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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-11-08, Page 44 Times–Advocate Wednesday, November 8, 2006 zkocna =CNA Editorial Opinion e n = MISIM TIMES ADVOCATE PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511 We acknowledge the Financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs. Canada Jim Beckett – Publisher Deb Lord – Production Manager Scott Nixon – Editor 4 Published by Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Metroland 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • 519-235-1331 Peter Winkler -General Manager, Southwestern Ontario Division EDITORIAL Help us award success One of the pleasures of being in the news- paper business is the opportunity to meet so many individuals who are successful in their own right. Interviewing them provides insights into who they are. They often tell us of pivotal moments in their lives that have helped define who they are. We believe the Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards provide those pivotal or defining moments. The awards help us to recognize out- standing youth in our community for their con- tributions in a number of areas. This pat on the back for a job well done helps these young peo- ple realize what they are doing really is making a difference — and this recognition can help reinforce a lifetime commitment to community service. Co-ordinated by the Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA), of which the Times -Advocate is a member, the Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards are seeking nominations of six to 17 year olds who: • are involved in community service; • are contributing to the community while liv- ing with a disability; • have performed an act of heroism in the past year; • are 'good `kids' who show a commitment to making life better or do things not normally expected of someone their age. The Times -Advocate will proudly present a certificate of recognition and give mention in the paper to each young person nominated in our community by the Nov. 30 deadline. One group and up to 12 individuals from across the province will be chosen as final recipients of the Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards. Nomination forms are available at the Times - Advocate, online at www.ocna.org, or by calling (905) 639-8720, ext. 235. Help us to create a defining moment in some- one's life. They are our leaders of tomorrow and we want to show them how proud we are of them. About the Times -Advocate The funniest movie ever? It just might be the funniest movie ever made. It's definitely the funniest movie to come out in a long, long time, and its creator has a surprise huge hit on his hands. I'm talking about the wonderfully -titled "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's raunchy, riotous new movie. Opened in only limited release last Friday, the movie still managed to rake in $26.4 million in the U.S. and land at the top of the box office rankings. When it opens to wider release this weekend, and with word of mouth rapidly spreading, everyone will soon know who Borat is. So who is Borat? Well, he's a fictional televi- sion journalist from Kazakhstan who heads to the U.S. to make a documentary. Viewers of the HBO hit "Da Ali G Show" will be familiar with the character. While some of his gags are scripted, most of them are improvised — Borat goes out to the streets to talk to regular American folks. Because they think he's a naive Kazak, they say to him things they would never usually admit to another human being, never mind the fact that a camera is pointed at them. Cohen, a devout Jew, has Borat say shockingly anti- Semitic and misogynistic things; when "real" people agree with him and make racist comments of their own, it's even more startling. Of course, some people will be offended by the movie — it helps if you can appreciate irony. If you're one of those people who agree that Lenny Bruce should have been arrested 45 years ago for having the audacity to swear on stage, this movie isn't for you. Most people show an overwhelming amount of patience and understanding with Borat and his bizarre, often outrageously crude comments and questions; others threaten him with violence and yell obscenities at him. But not once does Cohen break character, even when he's being attacked by security guards and threatened on a New York subway. Cohen has been compared to Peter Sellers for his comic genius and his ability to totally immerse him- self in a character. Others are comparing him to Andy Kaufman for his confrontational humour and his risk-taking. From what I've seen, he's funnier than both of them and, in his mid - thirties, his fans are wondering what is next. He has already been given $42 million to produce a movie based on another of his characters, Bruno, a gay Austrian TV host. Suffice it to say, most of Cohen's humour can't be printed in a family newspaper. But it isn't low comedy; his humour isn't in the brain dead mode of an Andrew "Dice" Clay or some embarrassing stand-up comic who can't speak a sentence without using three or four obscenities. Cohen's humour is smart, witty and groundbreaking. Most important of all, it's hilarious and it's been getting rave reviews, with some critics even bringing up talk of an Oscar for Cohen. I'm hesitant to call "Borat" the funniest movie ever because I'll always have a soft spot for "Airplane!" and "Strange Brew." But I'll say this: there is a moment in "Borat" that is probably the funniest scene that's ever been filmed I won't give too much away, but I'll give you a hint: two naked men wrestling. Now that's funny. And quite disturbing. SCOTT NIXON AND ANOTHER THING Address & Office Hours Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Holidays. Contact Us By Phone or Fax Classified ad & subscription sales (519) 235-1331 24-hour automated attendant (519) 235-1336 Fax number for all departments (519) 235-0766 Subscription Rates One year rate for addresses in Canada: $40+GST Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $72+GST One year rate for addresses outside Canada: $140 Call (519) 235-1331 to order a subscription. Classified Rates Word ads: $11 for 20 words, 20(t for each additional word+ GST. Notices (births, deaths, announcements, coming events, memoriams, cards of thanks): $15 + GST for up to 50 words, All ads must be pre -paid. The classified ad deadline is Monday at 10 a.m. Display Advertising To place a display ad, (519) 235-1331 weekdays 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. or evenings (519) 235-1336 (leave mes- sage) or toll-free at 1-888-270-1602. Deadline: Fri. 2 p m. E-mail Us Web site: www.southhuron.com TA e-mail addresses consist of the person's first initial and last name followed by @southhuron.com. For example, Jim Beckett's e-mail address is <jbeck- ett@southhuron.com> Our general e-mail address is ads@southhuron.com. The Times -Advocate Team Publisher Jim Beckett ext. 109 ADVERTISING Deborah Schillemore ext. 112 EDITOR Scott Nixon ext. 105 REPORTERS Pat Bolen ext. 113 Nina Van Lieshout ext. 107 CUSTOMER SERVICE Sue Rollings ext. 101 Elaine Chipchase ext. 102 PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT Manager Deb Lord ext. 103/114 Heather Bilcke ext. 103 Kelly Gackstetter ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 MargPertschy ext. 111 Heather Clarke ext. 206