Albert Brooks: Defending My Life | Movie Assessment

“Comedy is solely a humorous approach of being severe.”
— Peter Usinov

Albert Brooks is an excellent and prolific American director, screenwriter, comic, and actor. This spunky documentary is directed by Rob Reiner who has been Brooks’ shut buddy since childhood. They converse about Brooks’ profession and the sources of his creativity; tv and movie clips illustrate a lot of their recollections.

Brooks has all the time been capable of make folks chortle, and it’s a lark watching him sending Johnny Carson into paroxysms of laughter throughout his appearances on The Tonight Present. Others who laud his comedy embrace Jon Stewart, Larry David, Sarah Silverman, David Letterman, Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill, Wanda Sykes, Conan O’Brien, James Brooks, Judd Apatow, and Steven Spielberg. The very best reward comes from Chris Rock: “He’s one of the vital authentic thinkers that we’ve ever seen.”

Along with his standup routines and appearances on selection exhibits, Brooks introduced his comedic timing and sometimes skewed view of day by day life to his movie work. He was nominated for the Greatest Supporting Actor Oscar for Broadcast Information. He introduced Nemo the fish to life together with his voice work. And he demonstrated his versatility as author, director, and actor with Trendy Romance, Misplaced in America, and Defending Your Life.

That is one documentary assured to make you chortle.

“Laughter is a holy factor. It’s as sacred as music and silence and solemnity, perhaps extra sacred. Laughter is sort of a prayer. Like a bridge over which creatures tiptoe to satisfy one another. Laughter is like mercy; it heals. When you’ll be able to chortle at your self, you’re free.”
— Ted Loder