or complimentary depiction of their people. DUH.
11
Yes, because people's views on LGBT equality have been so remarkably altered from watching a mildly amusing film by the guy who did Borat.
12
Dear Jon Mejia,
You didn't like the movie, now fuck off.
SBC didn't take away the rights you never had, and the right wingers who some argue could use it against the gay community won't go near it.
By insinuating that SBC is a homophobe (and thus demanding he donate to gay causes to counter that belief) because you don't like his movie is bigotry in itself.
Quit writing press releases and do something useful. I think you lost sight of the real enemies here.
You didn't like the movie, now fuck off.
SBC didn't take away the rights you never had, and the right wingers who some argue could use it against the gay community won't go near it.
By insinuating that SBC is a homophobe (and thus demanding he donate to gay causes to counter that belief) because you don't like his movie is bigotry in itself.
Quit writing press releases and do something useful. I think you lost sight of the real enemies here.
13
For a (much) more carefully put version of this, see Anthony Lane's take in the New Yorker.
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/ci…
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/ci…
15
Haven't you learned? You look like you don't have a sense of humor with letters like this. Just smile, get over it, and move on. This is not your winning battle.
16
I haven't seen the film so I have no opinion on its merits. I DO enjoy films that outrage and revolt the easily outraged and revolted. So Mr. Mejia's condemnation just makes me want to support offensive material and see the film. I'm sure Sacha Baron Cohen appreciates the free publicity such protests provide.
Here's my question: is Jon Mejia an anti-semite? I am offended, outraged, & revolted at his disparagement of three Jews: Mel Brooks, Sacha Baron Cohen, & Al Jolson. I am also shocked and appalled!
Here's my question: is Jon Mejia an anti-semite? I am offended, outraged, & revolted at his disparagement of three Jews: Mel Brooks, Sacha Baron Cohen, & Al Jolson. I am also shocked and appalled!
17
@13,
Thanks for the link. It was a very good review and one that makes me disinclined to see the movie.
Thanks for the link. It was a very good review and one that makes me disinclined to see the movie.
18
Actually, the Seattle Gay community would be a hell of a lot better if there were more Brunoes around. As far as I can tell, the majority of the "gay community" here are 58 year old men in white shorts trying to rub up against straight guys, or else super-grouchy types that rant in SLOG.
Not very appealing to mostly happy-go-lucky gays.
Bring in the Brunoes, and Paul Allen would actually be able to sell off all those overpriced condos.
Not very appealing to mostly happy-go-lucky gays.
Bring in the Brunoes, and Paul Allen would actually be able to sell off all those overpriced condos.
19
Did the reviewer think that the Cultural Leanings of America was a slap in the face to Kzaks and Central Asians?
23
DID YOU SEE IT ALL? god, posts like this make me want to use caps throughout. Did you guys see the movie up to the end, or did you leave after the admittedly ugly beginning?
Because if you did see the end, you should know that this movie is a pea FOR LGBT rights, FOR the rights to display affection in public, FOR the right to love whomever you want to love, even when the world is screaming obscenities at you, or throwing folding chairs at you. Did you see, for fuck's sake, Snoop Dog?? I mean, what's a more forceful signal in favor of gay rights from the black hip-hop community that Snoop Dog showing up and singing about love and mutual understanding? so, please, please do not lie or willfully misinterpret the movie!
Because if you did see the end, you should know that this movie is a pea FOR LGBT rights, FOR the rights to display affection in public, FOR the right to love whomever you want to love, even when the world is screaming obscenities at you, or throwing folding chairs at you. Did you see, for fuck's sake, Snoop Dog?? I mean, what's a more forceful signal in favor of gay rights from the black hip-hop community that Snoop Dog showing up and singing about love and mutual understanding? so, please, please do not lie or willfully misinterpret the movie!
24
So there's only two choices: laugh with SBC or shut up?
You commenters are pretty shallow here.
I agree Jon could have been more articulate, but that really isn't addressing what appears to be his main complaint -- i.e. that presenting stereotypes doesn't automatically defuse them. Sometimes it reinforces them to a large scale audience.
I want to see it because my roommate thought it was hi-lar-ious. Of course he's always getting hot under the collar because most people assume he's gay and he goes waaaaaay out of his way to say he isn't. Hmmmmmmm.......
You commenters are pretty shallow here.
