Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

[Krom]

Pseudo-Borat claims identity theft:

http://www.eonline.com/news/article/...05&entry=index

Turkish Man: I'm Borat!
by Josh Grossberg
Tue, 7 Nov 2006 12:14:04 PM PST
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He's king of the Turkish castle.

Mahir Cagri, a 44-year-old cyber-celebrity hailing from Izmir, Turkey, sees more than a little something of himself in Sacha Baron Cohen's backward Kazakh alter ego, Borat.

In fact, Cagri sees enough of himself in the character that he is accusing Baron Cohen of drawing his inspiration for Borat directly from his personal Website. Now, the Turkish man is demanding an apology and seeking to cash in on a hefty cut of the earnings from the comedian's "great success" of a movie.

Cagri exploded onto the Internet scene back in 1999 with his unintentionally hilarious Website, ikissyou.org (now defunct). The site professed his love for many things, including travel, foreign languages and sex, and issued an open invitation to female travelers.

"Who is want to come TURKEY…I can invitate...She can stay my home..." he offered on the site, a version of which is still available for viewing at www.istanbul.tc/mahir/mahir/.

The site received millions of viewers and inspired countless parodies. In July 2005, CNET ranked it number two in its roundup of "Top 10 Web Fads," and in September 2005, it was awarded the more dubious honor of being among PC magazine's "25 Worst Websites."

Cagri alleges that Baron Cohen borrowed from images posted on his personal Website to develop the character of the hilarious foreign journalist with a penchant for bringing out America's dark side. Specifically, Cagri, a tall, lanky, mustachioed Turk, complains that Baron Cohen drew inspiration from photos of him playing the accordion, Ping-Pong and sunbathing in a skimpy bathing suit, among other activities as the basis for scenes from his hit comedy, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

The 20th Century Fox film, which opened last Friday to rave reviews from critics, was a surprise number one at the box office, ringing up a stellar $26.4 million on only 837 screens and shattering Fahrenheit 9/11's two-year-old record for the highest grossing film playing on less than 1,000 screens. (Michael Moore's doc earned $23 million over its opening weekend back in June 2004.)

In a phone interview conducted Monday with the Associated Press shortly before he was due to fly to Istanbul to appear on a talk show, Cagri said he was considering legal action against Baron Cohen in addition to seeking some sort of "acknowledgement or an apology" for allegedly ripping him off.

"The world knows he is copying Mahir," the Turk, who's also a freelance reporter, told AP. "I'm not saying this—the world is. I have received so many emails from people in the United States who tell me he is imitating me."

No word whether Cagri has a prostitute for a sister, enjoys naked wrestling,or obsesses over Pamela Anderson—"Pam-ellla" as Borat calls her.

Besides an apology, Cagri wants the comic to stop allegedly profiting off his image as well.

"The bombshell is going to fall," he noted, adding that he's planning a trip to London on Tuesday where he's scheduled to meet with his manager and an attorney to discuss a potential lawsuit and talk to the British tabs to gin up public support on his behalf. "[Cohen] is making money by using me."

Baron Cohen was unavailable for comment and has been mostly mum on the subject of the Kazakh talking head since unveiling him on his late-night cult comedy, The Ali G Show, on HBO back in 2003. Instead, the performer's been on a publicity blitz in character as Borat, appearing last week alone on CNN, The Late Show with David Letterman and The Daily Show, among other outlets.

The comedian first came up with the rabidly anti-Semitic Borat in 2001 as part of his U.K. television show before coming to the U.S. and did provide some insight into the awkward journo's origins on the commentary track of Da Ali G Show DVD, stating that he was inspired by a guy he met on a trip to Russia.

"I can't remember his name—he was a doctor," Baron Cohen said. "The moment I met him, I was totally crying. He was a hysterically funny guy, albeit totally unintentionally."

While the entertainer basks in the glorious triumph that's his faux documentary, the offers are starting to pour in faster than you can say wa-wa-wi-wa.

Variety reports that Baron Cohen, who recently played a French Formula 1 driver in last summer's Will Farrell comedy, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, is attached to star in Dinner with Schmucks, a remake of the French film, Le Diner de Cons. In the flick, he plays a guest who's such a pathetic idiot, he has a habit of wrecking the lives of everyone he meets.

Baron Cohen is also in talks with Universal about adapting another one of his Ali G characters, the gay Austrian TV correspodent, Bruno, to the big screen using real-life situations just as he did with Borat. However, that film might be much harder to make given his increasing popularity and the loss of his anonymity.

Borat has been playing to sold-out crowds so far, thanks to huge word-of-mouth publicity. Fox plans to expand the comedy to theaters across the country over the coming weeks.

Thing is... I recall his now defunct website, ikissyou.org, and there actually is a resemblance. It was VERY widely parodied a few years back.

