For me, the promotional stuff he did in character was funnier than the actual film.There is a clip on RUclips of him being interviewed on Australian breakfast TV that packs more laughs into ten or so minutes than "The Dictator" does into an hour and a half!
I dont mean to be offtopic but does someone know of a tool to get back into an instagram account?? I somehow lost my password. I would appreciate any help you can give me.
@Kairo Kabir I really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and im waiting for the hacking stuff now. Takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.
Personally, I find Cohen works brilliantly as a miniaturist, and this is something that Mr Kermode has pointed out here in part (and I agree with him there).
the internet cost in hotels was the best joke in the film. as he felt it was more brutal and creatively mean than his mind could have come up. golden moment in an average film.
My theater @ the AMC in aventura was packed and we were all laughing. Especially the middle eastern guy sitting next to me. Lol I know I was hysterical.
totally agree with mark here. not a particularly bad film but simply not funny enough. all the big laughs were in the trailer and a couple of moments bordered on out of order (and this is coming from someone who is almost never offended.) borat may be cringeworthy at times but at least it's adventurous and forces a reaction from the audience. i did enjoy it but i won't be rushing to see it again.
I LIKE Sara Barren Coen, and I'll tell you why. Sweeney Todd, that's why. He just needs... direction. Out him in a Gilliam movie and he'd be brilliant.
Before watching this I knew he was gonna trash it, but from someone who likes against the grain comedy I know it was kinda predictable and safe, but Sacha still got his message across. In that way I loved the movie.
I agree with Kermode here quite a bit here. I noticed during American TV interviews for Borat that Cohen seemed so out of gas from acting in character that he just said the same prepared question-loaded gags with decreasing length, and then in the back half of every interview just kind of barely struggled not to break character and just started answering questions. SBC's characters are legitimate characterizations that have multiple facets, unlike, say, Adam Sandler but he must be contained.
Kermode is definitely right about the bit running out of steam when stretched into a full, feature length film. It's a lot like when SNL started making movies based on skits. They all sucked.
I didn't much like this film either. It tried way too hard to be offensive and it merely came off as forced and juvenile, and not even remotely clever. In some ways in my opinion it felt like this might be the starting point of Sacha Baron Cohen going down the Adam Sandler route of film roles.
The film’s well acted, well characterised, stylish & intriguing, however the film’s writing, direction, pacing & lack of humour is uneven & unfocused. (54%) (2.5/5 stars) (mixed)
I think the BIGGEST problem of this and other works by Baron Cohen is that he wants to be satirical and controversial. He wants to so bad that he forgets that he has to be funny in order for it to be considered a 'satire'. The brilliance of Duck Soup by the Marx Brothers is that it's funny and then some. The brilliance of Monty Python Life of Brian is that it's funny and then some. They never feel like a 'message' like this film does. Humor first anything else after. And SBC's message is trite.
Rusell Brand would do a better Freddie Mercury, but I don't think he's as good an actor as Sacha, maybe he is but people haven't given him stretchy roles yet.
you didnt understand my post then, try to read it again, now paying attention, if necessarily out loud, like a kid. The only comparison i made with those guys was that both allen, marx bros and cohen, like other thousands of comedians, have done sketches. Beyond that, the similarties end. I feel quite sad that I had to point the obvious, but there you go
I think the long and the short of it is that Cohen is a good actor but not a terribly good writer. To be honest the few occasions I've truly enjoyed his work are when he's working for other people. I think he's made a mistake dropping out of Tarantino's next movie just to publicise this one...
it is absolutely ridiculous to even begin to compare cohen with the marx brothers and woody allen. They have completely different styles,ideas,themes. The kind of crass toilet comedy that cohen does, hes one of the best at it
....and a lot of them stink! *B-BUMP-TISH* Your welcome :) Thank-you, I'll be here until 9 in the lovely Cadillac Lounge then over at Doc O'Malley's bar till late Ladies 'n' Germs.
regardless of the film it is good that it is now seen that dictatorship isnt as serious and tyranical and rather can become the butt of a comical performance. perhaps, this is a result of the decline in the world of such a power structure?
I liked this movie, a good satire as Borat. If you dont have a good sense of humor and try to analyze it with a conservative sense of humor dont see this movie. If you think you're to good to see something like this then you are a hypocrite who enjoys smelling it's own fart.
The ability to laugh at one self and and laugh at imaginary characters is a human trait, all races and religions do this - everyone needs to get over themselves - life is short
Wish I watched this before wasting the best part of a Friday evening watching this dross. I'm a huge fan of Borat, but this was badly scripted, poorly plotted, ill-thought out, derivitive, and most importantly not funny.
