Viewers might recognize Albert Brooks most from his voice acting or his comedic performances, but he’s actually a talented filmmaker as well. Brooks is hilarious, no matter if he’s working in his own work or someone else’s, but there’s no denying the genius of his original work. We see this frequently — the phenomenon of comedians writing and directing their own work — but Brooks could possibly be one of the best at it. What makes his work interesting is how well-received it all is; with comedians-turned-filmmakers like Adam Sandler, this isn’t always the case. For Brooks, the transition was seamless. Going from critically-acclaimed actor to critically-acclaimed filmmaker was a breeze. He has made seven films so far, all of which are worth watching.
Modern Romance
Not sure if he’s actually in love or not, an editor dumps his girlfriend to try and figure things out. Brooks is pulling triple duty here, writing, directing, and acting in the film, but none of this energy is wasted. He’s giving every single area his all and it absolutely pays off — this is one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time, as well as Brooks’ best film so far.
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Real Life
Inspired by the first reality show, PBS’s 1970s series An American Family, Real Life sees Brooks plays an exaggerated version of himself as he tries to persuade a normal American family to let him film them in the same style as the original show. This, Modern Romance, and Lost in America are three films that foreshadow the future of American comedy films, and Brooks is a genius for being able to do something so ahead-of-his-time.
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Lost in America
One great thing about an actor who writes films is the translation of their love of the medium into their scripts. Lost in America is no exception — focusing on a married couple inspired by the film Easy Rider, the two decide to travel the country in an RV in hopes of improving their quality of life. They’re both LA yuppies, though, so the viewer knows that nothing will go as planned. It’s another hilarious film from one of the most unique comedic voices of the 80s.
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Defending Your Life
Part reflection on the afterlife, part send-up of the courtroom drama, Brooks’ 1991 dramatic comedy Defending Your Life takes place in a heaven that looks a lot like modern day society where people must be put on trial to prove they lived a courageous life before making it into the afterlife. It’s a cute and clever film that, while it never defined any genres like his first three films, proves to be a light and breezy watch for any comedy fan.
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Mother
Dryly comedic and more bittersweet than ever since the loss of one of its leads, Mother focuses on Brooks, playing a washed-up science fiction writer who’s bad at love, and his mother, played by the late Debbie Reynolds. Brooks films are witty with a heart, and Mother is no exception. It’s a really amusing movie, especially for anyone who knows a thing or two about toxic relationships with parents.
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Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World
Brooks’ only documentary of the bunch, Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World sees Brooks heading overseas to the Middle East to try and break up some of the stereotypes surrounding the region. This was shot only a few years after the September 11th terrorist attacks, so Brooks was really doing something bold here (by America’s standards, at least) by attempting to ease tensions here when so many Americans had become so hateful toward a religion that they really knew nothing about.
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The Muse
As of today, The Muse is Brooks’ last narrative film. It also happens to be his weakest — Brooks, playing an award-winning screenwriter, feels like he’s lost his edge as a writer. He goes out of his way to meet with a woman named Sarah, someone referred to as a muse who could inspire anyone. It was met with mixed reviews, many critics saying that the film ironically lacked edge itself.
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