On the other hand, the Ali G show has been around since 2003, and Sasha Baron Cohen claims the character of Borat has existed since 2001. I don't recall the exact lifetime of ikissyou.org, but I doubt it was THAT long ago.

[Google]

 

[Brandy]

I remember that (unintentionally hilarious!) website, right down to his odd swimsuit - and when I saw the story on Yahoo earlier, I thought at last, someone wrote about that. I'd forgotten what that man's name was. But I agree, I think he may have 'inspired' Borat, although I highly doubt there's enough there to win a lawsuit. (For one, Borat's a reporter; this guy was just 'looking for love'.)

Has anyone been watching "Borat's" appearances on the various talk shows? I've seen him on Regis & Kelly and The Tonight Show, so far. I hear he was funny on The View, also. And he was on Conan's show.

We plan to see this movie this weekend, (if hubby doesn't, I'm not waiting any longer and plan to take myself! Lol) and I can't wait. Sounds like the studio rethought their limited release, too. It's in over 2000 theaters now.

[giz]

I saw Borat last night. Warning; fat man wrestling scene. My eyes! My eyes!

It was very wierd. Cohen is a bad, bad man. Naughty, naughty. But very funny. It is very outside my box as I usually go for chick flics, costume dramas. It was a roller coaster ride. He was amazing in that he never broke character. Everyone he interacted with (with the exception I assume of Pam-eela) thought he was Borat and he got the most amazing reactions out of people. I wonder how many he had to interview to get enough crazy behaviour for the film. The anti-semitism, the rabidly women-hating frat boys (their mothers must be so proud - NOT!), the dour feminists. It was all appalling and all worth seeing. It was a titch over-long for me, and as I prefer to see gorgeous films (cinematography, costumes) on the big screen so for me it would be a great rental. It is one of the funniest, and most shocking, films I've seen in a long time.

[Lois Lane]

Yeah giz, those idiot frat boys are suing saying that they were told the film would only be shown outside the U.S. So I guess it's OK to them to be misgyonistic and racist ... as long as it's in other countries. Idiots!

[Krom]

Originally Posted by Lois Lane

Yeah giz, those idiot frat boys are suing saying that they were told the film would only be shown outside the U.S. So I guess it's OK to them to be misgyonistic and racist ... as long as it's in other countries. Idiots!

They were probably told "feelm iz for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan", by Borat himself, while in character. Whether or not that is actionable is the question (probably not--people have appeared for decades on hidden camera segments where they didn't know the footage would appear ANYWHERE).

[MamaC]

Originally Posted by Krom

Pseudo-Borat claims identity theft:

http://www.eonline.com/news/article/...05&entry=index


Thing is... I recall his now defunct website, ikissyou.org, and there actually is a resemblance. It was VERY widely parodied a few years back.

On the other hand, the Ali G show has been around since 2003, and Sasha Baron Cohen claims the character of Borat has existed since 2001. I don't recall the exact lifetime of ikissyou.org, but I doubt it was THAT long ago.

It was 1999, and here is a webpage to refresh your memory! (Even the bathing suit! LOL)

http://www.istanbul.tc/mahir/mahir/

[Krom]

I suppose an argument could be made for "I Kiss You" influencing Borat without being a copy. I mean, have you all seen the current Citibank "Very Rewarding" commercials? The foreign guy in them doesn't look much like Borat, but the IDEA seems somewhat Borat-like.

[Bubba-Jo-Lyn]

Finally went to see Borat this weekend. Little bit disgusting. The naked wrestling scene was too much for me. It was just gross but I did laugh. An "Oh, my God" I can't believe they're showing this in public kind of a laugh. Definately not a movie for everyone. I'm glad I saw it but not again and not what I was expecting.

[Brandy]

I hear ya, Bubba-Jo-Lyn. I felt the same. Hid my eyes through most of that. Just a bit much with the closeups and all that. I'm amazed at how much they were allowed to show onscreen. Every time I thought it was over with and opened my eyes it was still going on - which, I'm sure, was part of the joke.

But we did get to laugh at some of it, and HEAVEN knows I needed the stress breaker. I was just about to lose it what with one thing and another today, and I started out the weekend in such a good mood, too.

The only thing is, it's a lot like his HBO show, (goes a bit further in that one scene, of course) and so some may wish to wait to see it. The other thing is, if you've been watching his talk show appearances you've basically seen the movie. He's shown a new clip on every show, and there were only one or two scenes I had not seen before. Other than the 'filler' scenes with his friend, that is.

I don't want to say much in specific so as not to spoil it for others (including anyone who can't resist reading spoiler tags Lol) so I'll just say, yes it's a decent laugh, but there are gross parts too. And I think anyone who signed a film release form is just clogging the court system if they are suing him.

I'd give the film a thumbs up but not as 'great' as I'd hoped. Wa-wa-wee-wa.

[DontCryOut]

I went to see this movie on Monday and it was absolutely hilarious!!! LOVED IT!