GLAAD Issues Statement Against Bruno
'Bruno' continues to push people's buttons and cross very fine lines. Today, GLAAD came out with an official statement against the movie asking people to not support Sasha Baron Cohen's newest venture.
Here is an excerpt from the full release:
The movie repeatedly builds entire scenes around stock stereotypes and situations that make gay people and families the butt of crude jokes. I can’t help but think of all the teenage kids already getting bullied, beat up and ridiculed for being--or for being thought to be--gay.. For these kids, this movie will give their tormentors one more word in the anti-gay lexicon of slurs: Bruno.
Instead of challenging stereotypes, it reinforces them for many of the those who voted to take away the freedom to marry from loving, committed gay and lesbian couples in California. Many states have gone even further—Arkansans went to the polls and effectively eliminated the ability of gay people to adopt or foster children in that state. In a cruel twist, “Brüno,” some of which was actually shot in Arkansas, includes a scene where the title character shows a talk-show audience photos of sexual activity occurring in the presence of an infant child. Can this help the gay families across the country who continue to be reduced to political punching bags at the ballot box?
There's more! Click on the continue reading link below to see the rest and leave a comment.
It's unfortunate that “Brüno” ultimately misses the mark, particularly when there are still far too few positive images of gay people in major studio films. Some members of our community will not be offended by this film. Others, like those of us at GLAAD, find it frustrating and discouraging to be confronted with a movie that wants to increase America’s discomfort with homophobia, but which for much of America, seems likely to decrease its comfort with gay people.”
Have you seen Bruno yet? Are you planning to? What do you think about GLAAD speaking up against this film?
I can't wait to see this movie!
Wow - some people are so sensitive. I am blonde and maybe I should have some sort of complex for being the butt of every dumb, ditzy or airhead joke. If the jokes bother you, don't see it.
You'll notice Bruno is blonde, too!! I'm in the same boat, I'm blonde with large breasts. Very few people assume I went to college on a President's Scholarship, but I did!! Let them underestimate us - it gives us even more power!! That's what GLAAD should be thinking, instead of issuing these long-winded sermons.
7935 points
You may feel differently if suddenly being blonde meant you couldn't get married, adopt a child, and had to deal with harassment beyond "jokes" that went as far as you potenitally being murdered.
You're comparing apples and oranges here.
I could not agree more. If being blond meant being denied BASIC RIGHTS, then any blond on this site would have absolutely no reason to complain. Yes, apples and oranges, that's all it is.
I understand that many blonds tend to be underestimated and stereotyped, but being blond does not prevent anyone from being able to have the same rights (marriage, family, etc.) as other people. And i have not heard of anyone being threatened with death for being blond. So please, have more respect.
33738 points
I was totally shocked to see Roger Ebert give it two thumbs up. LOL Now I'm sorta curious to see it. I still haven't watched Borat.
I think GLAAD have it all wrong! Sacha Baron Cohen takes many of the preconceived notions about gay people that exist within our society, and shows how ridiculous those stereotypes are. The man is a genius.
2610 points
I thought that was the whole point of the film- to show how stupid people can be! How could GLAAD not get it??? They're being very sensitive!
1745 points
Maybe thats what they are concerned about that "stupid people" won't get it and that this movie will reinforce their stereotypes. I won't see it because I'm on a budget and want to spend my money on a movie I'll really want to see : )
5870 points
They should understand by now that stupid people don't have minds that can be changed anyway.
Where's GLAAD when he's making fun of everything else?? That's his job, he makes fun of everyone. It's time GLAAD put their big girl panties on and laugh!
This film really highlighted the gay issues, generally in America. It is rude and pokes fun at gay people but at the same time it makes fun of stupid, stereotyped attitudes towards them.
If u kno Sacha's work then you know he enjoys pushing limits and this time is no different. Borat didnt really prove a point, but this film really does. The amount of homophobes and the length people go to to make him straight in the film is quite disgusting, and im not even gay.
I loved the film & will continue to love Sacha's work =)
I can't believe the amount he gets away with lol.
x
Borat didn't prove a point?? How ignorant of you! The movie shows how wrong can one judge the american way of living. How an alien from Kazakhstan can't make the difference between reality and show. In other words, how stupid they are! It can be seen in so many wrong ways if you want to! But I guess you only see what you want. Stop taking it so personally, what SBC is trying to do is to show the extremes, nothing else.
OMG, you did not get that Borat was a persiflage of the american lifestyle??? You did not get that he totally poked fun at the extremes of the american society??? How stupid are you really overthere?
281335 points
Oh brother... do people have to complain about everything?
