Brüno (2009) directed by Larry Charles

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Director: Larry Charles

Writers (WGA): Sacha Baron Cohen (screenplay) &
Anthony Hines (screenplay) &
Dan Mazer (screenplay) &
Jeff Schaffer (screenplay)
Sacha Baron Cohen (story) &
Peter Baynham (story) &
Anthony Hines (story) &
Dan Mazer (story)
Sacha Baron Cohen (character)

Release Date: 25 June 2009 (Hollywood, California, USA, premiere)
23 October 2009 (Italy)

Genre: Comedy

Tagline: Borat was so 2006

Plot: Oscar® nominee and Golden Globe® winner Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat, Da Ali G Show and Talladega Nights) brings you the comedy that has started more conversations, generated more controversy and dared to go further than ever before! As Brüno travels the world in search of fame, everyone he encounters — celebrities, politicians, Hasidic Jews, terrorists and cage fighters — becomes a stepping-stone to stardom, with hilarious results! So prepare yourself for nonstop laughs in the film Peter Travers of Rolling Stone says should be “Numero uno on your funny-time list!”

Awards: 2010 Costume Designers Guild Awards Nomination as Excellence in Costume Design for Film - Contemporary to Jason Alper
2010 Peter Sellers Award for Comedy to Sacha Baron Cohen, Evening Standard British Film Awards
2009 Teen Choice Award Nomination as Choice Summer Movie Star: Male to Sacha Baron Cohen and as Choice Summer Movie: Comedy

@IMDb
@Amazon: Brüno (2009)

 

























 

Cast (in credits order)
Sacha Baron Cohen ... Brüno
Gustaf Hammarsten ... Lutz
Clifford Bañagale ... Diesel
Chibundu Orukwowu ... O.J.
Chigozie Orukwowu ... O.J.
Bono ... Himself - 'Dove of Peace'
Chris Martin ... Himself - 'Dove of Peace'
Elton John ... Himself - 'Dove of Peace'
Slash ... Himself - 'Dove of Peace'
Snoop Dogg ... Himself - 'Dove of Peace'
Sting ... Himself - 'Dove of Peace'
Josh Meyers ... Kookus
Toby Hoguin ... Mexican Gardener #1
Robert Huerta ... Mexican Gardener #2
Gilbert Rosales ... Mexican Gardener #3
Thomas Rosales Jr. ... Mexican Gardener #4
Marco Xavier ... Mexican Gardener #5
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lloyd Robinson ... Himself
Paula Abdul ... Herself (uncredited)
Domiziano Arcangeli ... Fashion Show Director in Milan (uncredited)
Richard Bey ... Himself (uncredited)
Harrison Ford ... Himself (uncredited)
Brittny Gastineau ... Herself (uncredited)
John Grant Gordon ... German Male Model (uncredited)
David Hill ... Reporter (uncredited)
Hugh B. Holub ... Focus Group Curmudgeon (uncredited)
Todd Christian Hunter ... Man in Hotel Room (uncredited)
Michelle McLaren ... Dominatrix (uncredited)
Ron Paul ... Himself (uncredited)
Miguel Sandoval ... Himself / D.A. Manuel Devalos (uncredited)
Stephen Sepher ... Photographer (uncredited)
Alexander von Roon ... German Reporter (uncredited)

   
Bruno & Lutz

Comments

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Sincerely, I was not sure if posting about this movie. For half of it, while I was watching it, I was there thinking, now I will stop it and go searching for something better. More than gay-themed, in a positive way, to me it was gay-trashing. I didn't find funny more than half the gag. But then, when basically Bruno goes too far away, and even Lutz, the only constant in his life leaves him, then the movie started to be interesting. Bruno tries to "turn" himself straight, and in doing that, put in everyone face how stupid prejudices are. The two conversations he has with "counselors" are hilarious. And well, I don't want to spoil the end, but that is exactly how I'd like to see ending any gay romance movie. So yes, I didn't waste my time seeing this movie, but well, next time I will probably start from the middle!

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

His humour just absolutely does not work for me.... I found the bits that I did see pretty offensive. And making fun of German (umlauts, random "ü"s and stuff) - really not funny. And I can laugh my head off at some a lot of British comedy dealing with the Continent, so it's not that.

So you could say I never got past the offensiveness.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

As I said, it was difficult also for me to get past it. I'm still not sure if the balance is positive or negative.

[lab-jazz.livejournal.com]

I saw it in the cinema and I didn't like it at all. My sense of humour is sadly lacking when it comes to this sort of thing :(

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I didn't go at the time, even if it was out in Italian cinema. I don't know, probably I was already aware that there was something not yet right for me.

[lucifuge-5.livejournal.com]

Full disclosure: I haaaaated Borat when it first came out. Having said that, I was curious to see what Cohen could do with Bruno.

The bits with the "counselors" WERE funny, but I still left the cinema feeling frustrated and annoyed with myself that I had actually paid to watch Bruno.

It could be a matter of me not finding him funny at all--sense of humour is quite variable and all that. In the end, I'm not sure this would be a movie I'd recommend to anyone really. :-/

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

In the end I think many agree with you since this movie had less word of mouth than other smaller production

[lucifuge-5.livejournal.com]

You know what's interesting about the crash and burn of Bruno is how Twitter played a huge role on it. According to some reports in gay entertainment blogs, people kept twittering their friends NOT to go see this movie (which was the reversal of what happened with Borat.)

AFAIK, most of the internet gay media gave it thumbs down too.

One thing everyone said, though, was that the boundary/envelope-pushing that Cohen did while promoting this movie was fascinating. I totally agree with that. It made some people really uncomfortable and, from a sociological point of view, that's something that you rarely see with a gay movie.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I think that, with the power he had, he could have done a better job, but at least he did an "in the face" of everyone work of it. It was really good to see some of the reactions he brought from people, and it makes me really wonder "is it really possible? They are so stupid (all those homophobic men not able to "see") that they have to be acting"

[lucifuge-5.livejournal.com]

it makes me really wonder "is it really possible? They are so stupid (all those homophobic men not able to "see") that they have to be acting"

*nods* It's the same as with Borat where I kept thinking "these people are totally unaware of how they are coming across". Could be that some of them were dazzled by the camera or that they thought things were going to be edited out, etc.

One of the strangest things was the interview with Ron Paul. I mean, how could he not figure out that Bruno was trying to seduce him?

Like you said, there were ways in which Cohen could have made the movie better or funnier.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I'm also thinking to the common people, like the hunting night out or the house party. Well, in any case last year was strange, with at least three "big" gay themed movies (Bruno, Valentine's Day and I love you Philip Morris) that was expecting to have more audience than what they indeed had.

[shadownyc.livejournal.com]

This sounds priceless. LOL

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

It has for sure its funny moment.

[kirby-crow.livejournal.com]

Maybe Sacha Baron Cohen is only funny to guys. When I saw "Borat" I was all like

:-|

Didn't crack a smile once, although there was a lot of wincing and leaving the room. But men seem to find him 10x as funny as I do. Ah humor! The TRUE difference in the sexes! :)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

That is another side of the theory to be considered: I started to find it interesting when romance made its appearance, so probably yes, since women DO find romance interesting.