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Brüno Is Toxic to Gays

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 9, 2009 12:01 PM CDT

(Newser) – Brüno should have been good for the gays, shining a bright light on homophobia and inoculating the world against it. Instead, “Brüno is a gay minstrel, in the most literal sense of the word,” writes David Rakoff for Salon. Just as vaudevillians in blackface were universally shiftless, lazy, and “a-feared of spooks,” Brüno’s sexuality “comes bundled up with a lot of unattractive software.”

“He is an open hydrant of empty, venal ignorance, a fame-chasing, grandiose fucktard, all because he is a cockaholic (his term),” writes Rakoff. “The repeated pistoning of sucking dick has scrambled his brains.” Sacha Baron Cohen’s performance is actually the most homophobic thing in the movie. His victims aren’t hostile, just “mute with discomfort, politely waiting for the moment of childish provocation to pass.”

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (2)]

n this June 25, 2009 file photo, Sacha Baron Cohen, star of the new comedy film "Bruno," interacts with photographers at the Los Angeles premiere. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, file)

British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen arrives in character for the premiere of his movie, "Bruno," in Sydney, Australia, Monday, June 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

In this film publicity image released by Universal Pictures, Sacha Baron Cohen portrays the title role character in "Bruno." (AP Photo/Universal Pictures)

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Such a performance by an out gay actor would be the final nail, confirming his essential uncastability. But no actual gay guy would ever have made this film. - David Rakoff

Brüno preaches a false emancipation. It's Jerry Lewis playing Steve Biko. - David Rakoff

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 9 comments

NxBigmouthery

Jul 10, 2009 3:56 AM CDT

I've never known a black person who looked or sounded like a white person in blackface...but...

NxBigmouthery

Jul 10, 2009 3:54 AM CDT

This remonds of what Lewis Black said years ago about the Janet Jackson/Superbowl stupidity. It's not seeing a tit that is harmful to children, it's people going nuts over children seeing a tit that's harmful to children. In the same way, Bruno (I'm not going looking for umlauts) isn't bad for gay people...gay people bleating about Bruno is bad for gay people. Just shut up, let the zeitgeisty moments pass you by...and get on with being fabulous. It's what we love you for. FAAAAABULOsity.

2-bits

Jul 9, 2009 7:41 AM CDT

newsrmandan: You are precisely the kind of person that Cohen would pick on.

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