Sacha Baron Cohen is Back in "Borat 2" Trailer and Ready for More Laughter

Well, well, well... one has to wonder how we got here. Over the past decade, it became clearer that Sacha Baron Cohen wasn't going to make a comeback to his guerrilla-style approach to comedy. It was becoming unsustainable, with everyone expecting him to show up and do something wacky. However, the past few years have been a pleasant surprise, as his lackluster TV show Who Is America? found him trying to add humor to these divided times. However, nobody could've expected what came next. Considering that he remains one of the biggest icons in 21st-century comedy history, the idea of a Borat sequel was unfathomable.

And yet, here we are. Not only was it announced this week that a movie was on the way, but it's less than a month away. It's the type of action that would make fans yell "Jagshemash!" and wonder what the beloved character has to say about the current times. From the looks of the trailer, very little has changed as far as his absurd and spry approach to social commentary. Only the names and events have changed, and it looks to be a good time. The question is if this will live up to the original, bringing with it a timeless look into a time that's maybe best ridiculed. If nothing else, there are more than a few good jokes here to offer that hope.

R.I.P. Buck Henry (1930-2020)

Buck Henry

On January 8, 2020, comedian and writer Buck Henry passed away at the age of 89 in Los Angeles, California. With over 50 years of experience, he created an incredible career featuring two Oscar nominations for the films The Graduate and Heaven Can Wait. Along with his work on the film, he became known for what he did on TV as the co-creator of Get Smart as well as frequent appearances on Saturday Night Live. As an entertainer, he was capable of finding deeper insight into even the most absurd of scenarios, managing to create a complex and sympathetic view of the world that made it a more interesting place. What he leaves behind is one of the most charismatic, entertaining resumes that an artist can give. He will be missed. 

Failed Oscar Campaigns: "Logan" (2017)

Scene from Logan (2017)

As awards seasons pick up, so do the campaigns to make your film have the best chances at the Best Picture race. However, like a drunken stupor, sometimes these efforts come off as trying too hard and leave behind a trailer of ridiculous flamboyance. Join me on every other Saturday for a highlight of the failed campaigns that make this season as much about prestige as it does about train wrecks. Come for the Harvey Weinstein comments and stay for the history. It's going to be a fun time as I explore cinema's rich history of attempting to matter.

Failed Oscar Campaigns: "The Big Short" (2015)

Scene from The Big Short

As awards seasons pick up, so do the campaigns to make your film have the best chances at the Best Picture race. However, like a drunken stupor, sometimes these efforts come off as trying too hard and leave behind a trailer of ridiculous flamboyance. Join me on every other Saturday for a highlight of the failed campaigns that make this season as much about prestige as it does about train wrecks. Come for the Harvey Weinstein comments and stay for the history. It's going to be a fun time as I explore cinema's rich history of attempting to matter.

R.I.P. William Goldman (1931-2018)

William Goldman

On November 16, 2018 writer William Goldman passed away at the age of 87 in Manhatan, New York after complications with colon cancer and pneumonia. Over the course of a career spanning half of a century, he has become renowned as one of the greatest screenwriters of all time. With two Academy Awards for writing, he has helped to shape the modern sense of the screenplay with films like All the President's Men, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, as well as the family classic The Princess Bride. He was also a novelist and a script doctor who worked on enough scripts to help shape the cinema of the 80's and 90's into something greater. He leaves behind a body of work that wasn't only great on screen, but also on the page. No matter what, his body of work speaks for itself and there's a good chance that no matter what, there's at least one film you're bound to like from his impressive career.

The Runner-Ups: The Writing of "Pete's Dragon" (2016)

Every Oscar season, there are a handful of actors who get tagged with the "snubbed" moniker. While it is always unfortunate to see our favorites not honored with at very least a nomination, there's another trend that goes largely unnoticed: those who never even got that far. The Runner-Ups is a column meant to honor the greats in cinema who put in phenomenal work without getting the credit that they deserved from The Academy. Join me every other Saturday as I honor those who never received any love. This list will hopefully come to cover both the acting community, and the many crew members who put the production together.

