imdb-13900
Joined May 2006
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imdb-13900's rating
Just when you thought it was impossible to represent the US Republican "alt-right" community as any more absurd prejudiced and irrational than they choose to present themselves, in comes Sasha Baron Cohen in a series of exquisitely crafted "set up" mock interviews with "real life" participants.
By using the twinned barrelled foils of flattery, and apparent ignorance, he skilfully manages to expose the irrationality and inconsistencies of the current Trump administration and their supporters.
A great deal of effort has been made to sandwich carefully written "backstories" along with exquisite editing to create a strangely compelling narrative, worthy of the best "screwball" comedies, yet remaining overwhelmingly unsettling because it features "real words, from real talking heads"
On many occasions the transition from "made up" to "real life" clips is entirely seamless - situations are clearly taken out of context, and doubtless we only get to see the "best bits" but nonetheless it's genuinely funny, and on occasions, excruciatingly uncomfortable.
Make no mistake, Cohen doesn't pull any punches, there is no attempt at "balancing" his argument, clearly there are scenes where they use actors who are "in on the joke" from the start and at others, it's only apparent in retrospect this must have been the case. Nevertheless, he makes a point, and makes a point well, that people should always challenge accepted norms, and the first thing you should ask is "exactly what does this person stand for, and why does that benefit us".
One of the great joys of this movie is that it's "bang up to the minute" - not only does it reflect the current US political agenda, it has in many ways contributed to that discourse.
It's rude, bawdy, and on occasions, deliberately revolting. I very nearly pressed the >> button a couple of times, but was immediately glad I didn't.
I found it immensely enjoyable, if you don't, you should take a long hard look at yourself, and question whether you're precisely one of the people he tries to satirise.
No spoilers, not much of a plot-line anyway!
Film (on 16mm) consists of a half hour travelogue featuring two young women using a "Travelpass" ticket round the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in the early 1970s.
They encounter two young male tourists who have "gone it alone" in their Morgan Sports car (you can still find the details on the DVLA computer!)
No real story or plot line, or attempt to explain why they happen to be holidaying in that part of the world, the emphasis is very mucjh upon letting the scenery tell it's own story.
The soundtrack comprises of a series of background acoustic "folky" songs - usually name-dropping place names.
The premise is simple - it's far easier to travel the H&I using your pass, than using a 3.5 litre sports car (I think the jury is out on that)
Nearly 50 years on, the documentary is of mainly historical interest, the only actor who has "gone on to become more famous" is the unlikely Alex Norton (stalwart of the 7:84, "Taggart" and most recently "Two Doors Down" fame.
As a teenager I was deeply struck with this film, one day I'd love to recreate the journey on my motorcycle.
The two most glaring (intentional) omissions of the film are the lack of rain (did we forget to say it occasionally rains n Scotland?) and the absence of Highland midges - "Culicoides impunctatus" - they don't represent a serious health risk, but their notorious appetite for human blood can be a little distracting at times.
The only other inaccuracy is that the young women seem to travel with little more than handbags and dinky little travel bags, no raincoats - and nobody seems to be stuck waiting for train ferry or bus connections!
Putting all that aside, it's a pity the travelpass is no longer done (perhaps it could be revived in2021 to cickstart the tourist economy) I'd certainly be up for it!
Film (on 16mm) consists of a half hour travelogue featuring two young women using a "Travelpass" ticket round the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in the early 1970s.
They encounter two young male tourists who have "gone it alone" in their Morgan Sports car (you can still find the details on the DVLA computer!)
No real story or plot line, or attempt to explain why they happen to be holidaying in that part of the world, the emphasis is very mucjh upon letting the scenery tell it's own story.
The soundtrack comprises of a series of background acoustic "folky" songs - usually name-dropping place names.
The premise is simple - it's far easier to travel the H&I using your pass, than using a 3.5 litre sports car (I think the jury is out on that)
Nearly 50 years on, the documentary is of mainly historical interest, the only actor who has "gone on to become more famous" is the unlikely Alex Norton (stalwart of the 7:84, "Taggart" and most recently "Two Doors Down" fame.
As a teenager I was deeply struck with this film, one day I'd love to recreate the journey on my motorcycle.
The two most glaring (intentional) omissions of the film are the lack of rain (did we forget to say it occasionally rains n Scotland?) and the absence of Highland midges - "Culicoides impunctatus" - they don't represent a serious health risk, but their notorious appetite for human blood can be a little distracting at times.
The only other inaccuracy is that the young women seem to travel with little more than handbags and dinky little travel bags, no raincoats - and nobody seems to be stuck waiting for train ferry or bus connections!
Putting all that aside, it's a pity the travelpass is no longer done (perhaps it could be revived in2021 to cickstart the tourist economy) I'd certainly be up for it!
This is as bad (and good) as it gets: "High camp" doesn't even begin to adequately describe this abject nonsense.
If you enjoy conspicuously awful films, then get a copy, pop it in your player and just sit back and enjoy the entirely unapologetic dreadfulness of the production.
In the days where "jukebox musicals" are now coining it in hand over fist, we've become accustomed to tissue paper thin plot lines and re-runs of hackneyed "standards" - this could be regarded as the mother and son of all bubblegum flicks
Except
Not that many of the "star" acts were that well known at that well, and the songs have fallen into well deserved obscurity - the supporting "luvvies" simply turn up to pay the rent, dialogue is lamentable, acting ability strictly an "optional extra" but above all it was a cynical attempt to get bums on seats when the UK Music industry was desperately eager to cash in on the "youth market" yet remain mainstream.
The saving grace is the choice of artistes - some would re-emerge in years to come, others succumb to their "daemons" and others fall into well deserved obscurity.
If you love "Eurovision" for all the wrong reasons, or simply want a snapshot of the mid-sixties UK music industry knowing it was onto something good, but was entirely clueless about how to promote it, this is 92 minutes of pure gold.
It deserves to be up there along with "Rat Pfink a Boo Boo" "Reefer madness" and "Glen or Glenda"
If you enjoy conspicuously awful films, then get a copy, pop it in your player and just sit back and enjoy the entirely unapologetic dreadfulness of the production.
In the days where "jukebox musicals" are now coining it in hand over fist, we've become accustomed to tissue paper thin plot lines and re-runs of hackneyed "standards" - this could be regarded as the mother and son of all bubblegum flicks
Except
Not that many of the "star" acts were that well known at that well, and the songs have fallen into well deserved obscurity - the supporting "luvvies" simply turn up to pay the rent, dialogue is lamentable, acting ability strictly an "optional extra" but above all it was a cynical attempt to get bums on seats when the UK Music industry was desperately eager to cash in on the "youth market" yet remain mainstream.
The saving grace is the choice of artistes - some would re-emerge in years to come, others succumb to their "daemons" and others fall into well deserved obscurity.
If you love "Eurovision" for all the wrong reasons, or simply want a snapshot of the mid-sixties UK music industry knowing it was onto something good, but was entirely clueless about how to promote it, this is 92 minutes of pure gold.
It deserves to be up there along with "Rat Pfink a Boo Boo" "Reefer madness" and "Glen or Glenda"