Comments on: Bruno Attempts to Appease Gay Community http://www.thebrunomovie.com/bruno-attempts-to-appease-gay-community Bruno is a 2009 mockumentary comedy film directed by Sacha Baron Cohen, who also produced and co-wrote the film, stars as the gay Austrian fashion journalist Brüno. Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:45:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dave http://www.thebrunomovie.com/bruno-attempts-to-appease-gay-community/comment-page-2#comment-3289 Dave Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:13:26 +0000 http://www.thebrunomovie.com/?p=865#comment-3289 I think that Sacha is smart by exposing people for how stupid they really are while entertaining and pushing boundaries, it's a skill and smart on many levels. It's satire, you couldn't have gotten away with this kind of film a few years back as political correctness was mad (and still is), he pushes the character so much to the people who are stupid enough to actively hate gays and people of different races, and if they are already haters and offended by other peoples sexuality or color then i guess this a good way to punish them, and entertaining to watch. And i know that gay people don't swap their ipods for babies, or have their babies photographs taken with swarms of bees round them, but you shouldn't be silly as to think that this would create a perception as to how gay people are, if anything the film is funny, that creates positivity to the gay and straight community. Well Done Sacha! I think that Sacha is smart by exposing people for how stupid they really are while entertaining and pushing boundaries, it’s a skill and smart on many levels. It’s satire, you couldn’t have gotten away with this kind of film a few years back as political correctness was mad (and still is), he pushes the character so much to the people who are stupid enough to actively hate gays and people of different races, and if they are already haters and offended by other peoples sexuality or color then i guess this a good way to punish them, and entertaining to watch.
And i know that gay people don’t swap their ipods for babies, or have their babies photographs taken with swarms of bees round them, but you shouldn’t be silly as to think that this would create a perception as to how gay people are, if anything the film is funny, that creates positivity to the gay and straight community.
Well Done Sacha!

]]> By: akimbo http://www.thebrunomovie.com/bruno-attempts-to-appease-gay-community/comment-page-2#comment-3270 akimbo Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:39:03 +0000 http://www.thebrunomovie.com/?p=865#comment-3270 Stereotypes are a tricky thing. In the not too distant past gays were bashed and some killed in certain states in the US. It was indeed an illegal "activity" for a very long time in nearly all modern societies. the problem when you perpetuate a stereotype in order to expose it or to ridicule it is that you run the risk that many people wont "get it". I'm sure most don't take bruno seriously but if a few people take his stereotype as being somehow indicative of "gay culture" then that might be a problem. Those people aren't laughing at a the homophobia of those bruno comes into contact with they are laughing because on some level they believe the stereotype to be representative of gays. Certainly stereotypes can contain elements of truth however when you use them at the expense of those you are trying to "help" it becomes a bit sour. On the surface level bruno is very funny, lots of ridiculous situations, plenty of stupid people. but i don't really believe the 300 or so teenagers sitting in the cinema with me really got SBC's meta-humour. I think they were laughing at the big gay inappropriate poofter dude making people uncomfortable, the abrasive fag foreigner taking truly unbelievable social risks ... Thing is there are also plenty of other comedians out there who expose racism, bigotry, homophobia etc but do it without perpetuating stereotypes... i mean.....what would the world think if he did a stupid black face uncle tom character movie, or a lazy mexican movie...... somehow i dont think he would get away with it........ imo doing movies about albanians, gays and wiggas from staines is choosing "soft targets" hell i found this movie pretty offensive and i'm straight and married.... Stereotypes are a tricky thing.

In the not too distant past gays were bashed and some killed in certain states in the US.

It was indeed an illegal “activity” for a very long time in nearly all modern societies.

the problem when you perpetuate a stereotype in order to expose it or to ridicule it is that you run the risk that many people wont “get it”.

I’m sure most don’t take bruno seriously but if a few people take his stereotype as being somehow indicative of “gay culture” then that might be a problem.

Those people aren’t laughing at a the homophobia of those bruno comes into contact with they are laughing because on some level they believe the stereotype to be representative of gays.

Certainly stereotypes can contain elements of truth however when you use them at the expense of those you are trying to “help” it becomes a bit sour.

On the surface level bruno is very funny, lots of ridiculous situations, plenty of stupid people.

but i don’t really believe the 300 or so teenagers sitting in the cinema with me really got SBC’s meta-humour.

