'Borat' Confounds Hollywood Experts

THE LEFT COAST REPORT
A Political Look at Hollywood

Headlines (Scroll down for complete stories):
1. ‘Borat' Confounds Hollywood Experts
2. Hollywood's Hillary Stumpers
3. Ben Affleck, Julia Roberts, and Eva Longoria Pushed Big Fat Tax Hike
4. Marcia Cross Wants Her Trash Back
5. New Low for Christina Aguilera
 

1. ‘Borat' Confounds Hollywood Experts

As Sacha Baron Cohen's Kazakhstani alter ego Borat would say, "My movie is bringing glorious takings of much American dollars at box office."

According to the studio estimates of 20th Century Fox, "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" took in $26.4 million during its opening weekend, mystifying experts and beating the highly favored Disney flick "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause," which stars Tim Allen.

"Santa Clause" ended up in second place with a $20 million take.

Another film that was supposed to beat "Borat" is Paramount-DreamWorks' animated comedy "Flushed Away," which features the voices of Hugh Jackman and Kate Winslet, but the movie landed in the number three spot with $19.1 million.

Theaters were jam-packed with "Borat" fans because "Borat" was released in only 837 theaters, a reflection of execs' low expectations for the comedy.

In stark contrast "Santa Clause" and "Flushed Away" were on 3,458 screens and 3,707 screens, respectively. "Borat" averaged $31,511 per theater while "Santa" and "Flushed" averaged less than $6000 per screen. Needless to say, Fox plans on increasing the number of "Borat" screens ASAP.

Why the success for the highly satirical comedy?

The Internet has been buzzing with feedback on the flick with most of the comments indicating that throughout the movie audiences were in hysterics.

2. Hollywood's Hillary Stumpers

Michael Moore, Susan Sarandon, and Sean Penn were nowhere in sight.

This election-go-round did, however, have some classic Hollywood stars stepping forward to campaign for Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Robert De Niro, Paul Newman, and Tony Bennett lent their celebrity support to Hillary's re-election campaign.

Folks in the Empire State received pre-recorded messages via telephone from the famed ones.

For example, Bennett could be heard on the other end of the receiver saying, "Some people think I left my heart in San Francisco, but it really is right here in New York. That's why I'm promoting Hillary."

In his phone message, De Niro boldly claimed that Hillary "took on the Bush administration."

The senator from New York didn't particularly need the help of her Hollywood friends since she led her opponent, John Spencer, in the polls 2-1.

So why did the Hollywood legends take to the Hillary promoting stage?

The Left Coast Report has believed all along they've been peering past Hillary's senate bid with dreams of a 2008 Democratic coronation.

3. Ben Affleck, Julia Roberts, and Eva Longoria Pushed Big Fat Tax Hike

California's Proposition 87, a $4 billion tax on already overtaxed Californians, which was disguised as a clean air initiative, was financed and championed by Hollywood elites.

The campaign that was launched to get the measure passed was financed primarily by producer Stephen Bing who contributed over $49 million of the nearly $57 million that was in the "Yes on 87" war chest.

Ben Affleck, Julia Roberts, Eva Longoria, and Bonnie Raitt appeared at rallies urging people to tax themselves silly.

And former President Bill Clinton graciously volunteered to campaign for the proposition in San Francisco together with "Desperate Housewives'" Longoria.

The Left Coast Report must admit that Bill does have the expertise in propositions and a load of experience with desperate housewives.

4. Marcia Cross Wants Her Trash Back

Celebrities have to be careful about what they discard.

"Collectors" routinely search through dumpsters of the famous, hoping to find some treasures among the trash.

"Desperate Housewives'" Marcia Cross is desperate to have her trash remover return some pictures to her that she had placed in the round file.

A man who was hired to haul away some refuse reportedly found over 200 pictures of Cross, some of which captured the actress enjoying an outdoor shower.

The actress's attorneys are threatening to file a lawsuit. They've indicated that Cross tossed the photos by mistake.

But an agent for the trash collector is asserting the venerable legal doctrine of "finders keepers."

Cross recently got married and is pregnant with twins.

5. New Low for Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera is following the Madonna formula.

Like the material girl, Aguilera consistently uses shock value to peddle her albums and promote her career.

In her upcoming "Back to Basics Tour," though, the former Mouseketeer will reportedly push the envelope even further.

Mixed in with Aguilera's already unseemly lineup will be a sadomasochistic act.

As reported by the TMZ Web site, visual assists will include suggestive clothing, whips, and a burning wheel. A male member of the audience will purportedly participate.

Teens idolize celebrities, and the messages being sent to our young people by stars like Aguilera are growing increasingly perverse.

The Left Coast Report fears that the slippery slope may now lead to a bottomless pit.

The Left Coast Report is put together by James L. Hirsen and the staff of NewsMax — The Left Coast Report Archives

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