Film: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Wow, tv is improving - tonight they had Borat Subsequent Moviefilm! Being a sequel, which I hadn't seen, to the original Borat, which I had. So, well, that was a must-see then!

I suppose there's no need to add a disclaimer about all the things that might offend viewers - can anyone be unaware of the inflammatory actions of Sacha Baron Cohen, who plays the title character? Umm, apparently, given all the people that seem to be fooled in this sequel. For the record, the film includes, or mentions, in no particular order: arranged marriage, child marriage, cosmetic surgery, menstruation, antisemitism, sexism, pornography, sexually explicit language, masturbation, Democrat-bashing, general scoffing at Kazakhstan (where, of course, Borat is supposed to be from), and the pro-life movement. Real-life personalities appearing, or mentioned, include Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and, in a cute note near the end of the film, Kevin Spacey.

Ah, where do I start? Sadly, I missed the bit (but saw the picture online) of when Sacha Baron Cohen dressed up as Trump - my mother needed me to do something again, just at that critical moment. Oh, and in the ongoing question of whether participants in the film know they're in a film - when he appeared (in disguise) at a pro-Trump rally, apparently some people in the crowd recognised him and started laughing. When the greater body of people realised what was happening, he literally had to run for his life.. I mean, there were a lot of guns there..

Rudy Giuliani does appear in the film, in what might be its single most significant scene. See, the main difference between this film and the original is the addition of a 15-year-old daughter (Maria Bakalova, in an Oscar-nominated performance), who forms the focus of much of the plot, and allows the film to stray into what you might call "women's issues". Now, at one point, she interviews Giuliani in a hotel suite, in what he apparently thought was a legitimate interview. With a 15-year-old girl. Which begs the question - how did it move into the bedroom? and what was he doing with his hand down his trousers for that long?! I watched it, I thought it was suspicious-looking.. and not only that, but I was rather disturbed at how he casually put a hand on her waist, just before that..

As for Kevin Spacey - he was cleared of all charges, some years after the release of this film. Just sayin'.

Apparently, the only time Sacha Baron Cohen broke character was when he was pretending to mock the Jews, and took himself into a synagogue, where he got into a conversation with a Holocaust survivor. He did apparently tell her the truth, once he was done.. As to the others, well, I can only imagine their reactions when/if they realised. Whatever your take on the issues raised in the film, there's bound to be something here that offends you - but that's the beauty of the thing! In today's society, where so few have the courage to speak their minds, here is someone willing to offend just about everyone. Long may he continue.

As for Kazakhstan - apparently, they've decided that the publicity is worth the jokes. Mind you, the village scenes, as in the first film, were actually filmed in Romania. And from what I hear, Kazakhstan could do with some fun being poked at them - I've heard reports of this being quite an unfriendly country to visit..

Anyway, this film is kind of a must-see, if only to test the limit of your prejudices..

So, tv is improving - long may it continue. As for the cinema - I had my eye on two films opening on New Year's Day, and am delighted to say they both have matinee performances! although not in my first two preference cinemas - I have to see both in the Odeon Limerick. Not a problem, I'm well familiar with it, and it's delightfully cheap. 

One, of course, is the new version of Nosferatu - now, this hadn't yet been rated on IMDB when I last looked, but I'm delighted to say it now has, and its rating is terrific! An unofficial respin of Dracula, the original film was highly atmospheric - and at the time of writing, the new one is rated slightly higher. Stars Lily-Rose Depp - yes, Johnny's daughter! And I'm so glad it's highly rated, because I'm dying to see it.. so, that's the plan for New Year's Day.

Which leaves We Live in Time for the 2nd, a decade-spanning romance between Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh. I saw him interviewed about it on Graham Norton, so feel mildly obliged to see it - and anyway, I don't have much else to do!

And that'll be it for outings until after I fly back to the Big Smoke on the 5th..

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