Cool News
Moriarty's DVD Shelf Review: MODERN ROMANCE
Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
Actually, that’s not the cover of the DVD. That’s the original one-sheet for the film, which is a pretty accurate representation of what you can expect from the best film Albert Brooks has ever made as a writer/director. This is the cover of the DVD:
What kind of half-assed bullshit is that?
I mean, no disrespect intended, but if you are the person who designed that DVD cover, I’d like to knock one of your teeth out. Just one. Just to remind you not to make stupid, cutesy, shitty covers for great films when it’s your job to actually sell the thing.
I have trouble reconciling the Albert Brooks who made THE MUSE and LOOKING FOR COMEDY IN THE MUSLIM WORLD with the Albert Brooks who made REAL LIFE, MODERN ROMANCE, and LOST IN AMERICA. There was a time when I thought he was making truly lacerating films about the ways in which we were failing ourselves as a culture. REAL LIFE managed to burn reality TV to the ground before there even was such a thing, and it retains every bit of its bite thirty years later. LOST IN AMERICA demolished the whole obsession that the baby boomers had with ‘60s culture and the “freedom” they supposedly gave up when they “sold out,” and I think the reason the film didn’t do better is because it was a particularly bitter pill to swallow. Even his later DEFENDING YOUR LIFE managed to score some powerful points about what we call courage in life and how we all manage to compromise ourselves, little by little, day after day. All wrapped up in what looks like a romantic comedy. Brilliant.
But then there’s MODERN ROMANCE, a film that I think towers above his other work. This is the movie that got Stanley Kubrick to call Albert in the middle of the night to praise him for making a “perfect” film. I watch this film at least twice a year, and what always amazes me is how effortless the whole thing seems. It’s organic, seamless, simple, but every sequence yields comedy gold over and over. For those of you who haven’t seen the film, the premise is simplicity itself. Film editor Robert Cole has been in a merry-go-round relationship with the smoking hot Mary Harvard (played by Kathryn Harrold at her absolute ripest) for a while, and they do this masochistic square dance where they break up then get back together then break up then get back together. It’s a really unhealthy cycle. The film starts with Robert telling Mary that he can’t do it anymore, and that he needs out. At first, she just shrugs him off. She’s heard it enough times that she doesn’t take it seriously. But when he pushes the issue, she finally blows up and tells him that this is it. She’s done. Don’t call her. Don’t try to take it back. This is it. It’s over.
Robert goes by work briefly to talk to his assistant editor Jay (played by a very young Bruno Kirby), then heads home to spend an evening recovering from the emotional trauma of the break-up. The 12 minutes or so that follow remain one of my favorite comedy scenes in any film. Robert takes a couple of Quaaludes that Jay gives him, and as they kick in, all of his inhibitions vanish. He ends up calling women he barely knows to ask them out, talking to Jay on the phone and professing his love to him, railing angrily against an editor who calls looking for a job recommendation, and talking continuously to his bird Petey. It’s just Brooks onscreen for the full 12 minutes, but he ends up not only making you laugh, but revealing everything you need to know about his character for the rest of the film. He ends up making a date for the next night with some woman he can’t remember, then stumbles out of his house, determined to go see Mary. He passes out in his car before he can go anywhere, though, and the next morning, he sees that as a sign. “No contact,” he repeats over and over, determined to keep it that way. Robert sets out to build a new life for himself, one that has nothing to do with Mary, one where he won’t think about Mary. He’s convinced that all he has to do is make it a few days and he’ll be over her completely.
In another great scene, he decides to take up running, and a guy at the athletic supply store (played by Albert’s real-life brother Bob Einstein, better known as Super Dave Osborne) hard-sells him a ton of stuff he doesn’t need. It’s a perfect illustration of how vulnerable and off-balance Robert is, and how much he’s looking for something to help him deny his real desire, which is to get back together with Mary and apologize immediately.
Y’see, what the film really deals with is the urge that so many people seem to have to destroy the good things in their lives in order to make sure they have drama. We see this all the time in our culture now on shows like JERRY SPRINGER and DR. PHIL, people who seem to crave the emotional devastation that comes from these types of tempestuous relationships. Conflict junkies. When you watch something like CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM now, comedy where our main character is unlikeable or weak or frustratingly crass, you have to go back to MODERN ROMANCE as one of the templates for that sort of comedy.
