Religulous Clip: Bill Maher in a Burka Store

Posted on Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 at 12:46 pm by: Peter Sciretta

Lionsgate has released a new clip from Larry Charles’ upcoming documentary Religulous, which follows Bill Maher takes on the current state of world religion. In this new clip Maher takes a tour of a burka store.

Religulous hits theaters on October 3rd 2008.

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Perry Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 12:58 pm

The dude is speechless. Maher definitely put him in his place.

The film looks amazing. Can’t wait.

Bob Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 1:10 pm

No matter how many movies Bill tries to make, he’ll never top his performance in “Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death.”

JFK Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 1:10 pm

I hope he talks about the GOP’s faith based economy.

thomas Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 1:15 pm

awkward interviews can either go very well (as seen in borat and da ali g show) and they can also go bad (like in this clip)

jimbo stewart Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 1:17 pm

I hope he goes back to hosting late night television nobody watches.

Brad Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 1:27 pm

Fantastically hilarious, and embarrassing at the same time

Webb Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 1:42 pm

that was kinda dumb really.

i hope unlike this clip that the actual movie shows people explaining their point of views and not just maher talking over them making dumb ass jokes.

JKR Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 2:07 pm

Note how the interview was cut together. I suspect a lot of the store keeper’s blank stares were random coverage shots spliced in to look like awkward silences. Also Maher keeps cutting him off whenever he speaks. I’m all for the concept of the documentary, but it looks like he’s trying way too hard.

mike Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 2:17 pm

that editing was magical.

Kashif P Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 2:31 pm

But wait, he didn’t even let the guy talk OR listen to him!

“In Islam, women are given equal rights. Even men wear these to cover themselves.”

“Religion seems to have been created to keep women down!”

Wait, what? That’s not even a conversation :\

entertainmenttodayandbeyond Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 2:51 pm

This film will generate the same watercooler buzz that Oliver Stone’s W. is starting to get with the release of that film’s trailer yesterday. Bill Maher will touch a raw nerve with this movie and that in my opinion is a good thing. I can’t wait to see it!

Andy Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 2:53 pm

Hm. I’d actually been looking forward to this one, but that was really awkwardly done. Most of the “awkward silences” looked like random b-roll cutaways of the guy that they spiced in for comic effect.

And like several people have already said- it wasn’t a conversation. Just Maher making jokes at the guys expense… he comes across like an asshole. You can hear the shop owner at the end of the clip, in the background, trying to get a word in edgewise.

Jacobi Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 3:02 pm

I’m really looking forward to this, but I feel like this clip doesn’t do the film justice. It would have been nice to see an actual scene from the movie instead of a heavily-edited clip.

O Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 3:12 pm

Yeah….don’t rely on editing to make the jokes work, Bill. This just makes your intolerance seem awkward.

Captain Awesome Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 3:27 pm

I’ll wait for cable.

Jeff Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

anyone ever consider that most intelligent conversation lasts more than 60 seconds… I am sure the final film will elaborate more on this conversation…well hopefully, if it doesn’t the film really isn’t doing much more than giving the western point of view

charger70 Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 3:55 pm

the question is - do all hardcore religious types get the same treatment? burquas are easy targets - how about the lifestyles of the FLDS or orthodox?

we shall see.

but for now, it seems awfully hamfisted, particularly in the lame-ass editing using coverage shots to fake nonresponsiveness.

Eric Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 5:45 pm

It is ironic that someone who bashes religious people for pushing their “views” on people, cuts together a conversation to do the very thing he condemns. I’m all for open dialog and opposing views. This clip just doesn’t contain either.

I hope the rest of the film is a lot more engaging and thought-provoking than this 45 second rant.

Quickoats Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 5:50 pm

I generally enjoy Bill Maher’s show, but I don’t think I’m interested in seeing him ambush shopkeepers with prepared questions and pointed observations on religion.

Max Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 6:04 pm

I was slightly hoping Maher would tone down his gigantic douche bag ness for this one film, and make an honest to goodness look at the fallacies of faith today. But, nope, still an asshole who doesn’t know when to shut the fuck up.

O Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 6:49 pm

I don’t know how to say this properly…but I really thought there would be more pro-Maher on this site. Maybe it will get revved up as the film opens and the religious zealots begin their attack on him. Then they’ll take the focus off of Maher’s ignorence and intolerance.

