March 26, 2008

Early Albert Brooks.

Modern Romance Albert Brooks's first two films will be screening at Anthology Film Archives from tonight through April 1, and Scott Foundas reminds us in the Voice why we ever loved him: "Like Brooks's legendary stand-up routines, his films key into the audience's discomfort zone between the comedy of embarrassment and the embarrassment of comedy, between what's supposed to be funny on purpose and what's funny precisely because it isn't supposed to be at all."

More from Benjamin Strong in the L Magazine: "If you've never seen it, Real Life may surprise you with its prescient awareness that reality TV is a genre built for false consciousness.... Less topical than Real Life, Modern Romance is every bit as up to date about our national mores."

"According to Anthology's archivist, Andrew Lampert, and its programmer, Jed Rapfogel, the Brooks mini-retrospective has been gestating since the two were in junior high school in St Louis," reports Bruce Bennett in the New York Sun. Lampert: "It's been our life's goal to do this."

Posted by dwhudson at March 26, 2008 10:22 AM

Comments

Two of my favorite films of all time, finally on the big screen!

Posted by: wells at March 26, 2008 11:16 AM

Totally unaware that this series was happening, I had a sudden pang of Young Albert Brooks nostalgia last week and could only get my hands on "Broadcast News." Which is *fine*, but I'm so glad I get to do a proper YAB double feature this weekend.

Posted by: karina at March 26, 2008 2:19 PM

I get the Young Charles Grodin nostalgia pangs myself, Karina.

Posted by: wells at March 26, 2008 3:02 PM

Damn, you both have excellent taste in comedy, far as I'm concerned. There should be a way to gather in some virtual space to watch movies together.

Posted by: David Hudson at March 26, 2008 3:11 PM

Wells, I would've bet the house that you commented on this post. I think early Albert Brooks may well be our most discussed subject.

Posted by: brendan at March 31, 2008 9:11 PM