Gamer's Perspective

Darrell Mashia is a filmmaker and cameraman working in Hollywood, Ca. His work has included commercials, feature films and music videos.

I saw Borat over a week ago at a small press screening. My original intention was to write an early review ready to hit the web before the film was released. As I sat down to write the review however, I realized that I hadn’t fully digested the film. I thought about the film for over a week and have finally come to a conclusion that I shall now share with you all. Borat is easily the funniest film of the year.

As many of you know, Borat is based off of the international exploits of fictional Kazakhstan reporter Borat, first brought to life on the Ali G show. As a reporter, Borat interviews various prominent members of both American and British society, with hilarious results. In the film, Borat takes this interview format on the road, as he and his producer set out to New York City to report on American life as to help better the people of Kazakhstan. Once Borat reaches New York, he soon realizes that his story, and a plot point that is so hilarious, I will refrain from ruining it for you, requires him to leave New York and take his story across the country.

It is here where the film really shines. As Borat moves across the country, he meets not only the normal senators and dignitaries that those familiar with the source material would expect, but also the “normal” people of the areas in which he visits. These interesting people range from fraternity boys to evangelical preachers, and from prostitutes to meteorologists all of whom, not only further the story of the film (yes, I too was surprised that this film actually has a plot) but also adds to the tapestry of hilariously quirky Americana woven by Borat creator and actor Sacha Baron Cohen and director Larry Charles.

As I’ve pondered over the last few days about my feelings on this film, many in the news have talked about this film as being crass and at times quite offensive, both to women and to people of the Jewish faith. At first glance, one would be inclined to agree with these assumptions, with ideas raised in the film that woman in Kazakhstan are expected to pull a plow, and Jews are shape-shifting creatures with horns that can be sedated if one throws money at them, but the more I thought about these comments in the context of the film, I grew less offended, and more impressed in the finesse in which these issues were added to the subtext of the film. Borat as a character is completely larger than life thus his comments, are more of an exaggeration than an actual mantra. Also, the abuse is not simply levied towards woman and Jews, but fairly evenly across the board.

The taboo issues of religion and gender not withstanding, Borat is still an incredibly funny film. By now, you’ve seen the trailers and clips from the film, you know that there is quite a bit of witty humor in the film. However, what the trailers and promotional materials don’t illustrate is the hilarious physical humor in this film. Borat has what is quite possibly the greatest fight scene in the history of film. This seems like a bold statement but after seeing this film, which I highly recommend, the fight between Borat and his producer shall be eternally burned into your mind. Combine the fight scene with genius use of props and a few animal tricks, and Borat presents a level of physical humor not seen in some time.