6962: Overreaction Of The Week.

The New York Post story below inspired the brief MultiCultClassics perspective immediately following…

A Jihad on Bruno

By David Brown

Sacha Baron Cohen has stepped up his security after being threatened by a terrorist organization that is angered at its portrayal in the film “Bruno.”

The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a coalition of Palestinian militias in the West Bank, said it was “very upset” that it was featured in the movie, starring Baron Cohen’s homosexual fashionista alter ego.

Baron Cohen’s Austrian character ridicules the terrorist group when he attempts to get himself kidnapped during a meeting with Ayman Abu Aita, who is identified in the film as the leader of the Martyrs’ Brigades.

The British comic is taking the threat seriously and has improved security arrangements for himself and his family in preparation for violent reprisals.

The Martyrs’ Brigades has issued a statement to a Jerusalem-based journalist including a veiled threat against Baron Cohen, 37.

“We reserve the right to respond in the way we find suitable against this man,” it said. “The movie was part of a conspiracy against the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades.”

The group condemned the use of the interview.

“According to what we checked, there was no meeting about the real context of the film,” the statement said. “This was a dirty use of our brother, Ayman, and we don’t accept that the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades is part of the film.”

The group is responsible for dozens of suicide bombings and shootings, and has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.

Baron Cohen’s Austrian character is shown telling Abu Aita: “I want to be famous. I want the best guys in the business to kidnap me. Al Qaeda is so 2001.” Before Abu Aita can respond, Bruno suggests that he remove his moustache, explaining: “Because your King Osama looks like a kind of dirty wizard or homeless Santa.”

Abu Aita claims that he was tricked into appearing in the film and has insisted that he is no longer involved in the Martyrs’ Brigades. He has threatened to sue Baron Cohen.

“This man, I think he is not a man,” Abu Aita said. “He is not saying the truth about me. He lied.”

Abu Aita’s lawyer, Hatem Abu Ahmad, has said that he is preparing a legal action against Baron Cohen and Universal Studios alleging that the terrorist reference could get his client in trouble with the Israelis and that the gay association could get him killed by Palestinians.

Abu Ahmad said: “This joke is very dangerous. We are not in the United States, we are not in Europe, we are in the Middle East, and the world operates differently here.” The Times of London

Cambridge University graduate Sacha Baron Cohen apparently didn’t spend any time learning about folks like Salman Rushdie. Otherwise, Baron Cohen might have realized it’s not too smart to joke around with people driven by strong spiritual and religious beliefs—especially when they’ve been known to react violently over such slights.

At one point, Baron Cohen and Universal Pictures had invited GLAAD representatives to preview and comment on the film—and the comedian and studio ultimately ignored every suggestion offered. Maybe they should have held private screenings with the Martyrs’ Brigades too.

Universal Pictures displayed monumental arrogance when first stating, “While any work that dares to address relevant cultural sensitivities might be misinterpreted by some or offend others, we believe the overwhelming majority of the audience will understand and appreciate the film’s inarguably positive intentions, which we’ve seen demonstrated whenever we have shown it.” Hey, the underwhelming minority misinterpretations and offenses need to be addressed after all.

It’s also ironic that in Baron Cohen’s previous film, Borat, the title character showed absolute terror when confronting Jews. Might Baron Cohen find himself in a real-life scenario of paranoia and fear?

Most people probably believe the Martyrs’ Brigades are overreacting. And let’s hope the threats don’t lead to actual trouble. At the same time, it’s disturbing to see how far the offended have to go to get the attention of the offenders.

6957: Bruno = Borat = Bigot = Boring.

Don’t expect MultiCultClassics to catch the latest Sacha Baron Cohen movie, Bruno, anytime soon.

Nothing personal, really. The film will undoubtedly draw its fans, as well as many who will find it hilarious. Whatever.

MultiCultClassics opts to avoid the movie for a few reasons.

1. Wasn’t overly impressed by Borat. And Bruno appears to be the same premise in a different freak costume. Should the public look for the next Sacha Baron Cohen extravaganza to star a Special Olympian…?

2. Can’t believe anything in the flick will be as funny as the statements by Universal Pictures. The studio insists that Bruno is a satire that “uses provocative comedy to powerfully shed light on the absurdity of many kinds of intolerance and ignorance, including homophobia.”

“While any work that dares to address relevant cultural sensitivities might be misinterpreted by some or offend others, we believe the overwhelming majority of the audience will understand and appreciate the film’s inarguably positive intentions, which we’ve seen demonstrated whenever we have shown it.”

Right. Bruno is inspiring endless thought-provoking dialogues on intolerance among moviegoers. And the belief that “the audience will understand and appreciate the film’s inarguably positive intentions” was probably “demonstrated” by box office receipts. This Hollywood hype reads as if PR hacks lifted excerpts originally written for last year’s critically-acclaimed Milk. Somebody needs to shed light on the absurdity of ignorance at Universal Pictures.