I think they were laughing at the big gay inappropriate poofter dude making people uncomfortable, the abrasive fag foreigner taking truly unbelievable social risks …

Thing is there are also plenty of other comedians out there who expose racism, bigotry, homophobia etc but do it without perpetuating stereotypes…

i mean…..what would the world think if he did a stupid black face uncle tom character movie, or a lazy mexican movie…… somehow i dont think he would get away with it……..

imo doing movies about albanians, gays and wiggas from staines is choosing “soft targets”

hell i found this movie pretty offensive and i’m straight and married….

]]> By: Vince http://www.thebrunomovie.com/bruno-attempts-to-appease-gay-community/comment-page-2#comment-3174 Vince Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:05:20 +0000 http://www.thebrunomovie.com/?p=865#comment-3174 So it's alright just as long as gay men are laughing, but as soon as straight men find something humorous, it's suddenly a bad and negative thing? Please can you all grow a pair? It's supposed to be funny, and if it brings everybody together with its humor, then it's a positive thing. So it’s alright just as long as gay men are laughing, but as soon as straight men find something humorous, it’s suddenly a bad and negative thing? Please can you all grow a pair? It’s supposed to be funny, and if it brings everybody together with its humor, then it’s a positive thing.

]]> By: joey brite http://www.thebrunomovie.com/bruno-attempts-to-appease-gay-community/comment-page-2#comment-3160 joey brite Sun, 12 Jul 2009 08:23:54 +0000 http://www.thebrunomovie.com/?p=865#comment-3160 I'm an old school Butch who is also a Feminist and a combination film buff & critic of Western popular culture. I think Sacha is brilliant in BRUNO. Having already scratched a bit of surface with BORAT in mocking homophobia, Cohen tackles homophobia full-on in this next mockumentary and demonstrates even more how important it is to recognize the hatred towards gays that exists. To try and say that we're only supposed to make films and tell stories that bigots will not be able to use against us is just simple minded. Straight allies like Cohen need to be on the front lines and use their talents to create dialogue and push the boundaries of "acceptable" and test our cultural norms surrounding the topic of 'sex' altogether if were going to progress as a culture. To all of you who say that he's 'offensive' or 'insensitive to gays': go get a life. YOU make a film that can have the effect of bringing so much validation to so many as myself who've ALWAYS been viewed as 'other', as a potential 'child molester', as a 'freak of nature', as 'dangerous' and/or 'provocative'. BRUNO is so over-the-top in flamboyant gay male stereotype that you'd have to be completely and utterly ignorant of gay civil rights history to not get the irony of Cohen's message. Just paying attention to the three male 'A' List actors he chose to refer to as 'straight' and you can hear Cohen's message loud and clear: you have to pass as straight in order to get ahead in the world of celebrity. Move over Cruise, Travolta and Spacey cuz you just got punked- big time. Bravo Mr. Cohen. Bra-Fving-OH! Thank you for the risks you take. And as far as those baby stage moms: I hope they have their kids taken away! Brutal stupidity! Damn breeders! peace! joey brite Oakland, Ca. I’m an old school Butch who is also a Feminist and a combination film buff & critic of Western popular culture. I think Sacha is brilliant in BRUNO. Having already scratched a bit of surface with BORAT in mocking homophobia, Cohen tackles homophobia full-on in this next mockumentary and demonstrates even more how important it is to recognize the hatred towards gays that exists.
To try and say that we’re only supposed to make films and tell stories that bigots will not be able to use against us is just simple minded. Straight allies like Cohen need to be on the front lines and use their talents to create dialogue and push the boundaries of “acceptable” and test our cultural norms surrounding the topic of ‘sex’ altogether if were going to progress as a culture.
To all of you who say that he’s ‘offensive’ or ‘insensitive to gays’: go get a life. YOU make a film that can have the effect of bringing so much validation to so many as myself who’ve ALWAYS been viewed as ‘other’, as a potential ‘child molester’, as a ‘freak of nature’, as ‘dangerous’ and/or ‘provocative’. BRUNO is so over-the-top in flamboyant gay male stereotype that you’d have to be completely and utterly ignorant of gay civil rights history to not get the irony of Cohen’s message. Just paying attention to the three male ‘A’ List actors he chose to refer to as ‘straight’ and you can hear Cohen’s message loud and clear: you have to pass as straight in order to get ahead in the world of celebrity. Move over Cruise, Travolta and Spacey cuz you just got punked- big time.
Bravo Mr. Cohen. Bra-Fving-OH! Thank you for the risks you take. And as far as those baby stage moms: I hope they have their kids taken away! Brutal stupidity! Damn breeders!

peace!

joey brite
Oakland, Ca.