R.I.P. William Peter Blatty (1928-2017)

William Peter Blatty

On January 12, 2017, writer William Peter Blatty died of multiple myeloma at the age of 89 in Bethesda, Maryland. With a long and storied career, he is best known for his bestselling novel "The Exorcist," which followed the journey of a possessed girl. The story would later be turned into a movie by director William Friedkin, which has gone on to be considered one of the scariest movies of all time. While he got his start writing comedy, he is proud to have his legacy for a story that is tied to his own faith and ended up influencing literature, cinema, and TV for decades to come. He leaves behind an impressive body of work that transcends time and will likely be scaring people for the rest of time.

A Look at the Oscar Chances for "Deadpool"

Scene from Deadpool

It has happened again. Deadpool has gotten another award nomination, this time by the Writers Guild of America (WGA). It is an honor that comes as a big surprise to those who wish to write off the superhero satire that broke the fourth wall as well as box office prognostication; creating a belief that an R-Rated superhero movie could be commercially viable. It is far from the first nomination to happen. This upcoming Sunday will see it go up against awards heavyweights like La La Land and Florence Foster Jenkins for Best Comedy or Musical, as well as an acting nomination for lead star Ryan Reynolds. It's a bizarre trajectory, especially for a film released back in February of 2016. However, there is one question to ask ourselves: is Deadpool capable of being an Oscar contender? There's not enough to say it is official, but the Golden Globes and WGA nominations help to spread certain doubt.

After 10 Years, "Borat" is Still a Very Nice Film

Sacha Baron Cohen

In the 21st century, has there ever been a phenomenon quite like Borat? Yes, there are many comedians who do excellent work while pranking audiences in costume, but think of the cultural impact that just one comic creation had. It was the second spin-off movie from Sacha Baron Cohen's Da Ali G Show series, which focused on Kazakhstan journalist Borat Sagdiyev as he explored the great country of America. Part of the joke can be found in the entire title, which is actually Borat: Cultural Learnings of America to Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazahkstan. Yes, part of the joke was in Borat's (played by Cohen) broken English. However, it would be a definitive, ground breaking mockumentary meant to explore America's real feelings on touchy subjects. It's hilarious and 10 years later is still among the sharpest comedies ever.

R.I.P. Curtis Hanson (1945-2016)

Curtis Hanson

On September 26, 2016, writer and director Curtis Hanson passed away at the age of 71 in Los Angeles, California. With a career spanning over 40 years, he has produced some of cinema's most exciting films from the James Ellroy adaptation L.A. Confidential to hip-hop drama 8 Mile and the romantic comedy In Her Shoes. Throughout his career, he did a fine job of mixing comedies and dramas that often explored harrowing figures going through complicated situations. His films were always exciting yet challenging, proving the power of what cinema could be without defining himself to one style. His massive appeal continues to be felt as his films continue to inspire and be discovered by new audiences. He definitely left a great mark on what film truly can be.

R.I.P. Eric Bergren (1954-2016)

On July 14, writer Eric Bergren died at the age of 62 in Pasadena, California. He was suffering from liver cancer at the time. While not a lot is known about him, his one claim to fame is that he penned the screenplay for director David Lynch's adaptation of The Elephant Man - which earned eight Oscar nominations. His career remained consistent if understated in the years since with scripts for Jessica Lange's Frances and Errol Morris' The Dark Wind. While he lost the Best Adapted Screenplay nomination for The Elephant Man, he continued to remain busy while producing an impressive body of work. Not bad for a student from University of Southern California. While he doesn't leave behind the most impressive body of work, he definitely left a strong mark on cinema that is sure to be felt forever. 

R.I.P. Michael Herr: 1940-2016

Michael Herr

On June 23, 2016, writer Michael Herr died in New York at the age of 76. To film goers, he is likely best remembered as the writer of director Stanley Kubrick's war film Full Metal Jacket. However, it wasn't his only exposure to war themed media. Along with partial credit on writing Apocalypse Now, he also wrote the critically acclaimed book "Dispatches," which served as a quintessential piece of the New Journalism Movement and received rave reviews for its ability to turn his observations about the Vietnam War into a legitimate narrative. Even if his work in the decades to follow are as few as the details about his life, he remains a big influence on those seeking to make journalism and cinema in more visceral and personal ways. He may not have the most extensive resume, but he definitely had a lost of talent at what he did achieve.

