Everyone's been talking about Brüno, and not all in a good way. I saw the movie Friday night in my socially conservative home town. The first sign that there was some controversy brewing was that the theater took the extraordinary step of hiring a police officer to check ID at the entrance. I was impressed with the turnout. All of the shows before my 10 o'clock screening were sold out, and my showing was pretty much packed. The reaction of the crowd was wonderful. There were few breaks in the laughter, and I only saw one or two couples leave the theater in disgust. Listening to the buzz in the crowd after the show, there was no evidence that anyone took the movie as anything else than a powerful statement in favor of gay rights. I concur. There hasn't been a more powerful message against homophobia in theaters since Milk.
Anyone who's seen Ali G or Borat should know Sacha Baron Cohen's shtick pretty well by now. He assumes the role of a clueless character, and then goes out to provoke a reaction. It's kind of a post modern version of Candid Camera. Salon blogger Palindrome put it perfectly, "He’s pretending to be an annoyingly self-absorbed fashion-obsessive clueless Austrian gay man to make people laugh about and recognize their own homophobia.” Clearly, the target of this film, like Borat before it, is American cultural ignorance, not homosexuals.
That's not to say that Cohen doesn't push some buttons. Clearly a good 50 to 60 percent of the humor is of the toilet variety, and it can be shocking. There is no 'great message' in the talking penis. It's just a talking penis. But Cohen plays emotions like Mozart played the piano. It is only when the audience is taken aback by the shock value of the potty stuff that they are then fully receptive to the real message of the film, and it is that effect that makes for a greater integrated whole.
If gays and lesbians are ever to gain acceptance and legal equality, we are going to need strait allies like Sacha Baron Cohen. So how does the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation thank Sacha Baron Cohen for his provocative statement in favor of gay and lesbian rights? By trashing his movie.
A July 10th statement on their website closes with the following:
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.
One of the most common and inaccurate stereotypes homosexuals face is that we are sissies who are incapable of standing up for ourselves. In it's critisism of Brüno, GLAAD is reinforcing that negative stereotypes by suggesting that gays and lesbians are SOOOO sensitive that they can't take a joke -- even when the joke is NOT directed against them.
Another frequently criticism made by GLAAD and the like is that 'Brüno is too flamboyant. We need to let the straight people know that we're just like them.' -- as if being flamboyant somehow means that you are NOT equal? That's a cowards message. From the straightest acting gay man to the most over-the-top drag queen, we all deserve equality, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Further, anyone who thinks that there are no gay people who DO act like Brüno hasn't spent very much time around drag-queens. In fact, compared to some 'girls' I know, Bruno is... subtle. That said the fist job of a movie is to be entertaining. It's a testament to Cohen's talent that Brüno will make you think too.
With all the horror stories that spill forth every day about brutality and discrimination directed against members of the LGBT community, GLAAD should have plenty of places to direct their attention. It's foolish to speak out against someone who is clearly on our side.
