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Despite the fact that there's nothing in it that would offend Muslims. "The Newsweek thing has changed the world" -- and made us all cringing dhimmis, apparently. "Funny choices," from the Los Angeles Times, with thanks to Van Impe:
But the real problem with Hollywood isn't simply its glorification of sex, money and lame old TV shows. It's that our Ivy League-educated studio elite often don't know the difference between crass and class. How's this for an example: Sony Pictures, the studio that made "European Gigolo," has refused to release "Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World," an inspired new film by Albert Brooks about a comedian — Brooks, playing himself — who is recruited by the U.S. government to go to India and Pakistan to find out what makes Muslims laugh.The movie makes fun of comedians' neurotic neediness and State Department ineffectuality, but seems to steer clear of anything that would insult Muslims. Still, in a June 30 letter to Brooks, Sony chairman Michael Lynton said that he wouldn't release the film unless Brooks changed the title. Lynton wrote: "I do believe that recent incidents have dramatically changed the landscape that we live in and that this, among other things, warrants changing the title of the film." Sony insiders say Lynton was alarmed by the violent reaction in the Muslim world to Newsweek's May 9 story, since retracted, about a Koran being flushed down the toilet by interrogators at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay.
Brooks' movie, financed by producer Steve Bing, has now found a new home at Warner Independent Pictures, which plans to release it early next year. Warner Indy chief Mark Gill says he had no problems with the title. "How often do you get a laugh simply from the title of a movie?" Gill told me. "We saw the movie, and it was clear that Albert makes fun of himself and America, not anybody else."
Lynton won't discuss the issue publicly, but perhaps he is worried that merely having "Muslim" in a film title could cause the kind of outrage that led to the murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh, whose film, "Submission," showed naked women with verses of the Koran projected on their bodies. I'd be worried if I'd made "Submission" too. But Brooks' film is a comedy, not a political screed, closer in spirit to Randy Newman than Salman Rushdie. I only wish I could get Lynton to explain why Sony was squeamish about Brooks' film and not "European Gigolo," which makes fun of a female Chernobyl victim who has a penis instead of a nose.
Brooks, in his first interview about the film, confirmed that Lynton expressed concern about Muslim outrage over the alleged Koran incident. "When we spoke, he told me, 'The Newsweek thing has changed the world.' And I said, 'Wasn't it 9/11 that changed the world?' But Michael said he just didn't want to take a chance."
Best known for such films as "Real Life" and "Lost in America," Brooks says he was inspired to make "Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World" in the wake of 9/11. "For so long afterward, whenever I heard anyone talk about Muslims, it was in association with terrorism," he explained after screening the film for me at his Bel-Air office. "But I thought, what could I do in a teeny way — and believe me, it's a teeny way — to defuse this? There had to be some way to separate the 1.5 billion people who don't want to kill us from the 100,000 or so who do. I thought if I could get five Muslims and six Hindus and maybe 3 Jews to laugh for 90 minutes, then I've accomplished something."
In the film, Brooks is recruited for his mission by a government official, played by former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, also portraying himself. The comic heads for India, where he has a variety of misadventures, including a disastrous stand-up comedy concert and a botched meeting with Al Jazeera, which Brooks assumes is interested in his search for comedy when, in fact, the network wants to audition him for a sitcom. "At your age," says the Al Jazeera executive, as coolly pragmatic as any Hollywood agent, "you should think about television."
As with most Brooks films, the movie, which was filmed in India late last year, makes fun of showbiz self-absorption. But it also toys with other cultural stereotypes, from young Pakistani terrorists who turn out to be comedy connoisseurs to Brooks' hapless State Department minders, who are so disorganized that they can't even rent a decent office in New Delhi.
For Brooks, the film's title was an essential ingredient. "Even if you didn't see the movie, you'd see two words you'd never seen put together before — comedy and Muslim. Comedy is friendly — it's the least offensive word in our language."
After the Newsweek/Koran incident, Lynton told Bing he wanted a title change. "I was so upset I was throwing up at 3 a.m.," Brooks recalls. "It felt wrong — it defeated the whole idea of why I went to India in the first place." Bing took the film to Warner, where he'd put up half the money for "The Polar Express" and has a long-standing relationship with studio chief Alan Horn. After Horn watched Brooks' film and gave his blessing, Warner Independent picked it up.
Posted by Robert at September 27, 2005 6:17 PM
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And I thought crossing Sheik Yassin with an Israeli missle made for brainless comedy.
Posted by: sonofwalker![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 27, 2005 8:12 PM
Why are there so many cowardly people like Sony in the west? Don't they know that this would just encourage the Muslims all over the world in their pursuit establish Muslim rule globally?
