peebeep Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Brooks's first feature film, The Producers, was a dark comedy about two theatrical partners who deliberately contrive the worst possible Broadway show. The film was so brazen in its satire (its big production number was "Springtime for Hitler") that the major studios would not touch it, nor would many exhibitors. Brooks finally found an independent distributor, which released it like an art film, as a specialized attraction. The film received an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The film became a smash underground hit, first on the nationwide college circuit, then in revivals and on home video. Brooks later turned it into a musical, which became hugely successful on Broadway, receiving an unprecedented twelve Tony awards. My italics. Not a film that I enjoyed greatly myself, not really my thing, but the performances by Wilder and Mostel were impressive. peebeep Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sean Bratton Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Tell me, when all you guys signed up to play the "parcel-of-ironically-loveable-bitter-old-curmudgeons," did you even have to audition? Perhaps it's a Blue Monday hangover. And I'm talking about the date, not anything related to New Order. Because back in my day, that was music, not like the stuff you hear these days... Cheers, Sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Raymond Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 one coudl argueing using the mel brooks approach that satirism is the ultimate form of defeating an dictator or any other unplesant subject (check out four lions) by denying him the respect they so desperatly seek. not a fan of SBC movies (early TV borat was fun) but i do see the irony considering how many love 'achmed the dead terrorist' - which to me is in the same leage of humor. ;) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fishwelding Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Perhaps it's a Blue Monday hangover. And I'm talking about the date, not anything related to New Order. Because back in my day, that was music, not like the stuff you hear these days...Cheers, Sean I've heard the elderly bewail any kind of music after, say, 1960. But--and I've said it on these boards before--if nineteenth century German composer Richard Wagner were resurrected today, he'd totally be into death metal. A bunch of long-haired, tattooed, dark-clad warriors grinding out noise on industrially-powered instruments while their buxom, plate-mailed lead singer, Brunhilde, bellowed away about battles between the Norse gods, would appeal to him entirely. He'd think it was the logical next-step beyond his own work. Remember, this was a man who subjected people to over four hours of opera. He was entirely comfortable with inflicting pain on audiences in the name of art. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sean Bratton Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 If Wagner were around today, he'd certainly be a winner on Siegfried Idyll. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trigger Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 I thought SBC was to play Freddie Mercury in the Queen biopic? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hal Marshman Sr Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 quote "If Chaplin can do a Hitler like dictator" This film was produced before the war, and before the Holocaus was put into effect. Indeed, in those days, both Hitler and Mussolini were considered comic opera characters by the general populace, no one could even think of the horrors Adolf would introduce. (krystallnacht, Guernica, etc not withstanding). Hal Sr Quote Link to post Share on other sites
toadwbg Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 one could argue using the Mel brooks approach that satire is the ultimate form of defeating an dictator or any other unpleasant subject (check out four lions) by denying him the respect they so desperately seek. I agree. After the First Gulf war, Saddam was ridiculed in "Hot Shots" and "Hot Shots Part Deux"- I thought these were a gas back in the day. I recall he had a lisp too, which just had me in stitches! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fishwelding Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 After the First Gulf war, Saddam was ridiculed in "Hot Shots" and "Hot Shots Part Deux"- I thought these were a gas back in the day. I recall he had a lisp too, which just had me in stitches! In the second movie, he pretty much had the opposing lead role. He was in the movie more than Topper Harley's love-interest (who's screen name escapes me. I just remember her joke: "A horse walks into a bar, and the bartender says, "Hey, why the long face?"). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Living Legend Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 (edited) Saddam has been ridiculed in several episodes of South Park. Edited January 22, 2011 by Living Legend Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Saddam had his own attrocities as well. There was the war with Iran, the gassing of the Kurdish population (anyone remember the photo of the dead parent with a dead child in his arms on the sidewalk in a town that got gassed?) and the mass graves that were found after Iraqi Freedom. The Ba'athist party was founded along similar ideals of rule to Hitler's Nazi party. The guy was a piece of work and I have NO problem with having a laugh at HIS expense because we can't exactly take a gun to his head now that he has assumed room temperature. Besides, even General Schwarzkopf had a laugh at his expense at the end of Desert Storm when he told the press what Saddam WAS NOT as a military man (he said it serious, but the comedy was in the irony of the statement). And yes, I also heard about SBC supposedly being cast as Freddy Mercury in a Queen movie. He could pull off such a role quite well dramatically as he has about the right build for it and can act with the proper dramatic personna. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grant in West Oz Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Who is this Sascha Baron Cohen?he sounds like some 5th rate actor by what you guys say ! Ali G. He's a satirist. Deals in irony, something which soars way over some heads. Not to my personal taste, but good nevertheless. The movie could be a hoot. G Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trigger Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Big Lebowski... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oroka Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 I recently heard that SBC will be playing Freddy Mercury in a serious movie about Freddy and Queen. This will truly test his meddle as and actor, and not just a goof. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lucien Harpress Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 I can truthfully say there is only one thing I like about Sascha Baron Cohen- his wife. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
toadwbg Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Saddam has been ridiculed in several episodes of South Park. Oh yeah, forgot that i'n South Park the Movie. Satan would "Saddam-ize" Saddam! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cloggy Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 This will definately not be on my to watch list. I am sorry but the only movie that Sacha Baron Cohen was good in was Madagascar as the Lemur King. He was quite good in "Sweeney Todd", I thought. Otherwise I find SBC's own projects such as Borat and Bruno to be appalling (and not because I'm old). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C-130CrewChief Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Ironic..... The irony to me is that we are free in the west to make a comic movie about dictators. This may not be your cup of tea, but at least you are free to not watch it, just as he is free to make it. Who here has seen "The Great Dictator"? I think it's great! If you get a chance to see it, I recommend it. I also liked "The producers". I saw that as insulting to Nazis. What is more insulting then to be made so silly that people laugh at you, and what you stand for? Curt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trigger Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 (edited) No one's complaining about this SBC movie... That just happened!!! Edited January 22, 2011 by Trigger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cloggy Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 No one's complaining about this SBC movie... No, but that's a Will Ferrell movie; so if there's any justice in the world, no one would dream of going to see it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tilt Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 I guess I'm in the minority for sure of people who snicker at SBC's comedy. It would be a stretch to say I'm a fan, but I certainly enjoyed some of his stuff. I quite enjoyed Borat, and chuckled thru the whole thing. Comedy is a tough sport. What one person enjoys, the next person considers completely moronic!! There's some, so called, comedians that I find just absolutely brutal.....yet others double over laughing at them. My example is Jack Black. He's very famous, and have a massive following - yet I feel he's a total flake with not a funny bone in his body. So it's all in personal thing. I haven't seen all of SBC's work.....but the main stuff I have seen, I've been entertained. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fishwelding Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Depending on how far they carry the story, I predict Steve Carrell as Baghdad Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cloggy Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 There's some, so called, comedians that I find just absolutely brutal.....yet others double over laughing at them. My example is Jack Black. He's very famous, and have a massive following - yet I feel he's a total flake with not a funny bone in his body. I agree - completely unfunny. And totally miscast in King Kong. I doubt there's anything he could be in which his appearance would constitute an improvement. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
richter111 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 His cousin is pretty impressive http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Baron-Cohen Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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