I think he is doing to them what he thinks they do to everyone else. And it’s wrong. As a teen, I watched Politically Incorrect all the time, until I found out he did not vote. He said it wouldn’t change anything. It’s kind of like what he is doing above. You see the guys point, but there’s an emptiness behind it all. An assholishness, if you will. To be that abrasive, and for it to work, it takes alot of charm, and he just doesn’t have it.

BB Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 7:46 pm

That clip sucks, but I’m still excited for this movie.

Texas Terro Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 9:26 pm

Whats with all that jackasse$ who are looking for a documentary explaining religion? This is a comedy that just happens to be about religion.

Ben Says:

August 6th, 2008 at 6:34 am

Listen, This guy is no religious scholar… most people who bash religion know nothing about a religion or the reasons for belief.

Muslims have many reasons for their belief system it is not 100% blind faith but there is some faith involved. Infact if your a muslim you believe Allah is the creator of the universe (doesnt say he made it in 6 days) and he made man so we can have tests in life and we are judged by how we react to situations we are put in and the good deeds we do.

Muhhamed was a good man who taught some very revolutionary ideas. He was a pure genius. 1500 years ahead of his time.

Atheists just go with the trend of bashing religions they dont understand. There is no reason you cant follow science and be religious.

Allah or God is by its very nature OUTSIDE of our universe, do you expect science to find some kind of particle which proves the existance of a God?

Islam is a beautiful religion I think those who bash it should go learn about Islam from a legit muslim. Somebody who will accept evolution etc… but who also has strong faith and a good heart.

You see religion can be interpreted many ways (all words and writings can), if the religious person has a good heart he will interpret in a good way. If the person has a bad heart he will use religion to try and justify his bad ways.

Religion is not a disease nor is it the cause of all the worlds problems. The cause of our problems is simple… Humans need to all consciously recognize we are all part of the same family, different limbs on the same body. We are all “one”.

Like Muhhamed said… “if you save a man you save the whole of man kind, if you kill a man you kill the whole of man kind”

Every religious leader somewhere in his or her teachings said humanity is one.

Stop insulting religious people… the atheist band wagon is so boring now. People will believe and you cant stop them.

Let people go their own path, and you go on your path. Long as both of you are doing good deeds and not been a bad person then whether there is a God or not the world will be a better place and that is whats important.

Peace

Anny Says:

September 9th, 2008 at 7:45 pm

That was… nerve-wrenching. What kind of a documentary preview was that? If it failed (and it will), it won’t affect him in any way because he’s already a failure.

Chris Says:

September 15th, 2008 at 9:01 am

Still want to see it. Glad Bill is on the side of women’s rights! Go Bill!

Charlene Says:

October 1st, 2008 at 12:33 pm

Bill Maher is just a loud-mouth jerk–just a grown up class clown, desperate for attention. Pathetic.

Charlene Says:

October 1st, 2008 at 12:37 pm

Back to add, this guy must be NUTS if he thinks people are going to spend as much money as it costs these days to go to the movies and watch this drivel.

IF I watch it (which, like most of Maher’s stuff, I probably won’t), it will be watched as something leaked on YouTube or on cable. In other words…I’m probably not going to watch it–EVEN IF IT IS FREE!!

I can’t imagine there are many other people who feel like going to the movies and paying through the nose to hear some head-case rant about how much hatred he holds for people who have the audacity to have thoughts which DIFFER from HIS.

The only joke in this movie is Bill Maher and it isn’t even a funny one.

dawg Says:

October 1st, 2008 at 3:00 pm

Anti-Christianity? That’s SOOO old, common, and boring…If Billy Maher were truly edgy, he’d draw a stick figure of Muhammud (maybe kissing 9-year young Aiisha?) and ask Muslims what they think. Now THAT would be HILARIOUS…but don’t EVER expect to see Billy Maher or any other so-called progressive push the envelope like he does with evil straight white male christianity…these progressives are ANTI-progressive concerning Islam.

InTheSkyGirl Says:

October 1st, 2008 at 6:46 pm

I agree with JKR, O, Andy and others. This is a very bad clip and I have been enthusiastically awaiting this film’s release. He seems to be trying too hard to embarrass his subject. He comes across as embarrassing himself. Where is the give and take in the dialogue? It looks like Bill is just trying to get his rehearsed jokes in. Painful to watch, really. He doesn’t even appear to be listening to the shopkeeper. I would’ve been tempted to throw him out and I’m an atheist.