]]> By: andrew http://www.thebrunomovie.com/bruno-attempts-to-appease-gay-community/comment-page-2#comment-3125 andrew Sat, 11 Jul 2009 07:09:26 +0000 http://www.thebrunomovie.com/?p=865#comment-3125 I believe the movie is making fun of every single homophobic person on Earth. Bruno is essentially every single gay stereotype in one. This has nothing to do with profit, it has everything to do with comedy that speaks about issues. Sacha is a comedic genius and is doing the SAME exact thing he did with Borat and that is to make people against a particular group of people look ridiculously stupid. Borat made the anti-semetic people look stupid and now he is making every homophobe look stupid. I mean for god sakes he interviews a radical terrorist and anyone else he can think of that is known for being very homophobic. For your information, I have many gay friends who approve of this movie. When people stop putting up selfish barriers and see this movie for what it is, a comedy built on stereotypes (which aren't most if not all comedies written on stereotypes), then we can all truly laugh and enjoy this movie. I can't wait to watch it, it's going to be hilarious. I believe the movie is making fun of every single homophobic person on Earth. Bruno is essentially every single gay stereotype in one. This has nothing to do with profit, it has everything to do with comedy that speaks about issues. Sacha is a comedic genius and is doing the SAME exact thing he did with Borat and that is to make people against a particular group of people look ridiculously stupid. Borat made the anti-semetic people look stupid and now he is making every homophobe look stupid. I mean for god sakes he interviews a radical terrorist and anyone else he can think of that is known for being very homophobic. For your information, I have many gay friends who approve of this movie. When people stop putting up selfish barriers and see this movie for what it is, a comedy built on stereotypes (which aren’t most if not all comedies written on stereotypes), then we can all truly laugh and enjoy this movie. I can’t wait to watch it, it’s going to be hilarious.

]]> By: Frieda http://www.thebrunomovie.com/bruno-attempts-to-appease-gay-community/comment-page-2#comment-3043 Frieda Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:03:13 +0000 http://www.thebrunomovie.com/?p=865#comment-3043 It was awesome to see my guy friends squirm in their seats during this movie. I'm used to watching boobs--it's about time you got used to watching dick! It was awesome to see my guy friends squirm in their seats during this movie. I’m used to watching boobs–it’s about time you got used to watching dick!

]]> By: andrew http://www.thebrunomovie.com/bruno-attempts-to-appease-gay-community/comment-page-2#comment-3041 andrew Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:47:01 +0000 http://www.thebrunomovie.com/?p=865#comment-3041 I manage a movie theater and prescreened this movie at midnight *the release date to be within distribution dates* and found this move to be the most OFFENSIVE and WRONGLY STEREOTYPICAL movie that I have ever seen. The scene with the gay to straight "conversion pastor" was actually filmed in the city I am from and the scenes in Cullman County Alabama are only 30 mins. from where I stand right now. The whole staff that prescreened this movie walked out in the first 45 minutes *except for a few of us* we all find *gay and straight staff* that this movie promotes homophobia and gay people at sexual predators. We do not condone this movie and will do everything possible to deter people from this movie, its portrayed stereotypes, and values. I manage a movie theater and prescreened this movie at midnight *the release date to be within distribution dates* and found this move to be the most OFFENSIVE and WRONGLY STEREOTYPICAL movie that I have ever seen. The scene with the gay to straight “conversion pastor” was actually filmed in the city I am from and the scenes in Cullman County Alabama are only 30 mins. from where I stand right now. The whole staff that prescreened this movie walked out in the first 45 minutes *except for a few of us* we all find *gay and straight staff* that this movie promotes homophobia and gay people at sexual predators. We do not condone this movie and will do everything possible to deter people from this movie, its portrayed stereotypes, and values.

