Sometimes, success can land you low blows, high five! Especially if you insist on taking your success to the streets. Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, the star 'Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan', got a nasty beating when tried to pull a fast one on a passer-by in New York.
“I like your clothings. Are nice! Please may I buying? I want have sex with it,” Cohen said to the bewildered man, who landed a blow on the 35-year-old comedian. As Cohen shouted for help, the man punched him several times, before the funnyman's friend actor Hugh Laurie came running to his aid.
“Sacha couldn't resist playing the fool as Borat, but picked on the wrong person. I guess this guy thought he was being attacked by someone unstable and lashed out. Sacha is very lucky he didn't get a much worse beating,” Laurie said. Though Cohen has been warned against taking his big screen character Borat to the streets, he couldn't resist this chance to do what he did to several Americans featured in the film.
Meanwhile, even though the path-breaking laughter fare seems set to become the highest grossing comedy, it has left many less than amused. It's not just Kazakhs who are up in arms against the comedy but also Americans who made certain on-camera politically incorrect comments to Cohen that the comedian used in his film. At the forefront of the war against Cohen are two college students, featured in the film, who have brought about legal action against the star alleging manipulation. Their comments, they claim, were prompted out of them under the influence of alcohol.
“Our contention is that they were set up and made to say things they don't believe. They want to be cut from the movie and they want financial compensation,” said lawyer Olivier Taillieu, who is the representing the students.
Turkish music teacher Mahir Cagri is alleging that the character of the Kazakhstan TV reporter Borat is based on him. This might be true given that Cagri would post messages on his Web site admitting he likes nude photos and sex. “I love nice womans, nice jokes. I am active man. I can take nude pictures. I can see their body who best, which am good for me,” Cagri said, sounding just like his screen counterpart. Others looking to sue Cohen include artist Linda Stein and some American Kazakhs.
However, Cohen has found fans among Australian Kazakhs, who see the humor behind the distorted portrayal of Kazakhstan. The actor is in Sydney to promote the film. “I love Borat. I think the whole thing is incredibly funny. We've been following him from the beginning, ever since he started in
Da Ali G Show,” said classical guitarist Slava Grigoryan, who shifted from Kazakhstan to the Land Down Under in 1981.
It is little wonder then that Borat wants an Aussie wife. “I like very much Australia, I am a huge fanny of your country. I would very much like to find Australian wife ... ladies, please send me photograph, preference erotic. My preference is for a woman who has more hair on head than back, and teeth that grow only on inside of mouth,” he said in Sydney much to the guffaws of the audiences.
In spite of the raised heckles, the general public seems to have taken to the mockumentary. In its first week,
Borat scored sales of US$50 million, with promises of much better earnings to come.
