BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN (2006) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Larry Charles

Written by - Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Peter Paynham, Dan Mazer, Todd Phillips

Starring - Sacha Baron Cohen

"Borat was certainly the right kind of vehicle for Cohen to exhibit his distinctive, irresponsible to the point of being considered fearless prankster's comedic style. It is a mockumentary, and with the titular character of his own creation, he audaciously acts legitimate in front of everyone who believes him when he says that he is making a documentary for his home country of Kazakhstan to learn from the example of the American ways. 

Obviously the film caused anger and outrage worldwide, and can be considered one of the most controversial films of all time. It is a gloriously politically incorrect film, no doubt a triumph of bad taste, yet there is great intelligence and a true sense of artistry behind the car-crash example of extreme satire which it presents. Given the delicate political times in which it was produced, the Bush administration, the war in Iraq and the aftermath of 9/11, its biting and revolutionary humour only but reflected the madness of its times, amplifying it to suit the vastness of the big screen. 

The eclectic vision of the film is so impressive that any attempt to contextualize it in narrative might have seemed a drawback, and indeed that is what happens, as its nonsensical plot sees the titular character ditch his initial plans of making a documentary to follow his heart in pursuit of a kidnapping plot to marry Pamela Anderson. 

Nevertheless, Borat is a one of a kind film, and it's very difficult to imagine any film like it not being compared to it - it is equally as difficult to think that any film should come close to reaching its heights in terms of quality and popularity both with audiences and, surprisingly, with the critics."

Comedy, USA