Yakov Smirnov, a controversial comedian in his own right in that he never made anyone laugh, used to make a living off the Cold War catchphrase, "America, What a Country!" Borat Sagdiyev, a fellow comedian from the former Soviet bloc, should not add the catchphrase to his act, but might want to keep it in mind. The Kazakh government has attacked Borat and Gypsies in Germany have filed a complaint regarding Borat with a state prosecutor. But the real butt of Borat's jokes laugh along with him.

The fact that Americans can laugh at themselves along with this toolbox, demonstrates again how confident and secure in ourselves and in our country we are. Although, it would be nice to see this a-hole get into a fatal helicopter crash.
;-)~

I think there's a better than average chance that this movie will bomb big. I personally think Borat is pretty funny, but insulting middle america is a good way kill your box office. Poking fun will pass muster, insulting usually will kill you. Who does Hollywood think buys tickets to these things?

What do I know, though? Maybe it'll be a big hit. I guess the cities will make up for the difference. It can't have cost all that much to make, so hitting a profit should be relatively easy. Anyone know how many screens it's opening on?

For the record, Yakov was quite good in Brewster's Millions.

Rednecks, like my family, laughed at the Beverly Hillbillies; middle America liked All in the Family; Americans love to laugh at themselves. We are honest. Ridicule must be aimed in all directions, however. The rich snobs in TBH and the liberal clown meatheads in AITF also came in for criticism.

I would expect that Borat's kind of humor would appeal to Kerry, Kennedy, Pelosi, Dean, Durbin,....oh hell, pretty much anybody associated with the Democratic party.

Living in West Virginia as I do, I can say with some degree of authority that there is a BIG difference between a redneck and a hillbilly.

In any case, I agree with your main point. Americans don't mind a little self deprecation, but outright insults (which I think the new Borat movie may get close to doing) are usually rejected US audiences.

Still, I haven't seen the movie, maybe it's not as harsh as I've been led to believe.

Would that difference, by any chance, be based on tooth count?

More like the following:

When the fledgling music student asks his teacher, "What's the difference between a violin and a fiddle?"

The answer?

"Attitude."

This movie will do very well and I hope this talented guy doesn't get in a fatal car crash.

I haven't seen the movie but going on what I've read and the material I've seen on HBO I wouldn't say America is the main target here at all. Please enlighten me.

Crass, anti-Semitic(he's a real Jew), homophobic, misogynistic and outrageously impolitic - these are words of a liberal critic from the Chicago Tribune...sounds better than any SNL I've seen lately

I have no idea what you guys are talking about. If you've seen Da Ali G Show, you'd know that Sacha Cohen makes fools out of everyone, from vacuous fashion designers to drunken fratboys. Furthermore, he is an observant (Conservative) Jew, and I think that alone disqualifies him from membership in the ultra-secular Hollywood "elite".

Was he attacking the people of Britain in the first incarnation of his show?

I've seen the movie. It is not the least bit anti-American, unless the essence of America for you is encapsulated in either Pamela Anderson or a loon who wants to see gays hanged. In fact, what it often shows is the tremendous patience and courtesy that Americans extend to this backwards foreigner. Yes, hateful folks are occasionally subjected to mockery. Good.

The only thing I can recall that any of you will be "offended" by, aside from an astonishingly graphic (and hilarious) scene in which Borat wrestles his fat friend in the nude, is his fake conversion to Christianity at one of those mega-churches. It was extremely funny.

Thank you Ben.

FYI: looks like Borat is kickin' ass this weekend.

http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2006-11-03&p=.htm

Can't wait to see the "Running of the Jews".

Yes, and so did Jackass 2. People apparently love moronic comedy.

Well, I'm one of 'em I guess. I love Jackass, and I'm looking forward to seeing Borat.

You know, I wanted to have a discussion about how he embodies an extreme, over the top version of the racist, sexist, etc., in our society as a way to get us to tell everyone what we REALLY think, since we assume we're talking to a confidant. I thought that perhaps the US audience would find this a rather dirty trick, and the subsequent judgement of middle America too harsh, and as such this movie might not do too well.

But the Jews and the Leprechans got all defensive on me, so screw it.

Could be that he's demonstrating the extreme behavior that most of us think about but don't act on. Something similar to watching sporting events where our violent and competitive tendencies are satisfied by watching professional athletes acting on them for real.

I think that's why outrageous comics like Borat (or extreme "comedies" like the Jackass series) are interesting and exciting to watch. They take action and do things that most of us can only think about while we’re attempting to maintain the control necessary for everyday life.

Even though I’m sure it will be a scream, I'm indifferent about this kind of humor and could miss this movie and not feel wanting.

Personally if I'm sure a movie will be a scream I will try and go see it.

Will catch it on disc at some point I'm sure.

But now that Ms. Spears is free, I'll be spending most of my time stalking her.

A musical about the witches from The Wizard of Oz breaks West End box office records, its producers say...

Veteran actor William Franklyn, known for voicing the 1960s Schweppes TV adverts, dies aged 81...

Couldn't have happened to a nicer a-hole...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006520669,00.html