For starters, this would encourage CAIR and their ilk to pursue their agenda 'legally', by sueing anybody and everybody who they'd like to accuse of offending Islam? If they try often enough, and find a sympathetic judge, they could win, (haven't they won some cases already?), and they would built on that?
we MUST win the war on Islam - it's for our future and our kids' future, but also winning the war on Islam would help tremendously the religious minorities in Muslim countries.
People in the west just have no idea living in a country where one is always afraid just because he/she is not a Muslim. And people like this Sony guy who has such a cushy life in his mansion is indirectly adding to the misery of the persecuted people in the Muslim countries.
Posted by: jasmine at September 27, 2005 9:02 PM
"There had to be some way to separate the 1.5 billion people who don't want to kill us from the 100,000 or so who do."
-- from the article above
How wrong Our Mr. Brooks is. Of the 1 billion or so Muslims -- not "1.5" -- a good many would wish to kill us, far more than 100,000, and hundreds of millions do not wish us well, wish us, in fact, ill.
Posted by: Hugh at September 27, 2005 11:41 PM
At www.faithfreedom.org, Ali Sina's indispensable website, which publishes his articles, and many others that are largely, though not entirely, the work of ex-Muslims, a few weeks ago there appeared one of his articles with an inimitable title:
"Every time I Read a Muslim Letter I Want to Puke."
It would be interesting to see how that would fit on a marquee.
at September 27, 2005 11:54 PM
Okay, for a modest fee Albert Brooks may now buy a revised, presumably fatwa-safe title:
"Looking for Laughter in All the Wrong Places"
Have your agent call my agent -- Mr. Robert Spencer, of Secure Undisclosed Locationville.
And don't be stingy, baby.
Posted by: Hugh at September 28, 2005 12:05 AM
BTW, Albert Brooks' actual last name is Einstein, though evidently, he ain't no Albert Einstein. We may add him to the list of enlightened secular celebrity Jews who have drunk of the PC Kool-Ade. (Another, Larry David, tried to find fun in Muslims on one episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, the humor of which was premised on the highly improbable detail that a Muslim woman living in a Los Angeles suburban home, wearing a full black burka, would be alone at home and willing to be set up with Larry's non-Muslim blind friend for a date to which only Larry came along as a chaperone.)
Posted by: Dr. Pepper at September 28, 2005 12:31 AM
>...if I could get five Muslims and six Hindus and maybe 3 Jews to laugh...
Talk about settng yourself unattainable goals.
Posted by: thomas ato at September 28, 2005 6:16 AM
he ain't no Albert Einstein
He ain't no Mel Brooks either.
Mohammed on an unlawful sex charge - 'Nine, m'lud? But she looked all of ten.'
No, not really. There's something about world domination, beheadings and stonings that just wipes the smile off your face.
Posted by: Interested at September 28, 2005 8:20 AM
he ain't no Albert Einstein
He ain't no Mel Brooks either.
Mohammed on an unlawful sex charge - 'Nine, m'lud? But she looked all of ten.'
No, not really. There's something about world domination, beheadings and stonings that just wipes the smile off your face.
Posted by: Interested at September 28, 2005 8:21 AM
Interested,
There is that joke from Sharia Mirza I mentioned the other day.
To paraphrase it for a family audience, it was about the Moslem girl anxious to lose her virginity. She wasn't bothered about the sex for it's own sake but didn't want to get lumbered with a suicide bomber in the hereafter should she die suddenly.
No, it lacks something....
Posted by: Granny Weatherwax at September 28, 2005 11:44 AM
I rather like that one.
Posted by: Interested at September 28, 2005 1:26 PM
Little Muslim Humor
Jokes from Muslim stand-up comic Goffaq Yussef.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Good evening gentlemen, and get out, ladies.
What do you say to a Muslim woman with two black eyes?
Nothing! You told her twice already!
How many Palestinians does it take to change a light bulb?
None! They sit in the dark forever and blame the Jews for it!
Did you hear about the Broadway play, "The Palestinians"? It bombed!
What do you call a first-time offender in Saudi Arabia? Lefty!
Did you hear about the Muslim strip club?
It features full facial nudity!
Why do Palestinians find it convenient to live on the West Bank?
Because it's just a stone's throw from Israel!
Why are Palestinian boys luckier than American boys?
Because every Palestinian boy will get to join a rock group!
A Palestinian suspect was being grilled by Israeli police.
"Honest, I'm not a suicide bomber," he said. "I didn't say I wanted to blow myself up so I could sleep with 72 virgins.
All I said was I'm dying to get laid!"
What does the sign say above the nursery in a Palestinian maternity ward?
"Live ammunition."
Palestinian girl says to her mommy: "After Abdul blows himself up, can I have his room?"
These jokes came from a muslim stand-up comic, so save the lectures and recriminations for him. I doubt if too many muslims would find him amusing, least of all the sourpusses at C.A.I.R.