3. Just ain’t buying the notion that Sacha Baron Cohen is a comic genius with keen cultural insights and sensitivity. The man’s career is not based on highlighting cultures, but rather, hijacking cultures.

4. Would prefer to waste $10 on G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

6928: Bruno—The Gay Review.

From The Chicago Tribune…

No offense, ‘Bruno’ is funny

By Rex W. Huppke

National gay rights groups have said Sacha Baron Cohen’s new movie, “Bruno,” is offensive to gays and reinforces over-the-top stereotypes held by certain straight people.

I know five gay guys who would disagree.

Rather than watch from the sidelines, on opening night I immersed myself in the “Bruno” controversy by rounding up a diverse group of gay men to join me at the movie.

As the credits rolled and the laughter subsided, Rick Garcia, public policy director of the gay rights group Equality Illinois, noted that national groups protesting “Bruno” may need to get a sense of humor. If anyone should be concerned about the movie, he said, it’s straight people. “Is there some kind of heterosexual defamation league?” said Garcia, 48. “Because they’re the ones that looked bad, not the queer people. I think we looked great.”

Using the same guerrilla satire tactics he employed in the blockbuster film “Borat,” Baron Cohen puts his gay Austrian character, Bruno, into a series of wildly awkward situations intended to expose homophobia. It’s effective, but the point of concern for many—and for me—was whether the film was overly offensive in the process.

Along with Garcia, there was Danny Kopelson, 51, communications director for the Center on Halsted, a community center for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Arnie Cuarenta, 42, joined in. He’s general manager of the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus.

I also invited Tim Sniffen, 37, a member of The Second City comedy troupe, and Andy Shaw, 24, a graphic designer.

With the popcorn-fueled focus group together and the movie about to start, I briefly wondered if this was a bad idea.

I’m a straight man who, on a mature day, has the sense of humor of a teenager. The odds of me laughing at something inappropriate were high, and it seemed that an ill-timed guffaw could easily brand me an insensitive goon. That didn’t happen. I laughed in almost perfect sync with my five guests, howling at the “Gayby” shirt Bruno placed on his adopted child and at the preposterous gay sex scene that launched the movie.

“I actually really liked it,” Kopelson said afterward. “I was prepared not to, but I think the controversy was much to do about nothing.”

It was across-the-board agreement—no one was offended by Baron Cohen’s faux gay antics. And part of the reason for that was confidence that few Americans would ever believe “Bruno” truly represents any element of gay life.

“The gay stuff he does in the movie is so extreme, nobody is going to think that’s what gay people really do,” said Sniffen, the comedian. “If people go to this movie looking for evidence of a certain gay lifestyle, then this might pretty well cement it. But if that’s what they’re looking for, they’re lost causes.”

As frivolous as debate over a comedy might seem, “Bruno” does surface at an interesting time for the GLBT community. A string of states have recently legalized same-sex marriages, while debate continues to rage in California over Proposition 8, which banned such marriages.

Many activists believe the country may be nearing a tipping point in favor of gay marriage. Yet opponents remain entrenched, the Obama administration has been reluctant to address the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and acceptance of gays remains tenuous in swaths of the country.

Still, throughout the weekend, straight and gay Americans made “Bruno” the No. 1 movie, doling out millions to watch a straight man act farcically gay. “I think people understand gay people so much better now,” Shaw said. “They can see this and realize how ‘out there’ it is.”

“All the gay stuff isn’t as big a deal,” Cuarenta added. “I think it was more troubling to see the reactions going on around him, and if that’s what people see as offensive, that means we’re making progress.”

Though it’s hard to mine great social significance from a movie that mocks Ron Paul, swingers and G-strings with equal aplomb, my panel concurred that the world is somehow a better place with “Bruno” in it.

6920: Offending The Masses.

Insensitivity training in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) declared Sacha Baron Cohen’s new Bruno movie perpetuates negative stereotypes and “decreases the public’s comfort with gay people.” Universal Pictures insists the flick is a satire that “uses provocative comedy to powerfully shed light on the absurdity of many kinds of intolerance and ignorance, including homophobia.” Omnicom sees absolutely nothing wrong with the movie.

• Burger King made news a few times in the past days. An ad that ran in Spain featuring a Hindu goddess sitting upon a burger managed to offend Hindus. Then Burger King officials sought to persuade U.S. franchisees to adopt a value menu item by promising to tone down the advertising. Recent research showed the fast feeder’s cutting-edge campaigns haven’t translated to increased sales, but that doesn’t seem to dissuade them from pushing the envelope. Expect to see a Bruno Burger soon.

• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi nixed a proposal for Congress to vote on honoring the late Michael Jackson. “What I have said to my colleagues over the years … is that there is opportunity on the floor of the House to express their sympathy or their praise any time that they wish,” said Pelosi. “A resolution, I think, would open up to contrary views that are not necessary at this time.” The response is not surprising, as the government also never considered offering Jacko much-needed bailout money.