Larry Charles

First Image of Sacha Baron Cohen's Dictator Released

If there is one thing we know about Sacha Baron Cohen, it's that he's not afraid of getting into character, as we know from his previous roles as Borat, the Kazakh journalist that visits America, and as Brüno, the flamboyantly gay Austrian fashion reporter. So when the name of Cohen's next movie is Dictator, it would be a safe assumption to expect to see Baron Cohen dressed in a ridiculous uniformed costume. And Paramount didn't disappoint when it released the first photo of Baron Cohen in his new character.

• The Dictator
• Sacha Baron Cohen
• Larry Charles

Four Clips from Bruno

Cinema Blend has posted four new clips from Bruno, starring Sacha Baron Cohen and directed by Larry Charles (who also directed Borat). Here are a couple of samples to whet your appetite:

• Bruno
• Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
• Sacha Baron Cohen
• Larry Charles

Ending of Bruno Altered Due to Extreme Content

Bruno has already gotten a lot of attention for its controversial depictions of homosexuality, and according to Movieline the movie's original ending would have made things much worse for Sacha Baron Cohen and director Larry Charles. The pair has already suffered the ire of the gay community, even though their proclaimed intention is to mock homophobia.

SPOILER ALERT!!! If you wish to see the movie without any prior knowledge, do not read on!

The movie concludes with Bruno making out with his male assistant in an Arkansas cage match, much do the dismay of the onlooking crowd (surprise, surprise). The spectators turn violent and attack the couple, resulting in serious injury. In the upcoming theatrical release, the audience is then shown Bruno and his partner, who happily reunite and decide to adopt a baby. The whole thing ends on an up note with a song supporting gay rights.

This is only part of what was seen, though, when Cohen and Charles screened the movie this past February for industry professionals. Writer-director Richard Day (Arrested Development, Ellen) – one of only two gay men at the screening, along with actor Jack Plotnick (Reno 911!, Drawn Together) – had this to say about the original ending and his subsequent comments to other viewers:

The cage-match kiss resulted in a violent attack on the couple. They then cut to a press event where they are announcing their marriage or plans to, I forget which. But the boyfriend is now drooling, seemingly brain-damaged, and in a wheelchair, played for laughs ... I started in and Jack joined with his thoughts. By the time I got to the bashing, the audience started defending the movie. They were annoyed with us for ruining the party ... I don’t know if we’re why they changed it, but if we are, I regret saying anything. It would have been better to let them expose their true point of view; thanks to us, they had a road map of the most egregious offenses and can also claim to have been responsive to our concerns.

Day also had a chance to read the script when he consulted with Cohen and Charles earlier. His response was that it read as if the authors "didn’t know much about actual gay life."

• Bruno
• Sacha Baron Cohen
• Larry Charles
• Richard Day
• Jack Plotnick

Religulous Takes on "Last Taboo"

Comedian Bill Maher and director Larry Charles (Borat, Curb Your Enthusiasm) are known to relish controversial topics. So it's not surprising they're the duo behind Religulous, a documentary in which Maher travels around the globe interviewing people about God and religion. And, of course, there's a healthy dose of politics thrown into the mix.

They're quick to point out that they look at all religions. Or, as Charles says, the movie is "an equal opportunity offender." Among the questions Maher poses are "Does the Devil work for the Antichrist? Or does the Antichrist work for the Devil? Or is it like the Joker and the Riddler -- they get together to gang up on Batman, but they're kind of independent agents?" Find out more in our interview with Bill Maher and Larry Charles.

• Religulous
• Larry Charles
• Bill Maher

Bill Maher, Antichrist

Comedian, Politically Incorrect veteran, Real Time star and generally inexplicable mimbo Bill Maher is poised to tackle two pillars of American society: movies and religion.

Under our very noses, Maher has quietly embarked on an as yet untitled "inflammentary" (i.e., an inflammatory documentary) set out to skewer any and all religion. Word is that he partnered with Borat director Larry Charles for the piece in an effort to create his hilarious take on sacrilege.

Let's hope the suits at Paramount who funded him have the stones to stand up to the protests from religious conservatives who will inevitably get their vestments in a bunch over this one.

• Bill Maher
• Larry Charles