Posted by: Susanp at September 28, 2005 1:28 PM
Then there's the joke taken from Ayatollah Khomeni's best seller "Humor that Kills"
Did you hear about the girls' night out? They sat around getting stoned.
Posted by: Chatillon at September 28, 2005 2:23 PM
Carlos Mencia.....Mind of Mencia....Comedy Central.....
Hint: He's not at all bashful about making fun of anyone, especially Muslims, who he simply refers to as Akmed..............
Posted by: DCWatson at September 28, 2005 2:31 PM
Is this supposed to be a Jewish community 'cause all I have read until now is non-logical, irrational, incoherent bad-mouthing comments and posts and nothing else. Will this lead to anything better or is it just a "hatered sword" that needs to be waved in every direction blindly. I am not saudi and I didn't support the idea of terrorism in the first place, but still I despise and sympathize these brainless squad of punks who do not know how to write something meaningful and peacfull.
Dear "Grudge holders", go fuck yourselves 'cause Islam will continue its 14-century path with or without your nonsense.
No Regards for you, bunch of rotten freaks
AbD Jod
P.S. This is my first comment and most likely the last one since the coward "site owner" would deny my participation. I don't give a damn thingy though....
Posted by: A VERY PROUD Muslim at September 28, 2005 5:05 PM
Islam will continue its 14-century path with or without your nonsense.
Hmm. Got it in one.
I don't give a damn thingy though....
Frankly, my dear, I don't know what a damn thingy is, but I've managed without one so far, so feel free to hold on tight to yours.
Posted by: Interested at September 28, 2005 6:24 PM
Hey Proud Muslim... Not Jewish here. No cowards here either. Just some folks who are taking a jocular break from their more serious commentary about your cruel, fatalistic religion, which was founded by a child molesting thug. I see you would like to play the "you're all ignorant" card, but we are among the few who know a verse or two of your unholy texts. A proud muslim huh? Well I can't wait to get to iraq and meet some more Proud Muslim terrorists and sympathisers like yourself. I'll even take some funny pictures for you. If you wanted the "serious" arguments for resisting Islam, read the rest of the site (silly muslim loser-pants). But until then, Mohammed (pig crap be upon him) wears a thong in hell. Amerika Akbar.
Posted by: Highwayman2LT at September 28, 2005 6:55 PM
What makes Muslims laugh?
Blowing up infidels of course!
Posted by: pythagoras at September 28, 2005 10:57 PM
'cause Islam will continue its 14-century path with or without your nonsense.
Thats exactly right...the 1400 year old path to obscurity. To the scrapheap of bad ideas. To the dump where old tires and rusty cans reside. Rats, ants and spiders will be the only converts.
Buried by ten million 1999 New York phone books. Never to be heard from again. Thats the path with or without my nonsense. And you had best leave your 'thingy' alone, dont you know you can go blind?
at September 29, 2005 12:36 AM
Is this supposed to be a Jewish community?
posted by "a very proud moslem"
How many Palestinians does it take to change a light bulb?
None! They sit in the dark forever and blame the Jews for it!
There's many a true word spoken in jest.
Posted by: Granny Weatherwax at September 29, 2005 3:50 AM
I can see that "hunting" others' small mistakes and enlarge them to deceive yourselves is a common attitude here. Don't raise a hard issue (like you always do) on a word.
"Not Jewish here. No cowards here either"
ohhhh! I like that all of you are BRAVE and FAIR, my ass.
"I see you would like to play the "you're all ignorant" card, but we are among the few who know a verse or two of your unholy texts"
Frankly, my dears, I Do think that you're all ignorants because you know two verses out of 6,236 which means you know nothing but the crap written in this sick website. Unless you prove you are not, let me ask you some questions. First, is this sucking website the only source of your shallow knowledge? If not, list other sources. Second, are you Christians, Jews, or you aren't religious to begin with? Is Bin Laden (along with his bunch of weirdoes) the only terrorists in this world?! What about Abo-Gareeb and Sabra and Shatela massacres? Do you think yourselves "Human rights defenders"? if yes, what do you think about the violation in Guantanamo which is even practiced on innocents?
"There had to be some way to separate the 1.5 billion people who don't want to kill us from the 100,000 or so who do."
Although "your Mr.Brooks" is a Jewish-American, I liked him admitting this common sense. At least he was fair or maybe he didn't have the courage (like you all always did) to deny it.
Let me start a positive thing in this rotten community which is an intense brainstorming (your brains need to be stormed intensely to shake all the bullshit therein) about if Islam is really a terrorism supporter or is it only a recent teeny-tiny cult which thinks they are Muslims.
