6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.1 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.7 |
Sacha Baron Cohen (the creator and star of Borat) returns to the big screen in the hilarious adventures of Austria's favorite fashionista, Bruno. In this gleefully anarchic mockumentary, the flamboyant television host loses his homeland talk show, "Funkyzeit," and does what any self-respecting wannabe would do -- he moves to Hollywood to pursue worldwide super-stardom. From worlds of fashion and entertainment to the military, Bruno puts his worst foot forward as Baron Cohen fearlessly tramples the boundaries of good taste in ways that confound celebrities and just plain folks alike.
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Gustaf Hammarsten, Josh Meyers, Clifford Bańagale, BonoComedy | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS 2.0
French: DTS 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: DTS 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English Audio Description: DTS 2.0 @192 kbps
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy (on disc)
Bonus View (PiP)
BD-Live
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Despite our increasingly advanced technological wizardry and vast, ever-expanding scientific knowledge, mankind has utterly failed to quantify something as simple, as fundamental to the human experience as comedy. In fact, our every attempt to do so has been as humorous as the subjects we've studied. It seems unspooling humor is as futile a task as catching happiness in a firefly jar. Sure, scans have revealed the specific areas of the brain that react to certain stimuli, and extensive studies have documented the physical response we experience as a result -- a joyous little seizure we call laughter -- but science can't explain how or why chameleon Sacha Baron Cohen's Brüno strikes some as hilarious, others as aimless drivel, and still others as terribly offensive. Is it Cohen's brazen antics? His disregard for established boundaries? His ability to overturn the darkest rocks in our collective consciousness? His drive to shock and challenge his audience? Whatever the cause, one thing remains clear: it's impossible to predict who will enjoy a film like Brüno. Fans of Borat may find it to be a lesser work undeserving of the attention it's received. Cohen critics may find themselves overwhelmed by uncontrollable laughter. Tolerant viewers may think the straight-faced comedian has finally gone too far. Me? Honestly, I still haven't decided how I feel about it all.
Yep, you heard him correctly...
Brüno's 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer is difficult to evaluate. It strikes me as a
technically proficient presentation that, for better or worse, captures the intended look of
Cohen's faux-documentary, but it's also plagued by source anomalies that undermine the
end result; anomalies I can only assume are products of Cohen's handheld footage rather
than an uneven transfer. Brüno never looks better than it does in its opening
minutes. Colors burst from every corner of the Milan Fashion Week stages, shadows are
suitably deep, textures are crisp, and detail is commendable. But while Cohen continues to
employ high definition cameras throughout the production, a lot of his footage is culled from
on-the-go, lower quality devices. In these instances, fine detail is inconsistent, contrast
vaults between overblown (during daytime exterior scenes) and murky (as it is when the
actor retreats to dark hotel rooms and streetside locales), and various other issues -- as
arguably minor as they may be in the grand scheme of things -- become distractions.
Artifacting, crush, pulldown (as evidenced during the wrestling sequence), interline twitter,
source noise, smearing, unresolved black levels, and ringing are all evident at one point or
another, and rarely does five minutes go by without one or more disruptions making an
appearance.
Still, when Brüno is viewed as a documentary, such oddities serve to enhance
audience immersion and fulfill Cohen's intended illusion. As it stands, anyone approaching
the Blu-ray edition with appropriate expectations will be satisfied with Universal's efforts.
I could essentially rehash everything I just wrote about Brüno's video transfer and apply it to Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. Cohen doesn't often have the luxury of capturing the best sound during his various encounters and the studio's mix, while distinctly a lossless experience, is ultimately a tad underwhelming. Dialogue is generally crisp and well-prioritized, but often gets trampled in the inevitable chaos that erupts around Brüno. Likewise, LFE output is weighty and rear speaker activity involving, but only when the agile Austrian finds himself on the run with security officers, an angry dominatrix, or furious Middle Eastern mobs in hot pursuit. Moreover, directionality is imprecise, pans are rather stocky, and dynamics are decidedly hit or miss. With that in mind, I doubt Brüno could possibly sound much better. Its sonics, while strained, get the job done and its presentation, while unreliable, respectfully adheres to Cohen's faux-documentary style. Fans won't be disappointed.
Bruno struts onto Blu-ray with a fairly generous supplemental package; one that
includes more than an hour of deleted and extended scenes, an enhanced Picture-in-Picture
commentary, a few exclusives, and Universal's usual batch of BD-Live features. Presented
entirely in high definition, it's arguably more satisfying than the film it accompanies.
Brüno is a bizarre blend of uncomfortable encounters, unsettling comedy, and disturbing reactions. While it's extremely funny at times, it lacks heart and vision; while I caught myself laughing far more often than I care to admit, I was left feeling empty and dissatisfied. Thankfully, Universal's Blu-ray release is a bit more fulfilling. It features a faithful video transfer, a decent DTS-HD Master Audio track, and a generous supplemental package that includes an enhanced Picture-in-Picture commentary worth the price of admission alone. Will Brüno appeal to everyone? Absolutely not. Is it worth watching? Definitely, if only to examine the brash hatred of the masses and the unkempt brilliance of a comedian pushing his subjects too far. Love it or hate it, you certainly won't be bored.
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