I agree Jon could have been more articulate, but that really isn't addressing what appears to be his main complaint -- i.e. that presenting stereotypes doesn't automatically defuse them. Sometimes it reinforces them to a large scale audience.
I want to see it because my roommate thought it was hi-lar-ious. Of course he's always getting hot under the collar because most people assume he's gay and he goes waaaaaay out of his way to say he isn't. Hmmmmmmm.......
26
my friends and I left this movie feeling pretty confused.
on the one hand, it was kind of funny. but on the other, he hadn't exactly exposed ignorance and homophobia in the US (as he exposed ignorance and racism in his previous movie). instead, he had only elicited relatively tame -with the exception of the wrestling match- reactions to extremely invasive and provocative behavior.
unfortunately these, dare I say reasonable, reactions are being labeled homophobic, leaving room for people to think they are laughing at the dumb ol' homophobes, when what they are really laughing at is that caricature of a fag.
was it a subversive movie in support of gay equality, or a movie exploiting how funny fags are? I'd say the latter.
on the one hand, it was kind of funny. but on the other, he hadn't exactly exposed ignorance and homophobia in the US (as he exposed ignorance and racism in his previous movie). instead, he had only elicited relatively tame -with the exception of the wrestling match- reactions to extremely invasive and provocative behavior.
unfortunately these, dare I say reasonable, reactions are being labeled homophobic, leaving room for people to think they are laughing at the dumb ol' homophobes, when what they are really laughing at is that caricature of a fag.
was it a subversive movie in support of gay equality, or a movie exploiting how funny fags are? I'd say the latter.
27
gays are, evidently, the most self important humorless bitching pussies on the planet, no?
I feel bad, I had assumed it was only Dan.
I feel bad, I had assumed it was only Dan.
28
What we really need is a Lesbian Black woman in drag to lampoon New York Jews with all the typical stereotypes. THEN the shit would really hit the fan and we'd all just stand and laugh cause we'd not be allowed to complain.
30
Bruno isn't a caricature of gay people. Bruno is a caricature of what straight people THINK gay people are.
Besides Bruno, his ex-boyfriend, and Lutz, were there even any other gay people in the movie? And isn't that on purpose?
Besides Bruno, his ex-boyfriend, and Lutz, were there even any other gay people in the movie? And isn't that on purpose?
31
"Bruno is a caricature of what straight people THINK gay people are".
true. and cohen, a straight person, didn't offer any evidence to the contrary.
the absence of real gay people could have been on purpose, I guess. I mean, they're not that funny in real life.
true. and cohen, a straight person, didn't offer any evidence to the contrary.
the absence of real gay people could have been on purpose, I guess. I mean, they're not that funny in real life.
32
if it helps make the next generation less homophobic then its good. a shit ton of 13 year old straight boys are going to see this movie.
i am now at the point where i think gays are boring.
i am now at the point where i think gays are boring.
33
Jon wrote, "Mel Brooks said that 'Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die.' This film left me feeling as if I'd fallen into an open sewer."
So...nearly a comedy then?
So...nearly a comedy then?
34
#9
FYI, SGN wrote an excellent review - favorable - by their best movie reviewer, Scott Rice. Might read it, this week, sgn.org, in all fairness.
And, SOAP, trademarked Settle Pride, and the Stranger have had the most cozy suck and fuck thing going for a number of years. NOT the SGN and SOAP. SGN broke the story a few years back about the 100,000. debt, which had never been mentioned in print up to that story.
Straight guys usually sound silly when trying to comment on the arcane nature of gay stuff ... from sex to the community dish, good try. Just all upside down.
FYI, SGN wrote an excellent review - favorable - by their best movie reviewer, Scott Rice. Might read it, this week, sgn.org, in all fairness.
And, SOAP, trademarked Settle Pride, and the Stranger have had the most cozy suck and fuck thing going for a number of years. NOT the SGN and SOAP. SGN broke the story a few years back about the 100,000. debt, which had never been mentioned in print up to that story.
Straight guys usually sound silly when trying to comment on the arcane nature of gay stuff ... from sex to the community dish, good try. Just all upside down.
