Happy Birthday to
Albert Brooks
62 today
Brooks' film career was never, looking back, as exciting or interesting as you think it was. That is to say there are loads of great films he appeared in (Taxi Driver, Broadcast News, Out of Sight), but there have been long gaps between them. Since Losing Nemo he's pretty much been sticking to TV. But perhaps there's another great performance in him and he's just waiting for the right script. What do you think?
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Albert Brooks
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4 comments:
He has directed so many important American comedies that I disagree with you. Real Life began the entire reality craze. Mother, Looking, Defending Your Life, on and on. Just look at how many younger comedy filmmakers have copied him. I think his career gets more important as you look back.
I must confess I don't know Brooks' work as a director and therefore haven't been able to comment on those films. Although I would argue that as Real Life is a parody of the PBS series An American Family (1973) it wasn't as influential as you're crediting it to be.
However I will look a couple of them up on Netflix. Which would you recommend as a starter?
Real Life wasn't a parody. It was a satire and was the first American Mocumentary, well before Spinal Tap or any other. By including the filmmakers along with the subjects, Brooks did something no one else had done, even if it was a satire. An American Family did not do that, even though the filmmakers ruined that familys life.
Look at Lost in America, Defending Your Life, Modern Romance, or any of them.
Listen to his comedy albums. The one that got a grammy, A Star Is Bought, is one of the great comedy records produced in history.
Obviously, I am a fan, but I have studied comedy my whole life and know who are the important ones and who are the copiers. This guy was the original of his generation.
You're obviously very passionate, and clearly much more read about the evolution of American Comedy than I. (I'm afraid I generally refrain from comedies, prefering to watch films that make my own life seem funnier.)
I'll try his records as a starter, and then move on to the feature films.
Thanks for the comments by the way.
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