Page 14 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • July 22, 2009 ‘Bruno’ traces journey of a disgraced fashion guru by Dennis Seuling Sacha Baron Cohen has struck again. Cohen sent moviegoers into hysteria a few years ago as Borat, the Englishchallenged Kazakhstan news reporter. This time around, the actor is Bruno, a flamboyantly gay Austrian style-maker who, on being banished from the European fashion industry circuit, attempts to break into show business in Los Angeles, California. Cohen favors ambush cinema: setting up outrageous situations at real events among folks who are not aware of the joke. Bruno’s quest for fame takes him to several continents, leaving chaos in his wake. Whether trying to seduce 2008 U.S. Presidential hopeful Ron Paul, conducting an interview with Paula Abdul with no furniture, going hunting with a trio of guys who would be right at home in “Deliverance,” appearing on a Texas talk show with an African-American baby he has acquired as a fashion accessory, or giving a hard R-rated montage of his sex life with his midget boyfriend, Bruno does not know the meaning of political correctness. Plunged into one loony situation after another, the viewer marvels not only at Bruno’s complete lack of inhibition, but the extent to which Cohen will go for a gag. Bruno is disgraced in his native Austria when he wears a Velcro suit to Fashion Week and sticks to dresses, towels, and curtains, causing havoc on the runway as assorted officials try to extricate him and the models go through their paces, trying to ignore the disaster occurring before them. One of the film’s best scenes, it relies on a simple concept that turns an ordinarily serious occasion into a slapstick tour de force. Knowing he is now persona non grata in Europe, Bruno clamors to regain the fame that once defined him and the adulation that came with it. Show business, he reasons, can (continued on Crossword page) Sacha Baron Cohen stars as an Austrian fashion style icon seeking a career change in ‘Bruno.’ Skylands Manor tours available in August, September Guided tours of the ground floor of historical Skylands Manor at the New Jersey State Botanical Garden will be available on Aug. 2 and Sept. 13. Sponsored by the NJBG/Skylands Association, the nonprofit member support organization working with the state to preserve the garden and its buildings, the 45-minute guided tours will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are conducted by NJBG volunteer tour guides. The last tour will begin at 2 p.m. Skylands Manor, a Tudor Revival mansion, was constructed in the early 20th century for Clarence McKenzie Lewis by renowned architect John Russell Pope. Pope also designed many outstanding private buildings, including the Jefferson Memorial and National Gallery of Art, both in Washington, D.C. Skylands Manor’s many attractions include a remarkable collection of antique stained glass medallions set in leaded windows, including pieces from 16th century German, Bavarian and Swiss sites. The lanterns, electrical fixtures, lamps, spiral staircase rail and gate were fashioned by Samuel Yellin, who led the American revival of the use of iron as decorative art. The suggested donations for manor house tours are: adults, $5; seniors, $3; children/students aged 6-18, $1; and children under age 6, free. Since 1976, the NJBG/Skylands Association, an incorporated, member-supported non-profit organization of volunteers, has worked with the state to preserve and protect NJBG/Skylands and its historical structures. The New Jersey State Botanical Garden at Skylands, which appears on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places, is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the year. Admission to the garden is always free. There is a $5 per car state park parking fee on summer Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays through Labor Day weekend. Parking is free on regular summer weekdays. Parking is also free in the fall, winter, and spring. NJBG/Skylands is located off Morris Road in Ringwood. For an event schedule, membership brochure, directions or more information, call (973) 962-9534 or visit www.njbg.org. #1 German Restaurant in Bergen & Passaic Counties! TAKE TIME OUT FOR LUNCH NEW KIRKERS Cook Up Some Business! Advertise your restaurant in The Villadom TIMES. You’ll reach 56,300 households. Businessmen’s & Senior Lunch Special Includes Soup or Salad, Vegetable, Choice of Entree and Coffee/Tea Over 23 Entrees from $895 - $1395 •Served Noon - 3 pm Daily Sauerbraten, Wienerchnitzel, “Wursts” Platter, Prime Rib, Stuffed Shrimp with Crabmeat Shore Thing - Broiled or Fried TUESDAY SPECIAL Our Top “6” Entrees Only 12. $ Served 6-8pm www.kirkers.com • All Major Credit Cards Accepted • Open Mon - Sat • Noon til 11:30 pm 237 Diamond Bridge Ave, Hawthorne • 973-427-7700