Bruno: Gay Insult or Queer Entertainment?
Wednesday June 17, 2009
Documaker Michael Moore is more likely to be called conservative than comedian Sacha Baron Cohen is politically correct. Movie goers know Cohen best from his film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, a mockumentary comedy about a fictitious Kazakh journalist navigating his way through the United States—unabashed comic relief at the country's general misguidance on Arab cultures. But, Cohen's latest character "Bruno" has a target of different ilk: homophobia. The film is a timely poke at our culture in the midst of front line LGBT rights struggles countered by beauty pageant queens.Bruno is the story of a flamboyantly gay fashion reporter who travels to America to become a celebrity after losing his job in Austria. In Borat fashion, Cohen, as "Bruno," encounters Americans, both everyday people and political figures, in his quest to stardom. The film highlights the deeply embedded and often subtle nature of homophobia in the nation. Universal Pictures, the movie house that released the film, claims that the audience will leave feeling the positive nature of the movie. But some LGBT activists are not convinced that the message will be one of awareness.
Rashad Robinson, senior director of media programs for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, commented to Rueters that while the intentions of the film are good, the heighten people's discomfort with the LGBT community.
Scenes showing Cohen learning how to guard himself against gays from a martial arts teacher; him appearing to have sex with a man in a tub while his adopted baby—an African child shipped in a cardboard box, it should be noted—watches; and his ignescent dress have already raised eyebrows.
Yet, it is often through extremes that we are able to identify the subtleties of homophobia and racism that live in the subconscious of our society. Often, under the guise of political correctness, thoughts and actions that are shunned from public expression are still manifested through loud eyes, sharp gestures, and targeted innuendo. And it is often by these extremes that we are able to stir the dust of homophobia and call it—along with those that perpetuate the ideal—for what it really is.
Bruno opens in the United States on July 10
Image: Actor Sacha Baron Cohen attends the premiere of the Larry Charles's film Bruno.
Comments
Seriously LGBT activists need to lighten up… It is a comedy… why make it more then it is? They got up in arms over John Travolta in Hairspray and the Gay Director and scene in The Producers. It is entertainment people. If you are offended or upset DON’T WATCH. That simple. YES I AM GAY.
It’s queer entertainment but it doesn’t help the image of gay men, and no wonder that 40 years after Stonewall and so many years of gay pride later, we’re still discriminated against in all aspects of our lives as shown by this recent gay travel survey: U City Guides Gay Travel Survey
I must say, I like him! I don’t think he is creating a worse image for gay people. Think of the movie Another gay movie. Every stereotype are put together in that movie og pulled to the limit. We were 5 gay people who watch it together, and it is super funny, but we all agreed that it doesn’t gave gay people a good image, but course, it is a comedy, just like bruno! And if we all should have lifting fingers every time somethng gay are produced on dvd, we wouldn’t have much fun, would we? After all, we are just that bit more funny than straigts ;P
Sorry for the spelling
It’s an insult.
This film goes way beyond just a mere “comedy”. This film is going to be watched and looked at by gay and straight as a keystone movie. The way this movie portrays a ‘homosexual’ (as I use that term lightly) is deeply sickening and grotesque. This is not a comedy, rather, a way for Hollyweird to, again, stereotype gays in this country. Any gay who supports this movie, as well as its message, is (more likely) to be the same flamboyant, promiscuous, polyamerous sludge that we see coming to the surface of the ‘gay culture’. I am gay, don’t give a hoot about fashion, and am in a monogamous, very committed, deeply personal relationship with another man. And I, already, find this movie to be utterly disgusting both as Bruno the character, as well as the trashing of homosexuality. Thanks HOLLYWIERD!
Well this is some sort of controversy if you must…i mean Homosexuality has been seen for Many Years as some sort of Taboo in many cultures in some sort of part of the World, Over Time it has been seen as “whats not right”, NOW a days in many Cultures of the World and Here in The U.S as well its seen as it it were Funny, or of laughing matter, now the reason i bring this up it’s because movies like this in my opinion Bring up many emotions and Certain Controversy and more or less it opens the portal of Stereotyping, Classyfing, and also seeing the Gay Community as a Laughing Matter, rather than a culture that has been trying to get Recognition over mny centuries…It’s my opinion, now picture me this
Bruno-A Funny, Somewhat Clumsy Homosexual(Austrian, with an Accent) trying to (Come to America)
“Unknown Gay Character”- Depicted in a heroic manner, that tries to save the world (despite being gay and true to his emotions) with many flaws and many good things (like any other human)
Now u tell me…..