This will not get people to examine their beliefs only to become more defensive of them in the face of a jerky interviewer. Why not ask the shopkeeper about why the burka is preferable garb versus other clothing. What does the Koran say about the body? I’m a non-believer and I would be interested in what the shopkeeper has to say.

The trailer and Larry King interview are far better. Still, I will go and see it this weekend and hope it is better on the whole than this clip suggests.

Mike Says:

October 3rd, 2008 at 7:44 pm

Bill, never ever stop, this has to be told and shown just how stupid these poor bastards are. Really. A talking snake, rightttt. To much wine in the ole garden. And didn’t Adam and Eve have two sons…hmmmm now where did the rest of humanity come from? Now let me see, was Eve the first MILF ??? Do ya think? I’m only sayin’

Helen Says:

October 3rd, 2008 at 7:49 pm

This is so funny, finally someone has the guts to stand up and tell the truth. Religion is the cause of sooo much suffering in the world. Look around you people. FLDS, the little girl thing. Warren Jeffs, Bountiful up in Canada. Its a real nightmare. I actually fear the fundamentalist more than the Islamic folks. Its the same all over, the bible is a comic book, full of cartoon characters. Its a real tragedy that the masses done see it for what it really is… The Greatest Story Ever Sold.

Jimmy Says:

October 5th, 2008 at 6:14 pm

I like how he interviews a STORE OWNER to learn about Islam. Thats like interviewing an Ice Cream Man to learn about the properties of ice.

Its easy to make fun of religion. Its hard, however, to learn and have a true understanding of its beliefs. If you want a REAL critique of religion I recommend the book ‘Religions of Man’ by Huston Smith. Its an OBJECTIVE view to all world religions, and doesn’t contain all the biases atheists rely so heavily on to bash religion.

InTheSkyGirl Says:

October 6th, 2008 at 7:11 am

Excellent film. I’m glad this clip did not show up in the final feature. The film was funny and well done. The best indictments came from the mouths of the believers. The ending segment could’ve been better written I think. Kind of preachy. But the message was made loud and clear. I hope believers will check this film out too.

The priest outside of the Vatican was a hoot.

dick gawking Says:

October 9th, 2008 at 12:42 pm

The show was lame, predictable & just very painful to watch. I’m not talking about the subject(s), rather, victim(s) either. It hurts to watch Maher as he stumbles through all of his lame overdone jokes. As he unsuccessfully attempts “gotcha” questions that fall flat; (even with clever editing and his dubbing in his own narcissistic laughter), you are left feeling sorry for the entire movie industry and wonder if this is really what it has digressed to.

I don’t believe that even a Flintstone laugh track would help out all of the overt and extremely feeble attempts at a comedic mocking of the people, (not “religion”), as the title implies…

It seems that Maher has been following a rope smoking path that has finally led him into the lower limbic regions where internet trolls and Wanna-be intellectuals awake and say; “how did I get here?”

To say this is just another “b-movie” is an overstated compliment. Most of it belongs, for lack of a better place to put it, on the cutting room floor. It’s a very good thing it was a very low budget production.

Seems like Maher just hits on a bong and says; “let’s go”! Still, Maher on religion is every bit as clever, tactful and classy as Rosie O’Donnell when she is talking about sex.

That being said, it is obvious that his eternal sycophants and clapping monkeys will love it. I am sure all fifty and two of them will be howling for the entire ninety minutes then go out and try to convince the rest of the world that it is the greatest thing since Gigot. Don’t you believe it!

nunuvyorbzness Says:

October 13th, 2008 at 7:19 pm

So far, the focus is on Judeo-Christian-Islamic religions. That is fine, given they claim half of the world’s population as adherents.

They all claim to be children of Abraham, a nut case who believed a bloodthirsty God wanted him to sacrifice his son. And then Ambraham invented circumrape (from the Latin “rapere” to take by force of any means including cutting, ripping, crushing etc.) as a substitute for his bloody God.

Jesus, so his followers say, was killed so that a wrathful, bloodthirsty God could have his anger appeased by a human sacrifice. Even in Christianity, circumrape, figures as a symbol of purification.

And Islam - which means “submit” - again involves sexual mutilation of both men and women.

It all goes back to the coward, lying, superstious child abuser Abraham.

Buddhism and Daoism are so much healthier!

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Religulous Clip: Bill Maher in a Burka Store