7330 points
I knew this was coming...if you think about it almost every group issues a statement when a comedy comes out. I think they should just create a blanket group called That Thing You Just Laughed at in the Comedy Really Was NOT Funny and We Are Suing! Let's face it...there are a lot of stereotypes that moviemakers rely on to get a cheap laugh and if someone happens to have a sensitivity toward one or more of them, then suddenly it's not funny to them (it's happened to all of us I bet).
8025 points
I think everyone could have seen the disappointment coming a year ago... of course a movie like this isn't good for the GLBT community
9900 points
I CANNOT believe that many people here actually are supporting Brüno. I find it atrocious that it is getting any press at all.
1780295 points
never going to see that movie, however he does try to laugh out the stupid stereotypes people have about different things.
330 points
GLADD get over yourself!!! I watched the flim last night in Chelsea, NYC surrounded by gay men. No exaggeration, 90%+ of the movie goers were gay men who laughed, cheered, and clapped louder than the rest of us!
The film was fantastic and it is sad that GLADD are just trying to promote themselves on the back of entertainment. If people want to say negative things about the film it is just silly. It is optional. No one is being forced to purchase tickets and see any such film.
I saw the movie last night. And while i was fully prepared to love it and am definitely NOT conservative, so it is not something that would usually disturb me... the movie was just not good.
I understand what he was trying to do, display homophobic stereotypes as ridiculous, which they are. However unlike borat the jokes are at the expense of bruno, instead of the people is he interviewing.
The movie is short, 82 minutes, and has no real story arc, it is more a series of jokes that apart from being offensive (which is the point) are largely just not humorous. There was more cringing than laughing done and all the funny jokes were showed in the ad.
skip this movie.
2660 points
I'll have to watch it before deciding.
1385 points
I saw this movie and loved it, it was pretty funny from beginning to end. I think that he does that all for a good laugh, come on , to put himself in that kind of character? Learn to have a little sense of humor ;) If you love celeb gossip like myself. <3
-Twitter.com/yourmomisgen
SOME PEOPLE TURN OUT TO BE A F....T FOR REAL, folks!!
Surely anyone that still has issues and are intolerant with homosexual people in the western world are pretty ignorant and intolerant...
8175 points
I personally have not watch the movie yet, But i did went to see Public Enemies last night. And while i was on line to purchase the tickets there was this sings put up infront of the registers with a policy that stated (please be aware that there is no refund for the movie bruno). I said to my husband "well thats not a good sign" i guess alot of people are not too impress with the jokes. I personally will not pay to see it.
Not sure why anyone would be against the movie except that it was just horrible and not very funny.
Education-
Baron Cohen first attended St Columba's College Prep School, St Albans, Hertfordshire, before moving on to attend Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, a private school in Elstree, Hertfordshire, near London. He went on to Cambridge University, entering Christ's College, Cambridge, where he read History under Niall Ferguson and wrote his thesis on Jewish involvement in the American Civil Rights movement, with emphasis on the 1964 murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner in Mississippi.
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Da Ali G Show is the name of two related satirical TV series starring British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen and featuring the character Ali G.
The first (2000) series originally aired on Channel 4 in the UK, and the second (2003-2004) series on HBO in the US. The second series was known as Ali G in da USAiii in the UK and Australia.[1] In the series, Baron Cohen plays as three unorthodox journalists — Ali G, Borat Sagdiyev, and Brüno — who carry out ridiculous interviews with unsuspecting people (including celebrities and high-ranking officials).
On 23 July 2005 HBO announced they had no plans to make an additional season of the show.[2]
The three characters from the show have each gone on to have movies starring themselves released: Ali G in Ali G Indahouse (2002), Borat in Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006) and Brüno in Brüno (2009).
p.s. The Ali G character is hilarious,you should watch tha show and his first movie about that character called "Ali G in Da House!
like seriously, people need to have a sense of humor. America was built on freedom of speech. I think that everyone should be able to express themselves. It is groups and people like this that give certain groups and people a bad name. I think everyone needs to be able to laugh at themselves once in awhile, whether the stereotype is true to them or not. I think it is funny because they are saying protest this movie and not see it. Human nature is very curious, when someone tells you to not do something, you are more likely to do it. So thanks GLAAD and all other organizations protesting this movie and making it more popular than it would have been.
5870 points
That may suck and all, but the truth is flambouyancy is really hilarious and there really are gay people in this world that act exactly the way that bruno does...and that is still hilarious! I don't think people really find it funny in a bad, "I hate gay people" way...I laugh with them, not at them. Seriously.
1805 points
I watched his last film on a flight to the States and it was clear that not a lot of Americans understood his sense of humour so I'm not surprised that this statement was issued. I think by now everyone probably has heard what kind of humour Sacha has and if you don't agree with it you can always NOT go and see the movie. I saw the film and found it hilarious. People need to get over themselves and stop being so bloody politically correct all the time.
129675 points
Satire...satire...satire.
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