35
Oh thank god the Slog consensus is not to agree with this idiot and get all "offended" over it. I was worried with it being Seattle and all, you know. I don't want to have to feel guilty for laughing my ass off in front of my gay friends just cause I'm straight. I loved Borat and I couldn't be farther from xenophobic. I love Bruno and I couldn't be farther from homophobic. I just hope the majority of "teh gays" will allow us straights to laugh our asses off over the gay antics and understand that that doesn't mean we're secretly homophobic. I mean, shit, the "gayby" t-shirt on the African kid named O.J.?? I nearly lost my shit just watching that clip. Can't wait to see the whole thing.
36
I'm sorry, I think I missed the part where it tells me why I care what Mr. Mejia thinks. I'll re-read it.
37
@28
So you hold Jewish comedians to higher standards that Black Civil Rights leaders? Maybe we should all talk about black folks the way Obama's black Rev "dem jews won't let me talk to Obama" Wright along with Louis Farrakhan. If you want to see double standards in action attempt to talk about black men in the way that many prominent black men talk about jews, woman, gays, asians. I saw Ice Cube on tv the other night, still being an apologist for hate crimes against asians. Maybe we should all start calling lynchings "wickedly great" (like Farrakhan) talk about "dem blacks" who mug our elderly (like Wright), sing about killing babydaddies (like some black men sing about killing fags), and get southerner Julia Roberts (like Ice Cube) to stand up for whites who have burned down black neighborhoods. Her white priveledge would be terminated immediately.
Mr Mejei, Sasha Baron Cohen isn't responsible for a vast amount of derogatiory attitudes towards gays. A disproprortiate amount of hate speech in this country (towards gays and others) is from African Americans- from the black church to rappers, and you know this. No one could talk about black folks the same way. Why not address this? It seems to be a subject everyone walks to eggshells on.
So you hold Jewish comedians to higher standards that Black Civil Rights leaders? Maybe we should all talk about black folks the way Obama's black Rev "dem jews won't let me talk to Obama" Wright along with Louis Farrakhan. If you want to see double standards in action attempt to talk about black men in the way that many prominent black men talk about jews, woman, gays, asians. I saw Ice Cube on tv the other night, still being an apologist for hate crimes against asians. Maybe we should all start calling lynchings "wickedly great" (like Farrakhan) talk about "dem blacks" who mug our elderly (like Wright), sing about killing babydaddies (like some black men sing about killing fags), and get southerner Julia Roberts (like Ice Cube) to stand up for whites who have burned down black neighborhoods. Her white priveledge would be terminated immediately.
Mr Mejei, Sasha Baron Cohen isn't responsible for a vast amount of derogatiory attitudes towards gays. A disproprortiate amount of hate speech in this country (towards gays and others) is from African Americans- from the black church to rappers, and you know this. No one could talk about black folks the same way. Why not address this? It seems to be a subject everyone walks to eggshells on.
39
"What we really need is a Lesbian Black woman in drag to lampoon New York Jews with all the typical stereotypes. THEN the shit would really hit the fan and we'd all just stand and laugh cause we'd not be allowed to complain."
I could do this really great imitation of a black civil rights leader. It's kind of a cross between a klansman and a minstral show. Always mistaking excessive ego with genius.
I can also write some great lyrics about my observations about the black community along with voicing my disgust at this horrible phenominum called "babydaddism". Strangely enough all those hip-hop stations won't play it. It's okay to hate on gays but DO NOT hate on babydaddies. Freedom of speech has its limits.
I could do this really great imitation of a black civil rights leader. It's kind of a cross between a klansman and a minstral show. Always mistaking excessive ego with genius.
I can also write some great lyrics about my observations about the black community along with voicing my disgust at this horrible phenominum called "babydaddism". Strangely enough all those hip-hop stations won't play it. It's okay to hate on gays but DO NOT hate on babydaddies. Freedom of speech has its limits.
40
He really comes off as a cry baby, and a hypocrite to boot. Everyone who has seen the movie has liked it so far, I have. Where were these people when Borat came out? Laughing their asses, but heavens forbid anyone dares to make fun of their golden calf (homosexuality) and then they all become indignant and sht. I guess the best thing that can happen, to stop the whining from people like Mejia is for Brüno to be at the top of the box office for at least five weeks in a row. If you're an adult, if you want to laugh and have a good time go see Brüno , it's not for the squemish or overtly prudish but anyone trying to take issue with this comedy is just trying to stir up controversy where their is none.
