The fates smiled upon me this eveing and got me into one of the advance screenings of Borat, the film. I'm not going to lie: I had my doubts that I would even get in, considering it was free for all CMJ Festival badge holders, that it was early in the evening (6:30 PM), that I didn't even have my badge until 6:00 PM and, most importantly, it was Borat.
Co-worker Mike and I headed over to the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center and we were greeted by a line of about 200 people (mostly under age 20) waiting to get in. However, if one knows anything about media events, it's that there's always a publicist and said publicist always has The List. Technically Mike and I and his friend were on The List, and all we had to do was make our arrival known.
Guess what? We weren't on the list. Perhaps in the nuttiness of putting together CMJ the lists weren't updated as needed, and Mike and I were faced with the dire fate of missing the film. That's when I noticed that the doors into the theater were open. Basically everyone on the list would just walk in, stand in a line, check their cell phones with security (so that no bootlegged copies of the film got out) and took a seat.
Mike and I got in the line. He's a tall guy, non-threatening and I am a nice girl with an easy smile and a predilection for low-cut blouses. Long story short, charming the guards and making small talk got us seats about 10 rows back from the screen. Perfecto. See ya later, suckas!
We sat for about a good half hour, during which time I dorked out over the CMJ Music Festival program. Yes, Virginia, I am an indie rock dork. I love obscure bands whose names begin with "The" as in "The Shins" and "The Knife." If I were the lead singer of an indie rock band, we would be "The Pterodactyls." Ironic, no?
Finally, Borat himself arrived, kissed a few men while coming in and did a little spiel about his movie film. Three minutes later her was gone. With every seat in the house taken, the cinematic experience that is Borat began.
And what a film it was. I will not give away anything, because I think the trailers and all the stuff on You Tube has revealed enough. Suffice it to say that some moments are comic gold, others platinum and one in particular will have you begging for mercy.
Afterwards we were treated to the requisite media shwag, this time in the way of free movie soundtracks, Borat pins and "I Heart Khazakhstan" bumperstickers. It was a great night for the empire.