As an 18 year old perhaps I can offer a different angle on the film, which is I really enjoyed it. I also enjoyed Ali G in Da House as did all my friends, so I think our humour is slightly different to His Kermodeeness (who I normally reverently obey). If you enjoyed Sacha Baron Cohens other films then you'll like this, simple as that... though obviously everyone should agree Bruno is JUST AWFUL
When I'm insulting the use of the quotation "That's offensive!" I am relatively certain that quotation marks apply, you know, due to the fact that it's a quotation. I don't call any criticism whiny; you have evidence of me calling ONE criticism whiny. When did I refuse to debate? In that imaginary conversation where I kept calling criticisms whiny? Being offended is 100% objective and it's the problem of the offended person, nobody else.
This film is basically a list of the most politically incorrect jokes you're not allowed to make, only thinly disguised by the irony of the premise. I thought it was hilarious, but I'm not surpised Kermode didn't find it funny because (a) he's pretty politically correct, and (b) he doesn't seem to get a lot of comedy in general.
I'm sorry but if you think Ali G was a terrible film then you need to rethink your career. You're far to critical man. Can you not just try and enjoy a movie?
For me, the promotional stuff he did in character was funnier than the actual film.There is a clip on RUclips of him being interviewed on Australian breakfast TV that packs more laughs into ten or so minutes than "The Dictator" does into an hour and a half!
I dont mean to be offtopic but does someone know of a tool to get back into an instagram account??
I somehow lost my password. I would appreciate any help you can give me.
@Alonso Felipe Instablaster ;)
@Kairo Kabir I really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and im waiting for the hacking stuff now.
Takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.
I think that this review is Aladeen .
"Is George Galloway in it?"
I love you so much Simon Mayo.
Personally, I find Cohen works brilliantly as a miniaturist, and this is something that Mr Kermode has pointed out here in part (and I agree with him there).
I'm surprised he didn't mention Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator?
If Mark's arm is in the air in the thumbnail, then I know it's going to be an entertaining review.
I agree with you Mark, Sasha gets better results when he works in a contained environment.
HBO series was Cohens funniest work.
Went to the same school...private school...like anyone who is anyone.
Sigh.
What?
Cohen was best on TV he isnt ever gonna top that
Sad we didn't get that Freddie Mercury film
we did, Bohemian Rhapsody
the internet cost in hotels was the best joke in the film. as he felt it was more brutal and creatively mean than his mind could have come up. golden moment in an average film.
if people can count in a comedy movie how many times they laughed, it sure as hell ain't funny.
My theater @ the AMC in aventura was packed and we were all laughing. Especially the middle eastern guy sitting next to me. Lol I know I was hysterical.
The contaiment comment also works for Less Grossman from Tropic Thunder i think, since they plan to make a full movie about him.
The Borat movie was the best Sacha Baron Cohen film.. but even that stretched the character pretty much as far as it could go.
I agree. The clip shown on The Daily Show that I saw wasn't that good. I had no illusions about this film, and it's nice to see that I can avoid it.
totally agree with mark here. not a particularly bad film but simply not funny enough. all the big laughs were in the trailer and a couple of moments bordered on out of order (and this is coming from someone who is almost never offended.) borat may be cringeworthy at times but at least it's adventurous and forces a reaction from the audience.
i did enjoy it but i won't be rushing to see it again.
Good point.
I wonder if that's Robin, The Puppet Master, behind the glass ?!....
A question plaintively asked more often than any other.
Agree with most things said, i did think the ali g show and borat were comedy gold but apart from that he hasnt done much i found that good
I LIKE Sara Barren Coen, and I'll tell you why. Sweeney Todd, that's why.
He just needs... direction. Out him in a Gilliam movie and he'd be brilliant.
Oh THIS is available in Murika' for some reason.
Grr.
Before watching this I knew he was gonna trash it, but from someone who likes against the grain comedy I know it was kinda predictable and safe, but Sacha still got his message across. In that way I loved the movie.
I agree with Kermode here quite a bit here. I noticed during American TV interviews for Borat that Cohen seemed so out of gas from acting in character that he just said the same prepared question-loaded gags with decreasing length, and then in the back half of every interview just kind of barely struggled not to break character and just started answering questions. SBC's characters are legitimate characterizations that have multiple facets, unlike, say, Adam Sandler but he must be contained.
Kermode is definitely right about the bit running out of steam when stretched into a full, feature length film. It's a lot like when SNL started making movies based on skits. They all sucked.
i wont be going to see this, will wait for iron sky and prometheus instead!
I didn't much like this film either. It tried way too hard to be offensive and it merely came off as forced and juvenile, and not even remotely clever.
In some ways in my opinion it felt like this might be the starting point of Sacha Baron Cohen going down the Adam Sandler route of film roles.
Actually I found that a lot of the jokes in the trailers weren't in the film. They were either cut out or replaced another joke.
And the South Park Movie.
The film’s well acted, well characterised, stylish & intriguing, however the film’s writing, direction, pacing & lack of humour is uneven & unfocused. (54%) (2.5/5 stars) (mixed)
I think the BIGGEST problem of this and other works by Baron Cohen is that he wants to be satirical and controversial. He wants to so bad that he forgets that he has to be funny in order for it to be considered a 'satire'. The brilliance of Duck Soup by the Marx Brothers is that it's funny and then some. The brilliance of Monty Python Life of Brian is that it's funny and then some. They never feel like a 'message' like this film does. Humor first anything else after. And SBC's message is trite.