41
@21: This celebrity member of the LGBT community answers your question right here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBi0k3K71…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBi0k3K71…
42
"What we really need is a Lesbian Black woman in drag to lampoon New York Jews with all the typical stereotypes. THEN the shit would really hit the fan and we'd all just stand and laugh cause we'd not be allowed to complain."
Don't worry Bruno makes plenty of insensitive remarks about Jews and the Holocaust. Don't worry. The Jewish Israeli's are poked fun of. Take a deep breath. It's not like he talks like white supremists and Jerimiah Wright. He's not the f'ed up.
Don't worry Bruno makes plenty of insensitive remarks about Jews and the Holocaust. Don't worry. The Jewish Israeli's are poked fun of. Take a deep breath. It's not like he talks like white supremists and Jerimiah Wright. He's not the f'ed up.
43
@13 - That New Yorker review is a bit much.
"To be fair, the two young women beside me howled at the talking penis . . . and, if I had tried to explain that the Marx Brothers . . . sustained an entire career of ignobility without displaying a single erection, they would not have believed me."
Talk about simple-mindedness.
"To be fair, the two young women beside me howled at the talking penis . . . and, if I had tried to explain that the Marx Brothers . . . sustained an entire career of ignobility without displaying a single erection, they would not have believed me."
Talk about simple-mindedness.
44
Oooh, and this:
"But the work itself turns out to be flat and foolish, bereft of Borat’s good cheer: wholly unsuitable for children, yet propelled by a nagging puerility that will appeal only to those in the vortex of puberty, or to adults who have failed to progress beyond it."
Thank you, Mr. Lane, for informing me that I have failed to progress beyond puberty. Duly noted. Please inform me what art forms I can view in order to jump that particular hurdle.
"But the work itself turns out to be flat and foolish, bereft of Borat’s good cheer: wholly unsuitable for children, yet propelled by a nagging puerility that will appeal only to those in the vortex of puberty, or to adults who have failed to progress beyond it."
Thank you, Mr. Lane, for informing me that I have failed to progress beyond puberty. Duly noted. Please inform me what art forms I can view in order to jump that particular hurdle.
48
Actually: just got back from seeing it, and - Brüno wasn't that funny IMO. Both of the straight guys I took with were snickering throughout: Kevin gave it an "A", Jason = solid B. Me? Eh..C. When your whole schtick is to ambush unsuspecting citizens but then at the end there's celebrities (won't say who for folks who wish to remain surprised) - kinda seemed like Bruno is part of the machine that SBC is trying to mock, which made me wonder how much of the other stuff was actually staged.
BTW: LOVED Borat. That's an A for sure.
BTW: LOVED Borat. That's an A for sure.
49
Brüno was great. Lampooning gay stereotypes is not the same as supporting them. Besides, as many have pointed out, this movie is more about mob mentality and complacency - a sort of tribute to "First they came", only funny and not that depressing. The greatest example I can give is all the stage parents and the things they were absolutely willing to do to their children to gain fame. That shocked me the hardest.
50
Wow.
What lot of dumbasses read the SLOG if this discussion is any example. Pro and con, the majority of you really seem like a bunch o' shit-for-brains.
In between mispellings, snarkiness and desperate attempts at coolness, do you folks ever read anything? Is anything worthy of serious analysis?
If so, you should read Anthony Lane's New Yorker review, which is very smart and also the review by A.O. Scott in the New York Times which covers similar ground.
This whole meta-bigotry thing -- this idea that by embodying stereotypes you critique them -- is just bullshit for rubes who don't think they're rubes. And Bruno is a gay minstrel show for phobes who don't think they're phobes.
What lot of dumbasses read the SLOG if this discussion is any example. Pro and con, the majority of you really seem like a bunch o' shit-for-brains.
In between mispellings, snarkiness and desperate attempts at coolness, do you folks ever read anything? Is anything worthy of serious analysis?
If so, you should read Anthony Lane's New Yorker review, which is very smart and also the review by A.O. Scott in the New York Times which covers similar ground.
This whole meta-bigotry thing -- this idea that by embodying stereotypes you critique them -- is just bullshit for rubes who don't think they're rubes. And Bruno is a gay minstrel show for phobes who don't think they're phobes.
51
"While our community is fighting the civil rights battle of our time..."
Isn't everyone always doing this all the time?
Isn't everyone always doing this all the time?
52
Did no one get that this letter is a satire? I wrote it after I fell into a gay manhole. Youch wat a trip!1!
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