Mystery Emailer Unites Nikki Finke and Sharon Waxman In Bruno Smear

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Everyone is talking about whether Sacha Baron Cohen's Brüno is bad for the gays today, and it's all thanks to one mystery source who's determined to advance an agenda against the film. Of this Brüno-bashing Deep Throat, Nikki Finke says, "This insider provides me with some not before now known behind-the-scenes details for me about why the film has had, and probably should have, problems with the gay community."

Yes, "not before now known" except that The Wrap ran the exact same quotes -- apparently from the same person -- in an article that went up late last night (and was well-nigh unreadable then; it's since been cleaned up). Here's the whole email that seems to have gone to both outlets:

"The film has not been screened for a large number of gays for a reason. Throughout the many private screenings [the filmmakers] have had, the reaction from gays has been almost uniformally one of alarm. It is not a scathing depiction of homophobia -- but a grotesque satire of homosexuality. Brüno is a sickening mixture of narcissism, fetishism and shallowness - and he is virtually the only gay representation in the movie. The 'homophobia' of the various straight men who he encounters and propositions, seems only natural when faced with such an odious sexual monster. Sacha, Jay and their writers did significant reshoots to try to temper the troubled reactions of the few gay people they invited to screenings. One 'out' comedy writer refused to help on the reshoots, because he found the content so disturbing. The reshoots did not do much other than manage to get Elton John and a few other music celebs to participate in an ending that seemed to promote gay marriage. However, these musicians - including Chris Martin - continue to be concerned as they have not been shown the finished film. Can you imagine a comedian going around in black face in a movie, doing a stereotype of black Americans without ever once using a black collaborator or showing the film to a black audience? Gay men continue to be the last easy targets of the fratboy comedies so prevalent these days. And while Brüno pretends to be subversive, it is no different."

Congratulations, mystery source: You got pickup!

· HOT BUTTON HUMOR: Is 'Bruno' Just Comedy Or "Grotesque Satire Of Homosexuality"? And Did Some Gays Bail On The Production? [DHD]

· Criticism From Gay Insiders Led to 'Bruno' Reshoots [The Wrap]



Comments

  • ThePlaylist says:

    Jesus, nice fucking work Kyle. NICE.

  • Ringil Eskiath says:

    Merits of the movie aside, I guess we know where you stand, referring to 'the gays' and concluding in your headline that it's a 'smear.' Would you say 'the Latinos,' 'the blacks' or 'the women' or for that matter, 'the men'? Not likely. Have you even seen the movie?

  • Kyle Buchanan says:

    Quite the contrary: I myself am "a gay," and I'm approaching this film (which I see on Monday) with a healthy dose of skepticism

  • SunnydaZe says:

    "Can you imagine a comedian going around in black face in a movie?"
    Don't imagine, just rent "Tropic Thunder". AND he was nominated for an Oscar!

  • yarmulke says:

    What if Sacha really was Gay? Would there be such an uproar? I mean...Ross the Jay Leno Intern is getting some serious airtime specifically because he's so flamboyant and typical of the stereotype. Is he doing a disservice to his brethren 'the gays'?

  • Inhaler says:

    In my opinion it's this easy: if you are easily offended then don't voluntarily go and watch Brüno. It reminds me of the people who want to ban Howard Stern due to his obscene humor, yet are among his most faithful listeners tuning in for the next dirty joke to complain about.
    The Brüno trailer makes no qualms about the intention of the film. Like Borat, it's comedy, it's satire, and it merely shines a light on already existing stereotypes and idioms. Don't take comedy so seriously!

  • SunnydaZe says:

    Bruno's species is "Homosexual", where as his subspecies would be "Raving Queen".

  • icallthebigonebitey says:

    But who at Movieline gets to review it??? Don't answer! I want to be surprised.
    (Actually, I think you all should -- that would truly be a magical Tuesday).
    Are Matt and Julie straight? Feel free to tell me to mind my own beeswax!!

  • Anonymous says:

    Hmm...doesn't seem like TheWrap and Nikki have the "exact same quotes" from the anonymous tipster. Plus, TheWrap's story actually has original reporting with quotes from Marc Shaiman and Mike White...but Nikki does not.

  • Pamela Strangeways says:

    Kyle,
    I'm looking forward to your review. Every preview seems to reek with gay minstrel show creepiness.

  • j says:

    i'm gay and this movie doesn't bother me one bit. in fact i can't wait to see it. everyone that is getting upset with it needs to freaking relax. its just a movie. all the times we spend wasting our minutes, hours, years on something like this ends up being wasted time. time you could have easily devoted to yourself. the movie is just a movie and from the looks of it A HILARIOUS ONE!

  • Donald says:

    I think that guy is more expensive for the roles