"Never Out of Character"

Sacha Baron Cohen is a man known for his many characters from Ali G. to Borat to Bruno. Now the 40 year-old has re-emerged as his latest character, Admiral General Shabazz Aladeen in his newest comedy The Dictator.

In the film, General Aladeen is the president of the North African country of Wadiya who comes to America to deliver a speech at the United Nations only to must adapt to the culture after his beard is cut off. The leader talked with us about his love for the American film industry.

“I love American films, particularly their fantasy films like Schindler’s List,” The Leader says, Me and [Iranian president] [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad studied it at the same Holocaust denial institute and the head of it is Mel Gibson.”

“I’m also a fan of Sherlock Holmes,” he adds, “There’s always a great twist at the end when they solve the case. I never see that coming, but my favorite film ever is from 1963 and features [John F. Kennedy] in Dallas.”

The Leader also talks about the differences between the Wadiyan film industry and Hollywood.

“There are differences between the Wadiyan film industry and Hollywood,” he claims, “People say that I’m extravagant for using 20 trillion bottles of Fiji water everyday to make a snow to throw my Skittles out in the desert, but am I the person who greenlit John Carter?”

“Believe me, there are bigger bombs than John Carter,” Aladeen adds, “Believe me, when it comes to making films, I’m a purist. I demand the highest standards. I don’t rely on the dodgy CGI. If I need 10,000 villages to be driven off a cliff, I make it happen.”

Aladeen also talked about the dictators who inspire him.

“Well, listen, it has been a tough year and I have lost a lot of good friends,” he says, “[Muammar] Qadhafi, I miss you. Also, Kim-Jo, Kim Jong-Il, and of course, [Hugo] Chávez died last month.”

“Ooops!” The Leader backtracks, “You did not hear that from

"Never Out of Character"

me. OK, Chávez is fine, it’s just a coincidence that you haven’t heard about him for two months. Ahmadinejad is still around, but he’s an embarrassment. He looks like a snitch on Miami Vice. Why does he not wear a tie? Does he think every day in Iran is casual Friday? WTF?! What the fuck?!”

The Leader also talked about the idea of having a contest like in the film The Hunger Games in Wadiya.

“What’s the point?” Aladeen says, “North Korea has done it literally. Now, Kim Jong-Il is doing his own version of The Biggest Loser. Seven million people are now competing to see who can lose the most weight.”

Aladeen was asked which Hollywood celebrity he felt he had the most in common with.

“It’s nice to be Mel Gibson,” The Leader believes, “In fact, in Wadiya, we recently made him our public relations expert. Although he has said some pretty offensive things recently, like saying that he would work with Jews. We have made him the head of our Museum Of Intolerance.”

“I also have lots in common with George Clooney, we are both champions of equality,” he continues, “You know, in my country, women have the same rights as men, absolutely none. And there’s a shameful statistic that only one in four Wadiyan women can read. I am trying to change that statistic and make that 1 in 100.”

The Leader also had this to say to all his critics that would consider him a tyrant.

“I would say thank you,” Aladeen states, “Also, could you please give me the names and addresses of the so-called ‘critics’ and their routes to and from work. I’d like to give them a magnetic gift. It attaches to the underneath of a car.”