And I love the way Brooks isn’t afraid to digress. The film’s a fairly brisk 90 minutes, but there are plenty of little side moments that add nothing except for gut-busting hilarity. Take, for example, the scene where Robert takes the sci-fi film he’s cutting to a dubbing stage to lay down some Foley effects in a scene. The sound editors and their thinly-disguised contempt is hilarious, and you’ll never think of the Hulk the same way again after the scene. I love seeing James L. Brooks play an insecure director. A friend of mine comments on the hilarious but subtle touch in which a scene that discusses the importance of editing is itself intentionally overlong and poorly edited.
But it all comes back to the relationship between Brooks and Harrold, and she’s never been given a better role. She gives as good as she gets in her scenes with Brooks, and when he does try to get back together with her, then lets his own fears and neuroses overwhelm him, we can see how much she wants to make it work, and how much she also wishes she could just get him out of her system. And the way the film concludes is perfect, one joke building on top of another as “You Are So Beautiful” plays on the soundtrack, the single best use of that song that anyone will ever manage in a movie.
There’s nothing on the disc in terms of extra content, and the transfer is decent but not special. Doesn’t matter. This is a movie that anyone who loves great film comedies absolutely has to buy, and one that I’m thrilled to have finally added to my own collection.
MOVIE: Absolute must-own
DISC CONTENT: Bare bones
DISC QUALITY: Decent
"Moriarty" out.
-
+ Expand All
-
Among all the "Superman" hype and summer movie craziness, props to you for highlighting this hilarious little flick. I would bet 75% of AICN's readers weren't even born when this was released.
-
Yeah, that dvd cover is horrible. If I didn't know anything about the film I wouldn't buy it based on that cover.
-
While I thought this was a funny little film, with an accurate representation of a certain sort of person, I didn't think it was great simply because the characters are so distasteful. I mean, I have no secret desire to self-destruct myself, so watching a character do it is tiring after a while. Also, sorry, but I thought the 'ludes scene dragged on and on without a laugh. But on the other hand, I love Lost in America, Defending Your Life, and Mother. The Muse was kind of funny in spots. I have Real Life on DVD but haven't watched it yet.
-
I always say to my friends "Albert Brooks is a genius." And they say "Who's Albert Brooks?" And then I say "Haven't you seen Modern Romance, Lost in America, or Defending Your Life?" And they say "No, I haven't." And then I die a little bit inside.
-
of Doom...
-
Thanks for highlighting this
brilliant flick. For years I've had to make do with catching bits and pieces of it on cable channels like Stars, until I mangaed to watch it from start to finish. It's really a masterpiece, from the MeadowLark Lemon cameo to George Kennedy's awesomness, To the "date" where Robert picks up the girl he only remembers when he sees her, then drives around the block and drops her back off. It's so superior to most "modern" comedy it's embarassing. Guys like Jared Hess that think they are funny but desperatley need some deadpan lessons[as well as writing and editing classes], should start here. The only blemish on this gem is Brooks hairy shoulders in the bedroom scene. Scary. -
...I could barely sit through this movie. Pure, unadulterated torture. And not the GOOD kind of torture as in the UK version of The Office. Just a very unpleasant hour and a half. Albert Brooks IS brilliant, but this is NOT a brilliant movie.
-
It makes me lol every time. I like when he is buying the running stuff from Super Dave Osbourne and of course all his neurotic stuff with Kathyrn Harrold who has a great nude scene in the film too. I've got to track this one down.
-
I find that a lot of movies get this treatment, particularly double dips. A movie I haven't bought yet will come out with a different cover, and I won't want to buy it because the cover is some horribly designed hackjob like the one you posted. Sometimes it's a painfully obvious photoshop job. I don't know why studios do this, who signs off on it, and who is getting paid to design it. They should all be looking at Criterion as the template, the nice cool covers don't really cost anything extra to produce. Except maybe paying your intern more.
-
Anyjew. I love this movie! albert brooks is fascinating to watch and listen to. something about his voice. its kind of soothing but annoying after a while.
-
It's movie about a guy with OCD. Who goes to an amusement park and meets this girl who works at the funhouse. At first he's shy, but after a while. he gets the courage to speak to her. Next thing you know. wackiness ensues as they go on all the rides. till eventually love blooms. - That's what that cover tells me, haha!