Which one might Open the “Closed Minded” About homosexuality
The Clumsy Gay Fashion Reporter thats Austrian and Comes to America
Or The Heroic guy who tries to save the world and has many good things and bad like any human and is gay
……
……..
………..
………….
Food for Thought no?
Myspace me for more Points of View
Some backbiting guys in ze gayworld zay Bruno’s a bad spokesman for us–You don’t year ze astronaut community bitching about Buzz Lightyear.
All movies are stereotype, why whine about it. Hell I’m native american, I watch movies where there’s honkys slaying us left and right. Even worse they show my people can’t fight when obviously white settlers were killed the moment they were seen. Guess what I don’t care about any of it because it’s not realistic and I can proove any white man I’m a better fighter than them. Any american atleast, everyones all pudgy and gross here. Now you gays use exactly as I said, it’s not realisitic, it’s stereotype, who the hell cares. You’re acting like just one movie makes you all look like promiscious whores that hit off like unfaithful little censored. In fact there’s plenty of my gay friends that are just like that. If you want the stereotypes to end, how bout you get rid of that rainbow flag, stop having gay pride marches, and stop clubbing like children ffs.
I am not gay, but would like to offer some comments on the movie. In my opinion, I would have a hard time not taken offense to a movie made about a stereotypical gay person. If England released a movie stereotyping Americans, I would be offended. I understand movies are for entertainment, but laughing at a homosexual who just happens to be a fashion reporter is too cliché. This is one of the only movies that stars a gay individual and it just happens to be stereotyping the lifestyle. I think a movie like this would be more appropriate after producers and writers start including gay story lines in their movies.
Casey, Bruno is actually more about the stereotypical American and Sasha Baron Cohen is not gay. A lot of people are too focused on the obvious: the flamboyant, gay character. If any of you are actually going to watch the film, observe the people who are reacting to Bruno’s presence and demeanour in the film. They are the punch-line. Satire is meant to ridicule and mock, and in this case, it is not the gays who are being mocked and ridiculed. It is the prevalence of homophobia in American society. However, the fear of homophobic attacks due to this film is valid not because Cohen is demonizing and “gay facing” homosexuals. Rather, the homosexuals must be protected from the stupidity and ignorance present in America; that, in itself, is nothing new.
I think this is a little over the top. I’m not even mad about the Congressman Calling him a Queer. Because he was taking off his pants to seduce a 73yr old strait man. We don’t try to f*** strait guys. I’m tried of the stereotype.
I am gay and I happen to live in one of those Middle America cities where the movie is not doing so well. I saw the movie on Friday night in a half empty theater. No one walked out (this town is so backwards that I have seen people walking out of brilliant indy films) but some members of the audience were comfortable enough to express disgust at scenes I would have laughed at if I were watching the DVD in my living room with some gay friends. The commentaries from fellow gay folk on this site tends to be taking sides for or against the movie without looking at the gray and uneven aspects of the movie. Part of me is horrified and feel like tribal secrets are being released to our enemies. On the other hand, Bruno has some brilliant moments where some of our very own enemies make asses of themselves on camera. Segments with Paul Cameron (the homophobic psychologist expelled from the profession by the American Psychological Assoc) and with ex-gay movement Christian minister are brilliant and depict to broader audiences what people who hate us are up to. Dare I say that this movie could have helped defeat Prop 8? Well, maybe not. That said, the movie exploits shock value and has some very tacky and rauncy moments. I still haven’t made up my mind and will remain on the fence. Questions I still have:
1) how did they maange the thetrical release with an R rating when visionary artists are censored by MPAA while something so trashy doesn’t?
2) If the movie is so homophobic, how come some gay-friendly celebrities and gay celebrities agreed to appear in it as themselves? The list includes Paula Abdul, Sir Elton John, Sting, and Bono.
No, it is not an insult. It is a parody. For decades, gays have been ‘flaunting’ it so to speak, expecting the rest of the world to see the attraction in their lifestyle, and that’s how this character in the movie behaves, he goes overboard just like many gay people I know. Plus he is overly obsessed with penises, just like many gay literature, art, and other expressions seem to have. The ending of the movie clearly shows that it is a gay love story.
i am gay! yes it doesn’t give people a good image but it’s only a film, so who cares?
it doesn’t really give gays a bad imagine either.