Sky Movies Reviews - Bruno & This Is It

BRUNO

Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen, Gustaf Hammarsten, Clifford Bañagale | Written by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines | Directed by Larry Charles

Sacha Baron Cohen returns to strike fear into the hearts of conservative Americans in Brüno, his latest character to be immortalised in a mockumnetary feature film. Brüno is a gay, tactless Austrian fashion TV presenter and Cohen uses this character to expose prejudice and idiocy wherever he goes, particularly distressing, for example, are the fame-hungry parents willing to debase their children for one of Brüno’s projects.

There are times when I genuinely feared for Cohen’s safety – in his Middle East escapade and in the climatic wrestling scene – which can only be a good thing for a comedy extremist. Some of the scenes are a little too obviously scripted (the swinger’s party for example) and some of the shock value is undermined by having been previously exposed to Cohen’s previous film, Borat. Nonetheless, Brüno is a hilarity-fuelled laugh riot, though be warned: some may find the boundaries of good taste pushed a little too hard.

Brüno is now showing on Sky Movies and Sky Player

MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT

Stars: Michael Jackson | Directed by Kenny Ortega

Then we have Michael Jackson’s This Is It, which consists of footage from the rehearsals of Jackson’s fifty night stand at the O2 before his death last year. However you feel about the man and his music, This Is It is curiously fascinating. No doubt the production in all its glory would have been a superlative spectacle.

There is a quaint feeling that you’re watching a very long bonus feature for a film that was never made and whether or not Jackson himself, evidently something of a perfectionist, would have been happy to have people see his work in progress is open to debate. The film is also sickeningly saccharine at times. However, the main pleasure is in seeing Jackson, seemingly at peace and enjoying himself, throwing himself into the creation of his art and acting like a child in a sweet shop in regard to the breathtaking stage production. A strange and fascinating tribute to a strange and fascinating man.

Michael Jackson’s This Is It is now showing on Sky Movies and Sky Player

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