]]> By: F Hetero Cohen http://www.thebrunomovie.com/bruno-attempts-to-appease-gay-community/comment-page-2#comment-3032 F Hetero Cohen Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:06:51 +0000 http://www.thebrunomovie.com/?p=865#comment-3032 Heterosexuals are outsiders with prejudices to homosexuality. They are not capable of knowing what is anti-gay. This movie only serves to validate heterosexuals wrong and bigoted prejudices of gay men. This movie will validate every prejudice heterosexuals have about gay men. A few years ago a university conducted a test where heterosexual students judged essays of heterosexual and gay participants. No matter what the gay participants wrote even if it was exactly word for word what the heterosexual students wrote they always judged the gay men's essays as "feminine" and the lesbians as "masculine". Heterosexuals are not capable of determining what is anti-gay because they are outsiders with prejudices to homosexuality. If SBC really had balls, his next movie would be called "Hymie", about Hymie, a greedy Jewish banker, who along with his big hooked nose, curly hair and constant use of "Oy vey", kvetches his way through life, plotting to steal Christian babies and install a Jewish run world government, avoiding anything physical because we all know that Jews can't play sports. Now *that* would be ballsy. Yeah, hell'd freeze over before he'd do something like that, easier to do that boring routine with The Gays. Heterosexuals are outsiders with prejudices to homosexuality. They are not capable of knowing what is anti-gay. This movie only serves to validate heterosexuals wrong and bigoted prejudices of gay men. This movie will validate every prejudice heterosexuals have about gay men. A few years ago a university conducted a test where heterosexual students judged essays of heterosexual and gay participants. No matter what the gay participants wrote even if it was exactly word for word what the heterosexual students wrote they always judged the gay men’s essays as “feminine” and the lesbians as “masculine”. Heterosexuals are not capable of determining what is anti-gay because they are outsiders with prejudices to homosexuality.

If SBC really had balls, his next movie would be called “Hymie”, about Hymie, a greedy Jewish banker, who along with his big hooked nose, curly hair and constant use of “Oy vey”, kvetches his way through life, plotting to steal Christian babies and install a Jewish run world government, avoiding anything physical because we all know that Jews can’t play sports. Now *that* would be ballsy.

Yeah, hell’d freeze over before he’d do something like that, easier to do that boring routine with The Gays.

]]> By: Shaun http://www.thebrunomovie.com/bruno-attempts-to-appease-gay-community/comment-page-2#comment-3012 Shaun Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:06:16 +0000 http://www.thebrunomovie.com/?p=865#comment-3012 Bruno is a funny take on what alot of people think gay ppl are like. Hes making fun of ppl who actually believe the stereotype, just like he did with Borat. This is not homophobic at all!!! I think its pathetic that ppl must make a big deal out of nothing. Fact is there are gay men like Bruno, but must we not show that side of gay men, are we suppose to show the "normal" gay ppl or what ever ppl may think its normal. Why cant someone poke fun at a stereotype? Homophobia is much deeper than some stupid stereotype... Bruno is a funny take on what alot of people think gay ppl are like. Hes making fun of ppl who actually believe the stereotype, just like he did with Borat. This is not homophobic at all!!! I think its pathetic that ppl must make a big deal out of nothing. Fact is there are gay men like Bruno, but must we not show that side of gay men, are we suppose to show the “normal” gay ppl or what ever ppl may think its normal. Why cant someone poke fun at a stereotype? Homophobia is much deeper than some stupid stereotype…

]]> By: been jammin http://www.thebrunomovie.com/bruno-attempts-to-appease-gay-community/comment-page-2#comment-2996 been jammin Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:49:47 +0000 http://www.thebrunomovie.com/?p=865#comment-2996 I have been reading the replies to this clip and I can't stop laughing about how serious the reply was from a person that named themselves "diarrhea moustache party". Posted July 1st @7:55pm. Does anyone else find this hilarious? As for the homophobe issue, the whole point of the character is to generate shock and awe. If someone as outrageous and flamboyant as Bruno approached a "normal" gay man (as I have seen referenced in other replies), I have no doubts that they would be shocked and probably somewhat uncomfortable too. If you can't find humor in Bruno then I pity you and I hope you have a good therapist because you are really screwed up! GFY whiners! I have been reading the replies to this clip and I can’t stop laughing about how serious the reply was from a person that named themselves “diarrhea moustache party”. Posted July 1st @7:55pm.
Does anyone else find this hilarious?

As for the homophobe issue, the whole point of the character is to generate shock and awe. If someone as outrageous and flamboyant as Bruno approached a “normal” gay man (as I have seen referenced in other replies), I have no doubts that they would be shocked and probably somewhat uncomfortable too.

If you can’t find humor in Bruno then I pity you and I hope you have a good therapist because you are really screwed up!

GFY whiners!

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