'Bruno' Offensive? Let Us Count The Ways ...
The film Bruno, which is opening in a few weeks, is a satire about an over-the-top gay fashion victim starring Sacha Baron Cohen. The studio has been pre-screening Bruno for gay activists and writers, hoping to derail charges of homophobia. Judging from the trailer, however, there is a huge list of people this new movie could offend.
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ROBERT SIEGEL, host:
From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Robert Siegel.
MICHELE NORRIS, host:
And I'm Michele Norris. The film "Bruno" is opening in a few weeks. It's a satire starring Sacha Baron Cohen as a flamboyantly gay fashion victim. He's the guy who, three years ago, brought you "Borat," the outrageously fake journalist from Kazakhstan.
SIEGEL: Sacha Baron Cohen is also the guy who sparked outrage and lawsuits because "Borat" was so offensive to so many people. And now the studio releasing "Bruno" has started pre-screening it for gay activists and writers. The studio is hoping to derail charges of homophobia. NPR's Neda Ulaby says that judging from the trailer, there's a huge list of people this new movie could offend, not just gays.
(Soundbite of film, "Bruno")
Mr. SACHA BARON COHEN (Actor): (As Bruno) What's up? I'm Bruno…
NEDA ULABY: The character Bruno is Austrian. Some Austrians are reportedly less than thrilled with Bruno's assessment of the Austrian dream: find a job, get a dungeon und raise a family in it. So Austrians, gay people, who else?
(Soundbite of film)
Mr. COHEN: (As Bruno) I'm here at Milan Fashion Week.
ULABY: Italians.
(Soundbite of film)
Mr. COHEN: (As Bruno) Yes, I'm going to wear the jumpsuit made entirely out of Velcro.
ULABY: Definitely fashionistas.
(Soundbite of film)
Unidentified Person (Actor): (As character) You go out now.
ULABY: Eurotrash.
(Soundbite of film)
Unidentified Man #1 (Actor): (As character) Hi, welcome to Sears. How can I help you today?
Mr. COHEN: (As Bruno) You may find this very hard to believe, but I'm gay.
Unidentified Man #1: (As character) Okay.
ULABY: Salesmen, also men.
(Soundbite of film)
Mr. COHEN: (As Bruno) Look at the four of us, we are so like the "Sex in the City" girls.
ULABY: Women, also hunters.
(Soundbite of film)
Unidentified Man #2 (Actor): (As character) (Unintelligible). I'm Donny.
Mr. COHEN: (As Bruno) That is such a Samantha thing to say.
(Soundbite of music)
ULABY: Celebrities.
(Soundbite of film)
Mr. COHEN: (As Bruno) Angelina's got one, Madonna's got one, now Bruno's got one.
ULABY: Adoptive families.
(Soundbite of film)
Unidentified Man #3 (Actor): (As character) So what's the baby's name?
Mr. COHEN: (As Bruno) I gave him like a traditional African name, O.J.
ULABY: Babies, Africans, Americans, African-Americans, bingo players, TV presenters, terrorists, people in the military, Hassidic Jews, fetishists. Star Sacha Baron Cohen might get away with offending nine-tenths of the country. We'll see what percentage is amused. Neda Ulaby, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.