Birthday Take: Gene Wilder in "Young Frankenstein" (1974)

Gene Wilder

Welcome to The Birthday Take, a column dedicated to celebrating Oscar nominees and winners' birthdays by paying tribute to the work that got them noticed. This isn't meant to be an exhaustive retrospective, but more of a highlight of one nominated work that makes them noteworthy. The column will run whenever there is a birthday and will hopefully give a dense exploration of the finest performances and techniques applied to film. So please join me as we blow out the candles and dig into the delicious substance.

R.I.P. Peter Shaffer (1926-2016)

Peter Shaffer

On June 6, 2016, writer Peter Shaffer died at the age of 90 while on a trip to Ireland. While he received two Oscar nominations, he may better be remembered for his work on stage with the plays Amadeus and Equus. One of his most impressive feats was his ability to do productions that ranged from serious dramas to comedies such as Black Comedy that featured characters wandering around in the dark. His work continues to remain successful on stage as well as his work on director Milos Forman's adaptation of Amadeus, which won Best Picture. His passing marks the end of an impressive career that spanned many decades and awards that honored his many talents. 

Irish Immigrant Movie "Brooklyn" to Be Made into TV Spin-Off

Scene from Brooklyn

There is a good chance that you have seen director John Crowley's sweet new film Brooklyn. In fact, you probably have if you are an Oscars purist who wishes to see everything that was nominated in a given year. With three nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress for star Saoirse Ronan, the film has proven to be an endearing crowd favorite as it follows a young Irish girl traveling to America in the 1950's. However, there's one thing that is likely to please fans of the film: there is a planned TV series to spin-off pretty soon. From the same production company that brought us the film comes a series that is expected to follow a memorable supporting character as she deals with her own life in New York. The one catch? Ronan has not yet announced any plans to be involved with it.

Birthday Take: Sacha Baron Cohen in "Borat" (2006)

Scene from Borat

Welcome to The Birthday Take, a column dedicated to celebrating Oscar nominees and winners' birthdays by paying tribute to the work that got them noticed. This isn't meant to be an exhaustive retrospective, but more of a highlight of one nominated work that makes them noteworthy. The column will run whenever there is a birthday and will hopefully give a dense exploration of the finest performances and techniques applied to film. So please join me as we blow out the candles and dig into the delicious substance.

Birthday Take: Terence Winter in "The Wolf of Wall Street" (2013)

Left to right: Jonah Hill and Leonardo DiCaprio

Welcome to The Birthday Take, a column dedicated to celebrating Oscar nominees and winners' birthdays by paying tribute to the work that got them noticed. This isn't meant to be an exhaustive retrospective, but more of a highlight of one nominated work that makes them noteworthy. The column will run whenever there is a birthday and will hopefully give a dense exploration of the finest performances and techniques applied to film. So please join me as we blow out the candles and dig into the delicious substance.

Birthday Take: John Huston in "The Maltese Falcon" (1941)

Scene from The Maltese Falcon

Welcome to The Birthday Take, a column dedicated to celebrating Oscar nominees and winners' birthdays by paying tribute to the work that got them noticed. This isn't meant to be an exhaustive retrospective, but more of a highlight of one nominated work that makes them noteworthy. The column will run whenever there is a birthday and will hopefully give a dense exploration of the finest performances and techniques applied to film. So please join me as we blow out the candles and dig into the delicious substance.

Birthday Take: Grant Heslov in "The Ides of March" (2011)

Ryan Gosling in The Ides of March

Welcome to The Birthday Take, a column dedicated to celebrating Oscar nominees and winners' birthdays by paying tribute to the work that got them noticed. This isn't meant to be an exhaustive retrospective, but more of a highlight of one nominated work that makes them noteworthy. The column will run whenever there is a birthday and will hopefully give a dense exploration of the finest performances and techniques applied to film. So please join me as we blow out the candles and dig into the delicious substance.

R.I.P. Michael Blake (1945-2015)

Sometimes it takes only one film to make an impact. While Michael Blake may not be the most prolific or recognizable writer in pop culture, his brief resume features the Best Picture winner Dances with Wolves. Following the story of a man who learns to befriend and cooperate with Indians, it was a story of tolerance that would come to define Blake's career following the film. While his IMDb page is sparse, his achievements are very noteworthy and has contributed a lot to the literary world, most recently with the 2011 book "Into the Stars."