BRUNO (2009) (Blu-ray)

Following up Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen returned to shock and awe audiences with his outrageous character Brüno, an übergay Austrian fashionista. The film satirizes celebrity and homophobia as it documents Brüno's attempts to become famous and was previously reviewed.

Upon a second viewing, Brüno still offers plenty laughs, although certainly less are derived from being utterly stunned by what is taking place on screen. This allows the brain to get a better sense of what's going on and appreciate it; however, the satire still falls flat at times.

When the Blu-ray disc starts up, the first menu inquires if you want enhanced commentary, a PiP feature with Baron Cohen and director Larry Miller. They reveal making-of secrets, and at times, their discussions become so involved they pause the film to complete the stories, adding 26 minutes to the run time. It's a shame they don't record the film being made (or maybe they just keep it to themselves) because their stories are very compelling as they talk about evading the authorities to keep Baron Cohen from getting arrested and dealing with situations that could quickly turn violent.

Because of some of the guerrilla tactics involved, high definition doesn’t necessarily serve the consumer much better than DVD. The video is presented in 1080p in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, but the different source formats and uncontrollable light sources create quite a variance in quality, although it all works in the context of the film.

When in controlled setting, the video looks very good. The colors are vibrant, especially the primary ones. Flesh tones look accurate, although some viewers won't realize it as they cover their eyes or look away when there's too much flesh on the screen. The details and textures are clear and distinct, which help bring to life Brüno's outfits.

The audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, which seems like a bit of overkill. Being a pseudo-documentary, the film is mainly dialogue, and it comes through loud and clear through the front speakers, particularly the center. The only time the rest of the surround system really comes into play is when music is playing. There is some slight ambiance from crowd sequences.

There are other features showing funny material that didn’t make the final cut:

Alternate scenes (5 min HD) - Pete Rose from the same scene as Paula Abdul sitting on the Mexicans. Politicos Tom Ridge, Gary Bauer, and John Bolton are interviewed and hang out with Brüno as Ron Paul did.

Deleted Scenes (41 min HD) - Including a six-minute Blu-ray exclusive scene of Brüno in the Middle East.

Extended Scenes (23 min HD) - Including a four-minute Blu-ray exclusive scene of Brüno with the U.S. National Guard.

There's also an interview with Brüno's agent Lloyd Robinson (6 min HD) recorded after movie came out. He has a great attitude and sense of humor about the whole thing.

There are BD-Live opportunities and also an annoying ticker that runs while the menu is engaged. Thankfully it can be turned off.

While definitely not for everyone, Brüno is a funny film for adults who like their comedy edgy with a good mix of intelligent and juvenile humor.

BRUNO (2009)

Sacha Baron Cohen returns to the big screen portraying the title character, an ultrahomosexual Austrian fashion reporter, who fans will know from his two television series, both named Da Ali G Show. His material works best when it surprises the audience, which is why it was so disappointing and rather ignorant when so many entertainment outlets constantly revealed “news” about where the crew was working during production. With so much spoiled already, this review will do its best to give as few specifics as possible.

The basic premise of the film is Brüno comes to America to become world famous, a goal of many who have come to this country, so he attempts to follow in the footsteps of some celebrities who have made the big time. That façade allows for a number of ridiculous situations, several of which it’s hard to believe didn’t end in serious injury applied by those who appear in these extremely candid camera moments.

Brüno finds Cohen continuing to dabble in what I dubbed in my Borat review as Jackass Comedy. He is fearless as a performer. His stunts and interaction with the unsuspecting simultaneously appear ingenious and idiotic, creating tension as the audience waits to see what happens next. While his peers will likely never recognize him, it’s amazing to watch an actor commit to a character so completely and never break, including when it appears he is getting seriously smacked around.

However in comparison to Borat, Brüno has less social commentary and many times is outrageous just to be outrageous. I found the film funny over the course of its brief 83-minute run time, though I didn't laugh as often or as intensely, and there were occasions I wondered what the gag was exactly. People are absolutely entitled to be uncomfortable with homosexuality or male frontal nudity, especially when it is unexpected and forced upon them. After all, it is perfectly reasonable for a woman to not want to be hit on by a man, so what exactly is to be laughed at when a straight man has the same reaction to another man? Especially when the issue is pressed and responses of “no” and “stop” are ignored.

Anyone uncomfortable or uncertain about anything mentioned above should definitely pass on this film. Anyone curious, or even bi-curious, will have their tolerance tested quickly and often. In one of the early scenes, a session between Brüno and his midget Filipino boyfriend Diesel will serve as a litmus test.

With all that takes place in Brüno, I am surprised it is rated R. The MPAA awarded it an NC-17 when it was first submitted, and I am unclear how this version didn’t receive one as well. However, the most shocking moments, which barely rate a PG, occur when Brüno interviews stage parents about their children. It’s by far the most offensive sequence in the film.