Rusell Brand would do a better Freddie Mercury, but I don't think he's as good an actor as Sacha, maybe he is but people haven't given him stretchy roles yet.
you didnt understand my post then, try to read it again, now paying attention, if necessarily out loud, like a kid. The only comparison i made with those guys was that both allen, marx bros and cohen, like other thousands of comedians, have done sketches. Beyond that, the similarties end. I feel quite sad that I had to point the obvious, but there you go
The Dr. likes Team America. "Nuff said
I know that but before they upload the video to youtube they could put the video clip in or just cut it out
I think the long and the short of it is that Cohen is a good actor but not a terribly good writer. To be honest the few occasions I've truly enjoyed his work are when he's working for other people. I think he's made a mistake dropping out of Tarantino's next movie just to publicise this one...
yeah I guess, I just don't like how the other comment is worded, it is suggesting reverse racism but that is an entirely different discussion! haha
'Death to the West' as a sign off to a review letter. hahahahahahahaha rofl
wtf?
it is absolutely ridiculous to even begin to compare cohen with the marx brothers and woody allen. They have completely different styles,ideas,themes. The kind of crass toilet comedy that cohen does, hes one of the best at it
....and a lot of them stink! *B-BUMP-TISH* Your welcome :)
Thank-you, I'll be here until 9 in the lovely Cadillac Lounge then over at Doc O'Malley's bar till late Ladies 'n' Germs.
regardless of the film it is good that it is now seen that dictatorship isnt as serious and tyranical and rather can become the butt of a comical performance. perhaps, this is a result of the decline in the world of such a power structure?
Of course. Double standards. thats why my movie will balance everything out.
Absolutely! It is NOT funny; a better version of this thing is The Devil's Double...
has he reviewed Avengers and Cabin in the Woods?
100%
Who the hell puts BA at the end of their name?!
So the new medication isn't working for you, then?
Maybe if they weren't so uptight and had a sense had a sense of humor about themselves they would.
I laughed all the way through. Brilliant film.
Jeez you only have to watch the trialer to know it's low on laughs.
I liked this movie, a good satire as Borat. If you dont have a good sense of humor and try to analyze it with a conservative sense of humor dont see this movie. If you think you're to good to see something like this then you are a hypocrite who enjoys smelling it's own fart.
The clips in this show does not work. I like your reviews but the clips dont work at all
Did he just say Ali G inda house is one of the worst movies ever? 😂 Buffoon! 😂
The ability to laugh at one self and and laugh at imaginary characters is a human trait, all races and religions do this - everyone needs to get over themselves - life is short
I watched 30min and gave up. Maybe laughed once.
Much prefer Borat.
Wish I watched this before wasting the best part of a Friday evening watching this dross. I'm a huge fan of Borat, but this was badly scripted, poorly plotted, ill-thought out, derivitive, and most importantly not funny.
As an 18 year old perhaps I can offer a different angle on the film, which is I really enjoyed it. I also enjoyed Ali G in Da House as did all my friends, so I think our humour is slightly different to His Kermodeeness (who I normally reverently obey). If you enjoyed Sacha Baron Cohens other films then you'll like this, simple as that... though obviously everyone should agree Bruno is JUST AWFUL
Yeah you're right, I withdraw what I said. I went to Uni for seven years and I didn't get a degree.
Does this man like ANY movie?
Seriously, mate, are you getting as turned on by our talk as I am? (PM me.)
Why must I be from Canada?
Worst movie ever, I was expecting some real shit just like in Borat and Bruno.
I don't like self righteous and pompous critics when if they had a film career, they would do so much less than the people they criticize.
Borat? Can I just say that again, BORAT. That character was clearly an antisemite, no one complained about that.
When I'm insulting the use of the quotation "That's offensive!" I am relatively certain that quotation marks apply, you know, due to the fact that it's a quotation. I don't call any criticism whiny; you have evidence of me calling ONE criticism whiny. When did I refuse to debate? In that imaginary conversation where I kept calling criticisms whiny? Being offended is 100% objective and it's the problem of the offended person, nobody else.
"That's offensive!" Has got to be the most pathetic, whiny, irrelevant phrase in the history of the world.
This film is basically a list of the most politically incorrect jokes you're not allowed to make, only thinly disguised by the irony of the premise. I thought it was hilarious, but I'm not surpised Kermode didn't find it funny because (a) he's pretty politically correct, and (b) he doesn't seem to get a lot of comedy in general.
I'd categorise the material near Jimmy Carr's stand-up (not his clean typical television stuff, his borderline unbroadcastable full-length shows).
I'm sorry but if you think Ali G was a terrible film then you need to rethink your career. You're far to critical man. Can you not just try and enjoy a movie?
wow. I think you're too left-wing to be right Mark.
Good point.