Dhimmis lived in Islamic countries freely for more than 13 centuries and they could practice their religions without any molesting. They could do so because Islam originally is a peace and freedom supporter. Think about that one more time.
BTW, I am not an English native-speaker so don't raise hard issues on the language things in you comments.
STILL No Regards for you, bunch of rotten freaks
AbD Jod
P.S. It is not like me to write with this disrespectful attitude but you forced me to do so. Unless you change yours and start write logically and fairly, I won't do so.
at September 29, 2005 5:06 AM
Proud muslim...thanks for sharing that. Take a couple of Tylenol, and a hot water bottle to bed with you. You will feel better in the morning...
Posted by: duh_swami at September 29, 2005 5:46 AM
Proud Muslim, I knew you couldn't resist. It is rather more than 2 verses that make Islam the sadistic moon worshipping cult that it is. First of all, if you do not practice jihad, you are not a proud muslim. You are a muslim in name only...Maybe you like to jump up and down when you pray, and maybe you smell bad, and maybe you stay away from pork and beer, but that does not make you a muslim. You are a bad muslim if you disobey or disagree with many of the teachings of Mohammed/Allah. For example, if you are really a "moderate" muslim, does that mean you disagree with your Prophet's rape of a 9 year old girl, Aisha? Or how about the calousness with which he allows the mass rape of conquered women, including Rayhana whom he personally raped (Q4:24, Bukhari 3:113 and Bukhari 3:432, among many others)? Or how about your promise of 72 virgins and 28 little boys for a total of 100 sex slaves in paradise; will you tell Allah no-thank-you (You Homo)? All this twisted garbage, and we still havent even covered the real issue: your quran, hadiths, and islamic law, and fatalistic culture all encourage your violent arrogance. Muslims are a people who haven't even discovered toilet paper or agricultural irrigation, yet they think some Allah gave them a mandate to take over the world, which outnumbers them 6 to 1. Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instil terror into the hearts of the unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them." (8:12) Well, Proud Muslim, those are your orders from Allah. What will it be? Will you continue to whine about being a "moderate muslim", and force Allah to replace you with other men? Or will you obey his orders? I tell you truly, I am a proud unbeliever who will soon be putting to slaughter the men with whom Allah replaces you, and I dare you to find me in Iraq. If there were really any such thing as a moderate muslim, the moderate muslims would ARGUE THEOLOGY with their terrorist buddies, but instead you ARGUE WORD-GAMES with non-muslims. Let me guess, Proud Muslim: rather than choose Disobey Allah, or Kill Unbelievers, you will want to dodge the issue with a game. Here is how you have already started to play: you already accused me of not doing my homework (only knowing 2 verses). First you will say I took the Koranic verses out of context. When I prove that wrong, you will say I didnt read the Hadiths, or that the Hadiths arent reliable. Then you will tell me how I must read Islamic Law. Then you will say I must read them in the original Arabic to understand them. Then you will point out that Christianity and Judaism have their flaws and historical black marks too. Tell me, in what context would it be ACCEPTABLE to allow an army to rape a population of women. In what context is it MORALLY CORRECT to kill a person for refusing to follow your false-prophet? And what Arabic phrases techically mean "kill the unbelievers and make them pay tribute out of hand", but figuratively mean "have diplomatic relations with unbelievers"? And what do Jewish and Christian holy texts say that is remotely as scandalous as the Koran? When you lose all these battles, you will have 3 options left: abandon your faith, keep your faith and accept that you disobey Allah, or keep your faith and join the Jihad. As for your allegations of attrocities against muslims, they are minor compared to the twisted things your people have done. Islam has never experienced genocide, but has committed it on several occasions. The only time there might have been a credible genocide of muslims, the Americans stopped it by coming to the aid of the KLA, which are now a bunch of terrorists like all good muslims. I don't normally write with such disrespect, but for a proud muslim who likes to run his mouth, I'll do so anyday. Plenty of Regards for now, for the world is getting tired of Islam, little by little.
Posted by: Highwayman2LT at September 29, 2005 5:56 PM
AbD Jod: "Although "your Mr.Brooks" is a Jewish-American, I liked him admitting this common sense."
Although. ALTHOUGH. What a racist freak.
As a muslim, is it permissable to be a racist? Only against the Jews? So confused.
And yet, my "sources of knowledge" include the Quran, the Hadiths and parts of the Biographies. Do yours?
And what does it matter what religion anyone posting on here is? They could still be killed for bad-mouthing your ridiculous, murderous "prophet". Honestly, you're following a man who based his interpretations of god on things he may or may not have seen during epileptic fits. And:
YOU-HATE-JEWS-YOU-SICK-FREAK.
Only I, of course, am the true prophet of islam.
However, please continue to post, as it helps me understand the true nature of islam.
Prophet Geoff
BBUH
at September 29, 2005 9:14 PM
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