dictator Archives - MediaMikes

Director: Larry Charles
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley, Chris Parnell, Jessica St. Clair, Jason Mantzoukas
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Paramount
Release Date: August 21, 2012
Running Time: 83 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

I feel very honored to review this Blu-ray release and would like to thank the Wadiyan treasury and the Admiral General for their kind donation. Media Mikes though cannot be bribed ;-). Paramount delivered this Blu-ray to review with a personalized letter from Admiral General Wadiyan and a butt load of Wadiyan dollars. Unfortunately it doesn’t help me to see the film in any better of light. The film itself just doesn’t work for me. It is very funny in parts but then very bland and boring is the rest of the film. I can’t say that I hated the film because I did laugh quite a bit but overall I was left with calling the film forgettable. I don’t really see myself bragging about it and will probably never watch again. I call it a “one-timer”. The unrated cut of the film just adds more of the vulgarity and boobs, which I actually thought the theatrical cut was lacking. Nonetheless, the cut ends up feeling even more drawn out…and don’t forget this film runs less than 90 minutes already.

The film follows Admiral General Aladeen, who while planning to address the United Nations in New York, to ensure that democracy would never come to the country. He ends up becoming a target for assassination. Even though he survives he is left shaven of his signature beard and wandering the streets of the Big Apple, unrecognized. While Aladeen, most trusted friend, Tahir (Kingsley) brings in a dimwit body double in his place in order to pull the strings and take power. It is up to Aladeen to adapt to everyday life in New York, where he meets and befriends a left-wing activist Zoey (Anna Faris). He plans a way to get his life back and ensure that democracy does not fall into his country or is it learning that his past ways are not what he really is looking for?

Let’s get to the Blu-ray presentation now. The 1080p comes with an aspect ratio of 2.40:1, which looks good but isn’t going to break any real Blu-ray standards. Same can be said for the DTS-HD MA 5.1 track. Don’t get me wrong this film looks and sounds good but for a comedy it doesn’t stand out. The Blu-ray release comes as a combo pack. Besides the Blu-ray the film also comes with a DVD disc and a digital copy included. The special features include basically just two features. There are over 30 minutes of deleted and extended scenes including, some funny and some completely missable. There is a funny but short music video for “Your Money is on the Dresser” featuring Aladeen. Lastly there is an extended Larry King Interview as seen briefly in the movie.

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Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris and Ben Kingsley
Directed by: Larry Charles
R
Running time: 1 hour 25
Paramount

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

When a film opens with a dedication to the late Korean leader Kim Jong Il you know you’re going to be taking a politically incorrect ride. And when the film comes from the mind of the brilliant Sacha Baron Cohen, you know it’s going to be hilarious.

Unlike his previous faux documentaries featuring his characters Borat and Bruno, “The Dictator” finds Cohen starring as Admiral General Aladeen, the title dictator of the North African county of Widya. Aladeen rules with a heavy fist. Disagree with something he says, block his way on the stairs or forget to offer him the prize that came out of your box of cereal and, with a quick flick of his hand past his neck, you’re taken away. He has survived many assassination plots, mostly because his chief of staff (Kingsley) has a stable of doubles around whose main job is to get shot in the head. Tired of the atrocities going on in his country, the United Nations summon Aladeen to New York, demanding he address the group and his country’s presumed search for nuclear power. But when Aladeen finds himself on the outside looking in he must also look inside himself for the answers.

Sharing screenwriting duties with three others, Cohen has crafted a masterpiece of political incorrectness. No one is spared here, especially those of the Jewish faith. A devout Jew himself, Cohen proves that often it is necessary to point out our faults and prejudices with laughter rather than anger. The laughs are pretty much non-stop and if you’re familiar with “Borat” or “Bruno” then you know you’re going to see and hear a lot more then you’d expect in a film. Cohen is top notch in what amounts to a dual role, as are co-stars Faris, in a rare appearance as a comic straight man, and Oscar-winner Kingsley. Supporting turns by Aasif Mandvi, Chris Parnell and others keep the laughs coming at a very brisk pace. The film is accompanied by a collection of recognizable songs, though they seem new because each song is now sung in Widyan. The musical score, by Cohen’s older brother Erran, is also a fine compliment to the film.

In the kingdom of comedy there is currently only one ruler. Hail Sacha Baron Cohen!

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Tag: dictator

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