-
It has really looong scenes. Like Brooks waiting for the phone to ring for 10 minutes. In realtime! Like a scene from 2001.
-
... he actually goes running. Or tries to. A brilliantly directed and staged scene. The Foley scene is awesome, too: "I dunno, space floor?"
That DVD cover sucks. I was similarly displeased with some of the aspects of the "Office Space" special edition. The red stapler and the filing cabinet packaging were great, but it had a mouse pad "with flair," designed to look like a Chotchke's waiter's shirt and suspenders. But instead of clever lines from the movie itself, the flair said shit like "work sucks." You could tell the task was given to clueless marketing folk. Much like the people responsible for the "Modern Romance" DVD cover. -
That crazy internet.
-
I will never forget this film. Hilarious and perfect.
-
but I love, love, love this movie.
-
Besides the ludes scene and the annoyed techs telling him he "just saved the picture", my favorite bit is Albert buying gifts to win Mary back, and pestering the staff at the drug store on whether certain stuffed animals can be programmed to greet Mary personally - then he piles all this cheap crap on her doorstep and keeps driving by to see if she's seen it yet - classic.
-
Chevy chase I love you.
-
the students fucking hated it. Just couldn't stand the characters, thought it was slow and poorly edited, just hated it. They especially hated when he picked up Ellen and their "date." That just shows you how stupid college students are (this was 20 yrs ago, when you had to actually order movies from distribution companies in order to show them). This is an amazingly funny, make-you-uncomfortable sort of movie. Oh, and the original one-sheet just had a cartoon of a roller coaster on a heart-shaped track going over the edge, with the heading, "If it's not love, what is it?"
-
For people who only know him as the voice of Marlin or Hank Scorpio, hopefully people will seek out these early films. The amazing thing about these films Brooks made in the 80s is how far ahead of the culture they were. As Mori points out, Real Life predicted and mocked the reality TV boom decades before it happened. Lost in America (my personal favorite of these early Brooks movies) went after the greed mentality before Gordon Gecko ever said "Greed is good." With the latest Sandler comedy set to be released on Friday (and it looks like the usual odd lump of meanness and sentimentality) people would be better served seeking out these funny, razor sharp comedies from Albert Brooks.
-
I showed Spinal Tap to a high school film class I taught and they hated that too. Even more jaw-dropping to me was the high school kids I had this year that said they hated Sin City. If I had been 16 when I saw Sin City i would have thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. So this is why I have quit teaching and will do everything in my power to talk people out of becoming teachers. It's the worst career field in America that requires a college degree. And for you high school kids on the message boards here, remember that your teachers' lives are horrifyingly miserable. Their inherent decency as human beings is the only thing that keeps them from blowing their brains out in front of you.
-
Nothing makes me happier than crushing the dreams of a wishful "firstie."
-
actually Brooks and the girl hiding beneath an editing bench. It was nothing fancy, but a hell of a lot better than that shit cover.
-
This is why I trust Mori more than anyone on this site. He actually likes good movies.
Great job here, Mori. If you got just one person to go out and buy this/rent this, you did your job.
It saddens me to think people think of Napoleon Dynamite as the high point of comedy. -
The stuff with Brooks as editor is actually my favorite thing in the movie. The foley scene alone is worth watching the movie for. If you have ever actually worked with those kinds of guys...well it's not a joke. Brooks nailed it. I'm not as high on some of his other films. But I always like seeing him in a movie (great in Out of Sight). Also, the last great Brooks scene is the one between him and the film exec in The Muse.
-
Thought this was gonna be about TRUE Romance. Never mind.
-
i am right about this.
-
I made me laugh till tears came out.
That is so awful!!! -
Is one of the great spiritual pieces of the last twenty years. It would be great to have an AICN talkback on that movie for a couple of reasons. First, about thirty six people would comment, because it doesn't have comic books or Kevin Smith in it. Secondly, it approaches the afterlife from a non-denominational, beautiful angle. That talkback would only attract college graduates and theological scholars...You know, smart people and shit. I can't wait for the Defending Your Life Talkback.
-
Is one of the great spiritual pieces of the last twenty years. It would be great to have an AICN talkback on that movie for a couple of reasons. First, about thirty six people would comment, because it doesn't have comic books or Kevin Smith in it. Secondly, it approaches the afterlife from a non-denominational, beautiful angle. That talkback would only attract college graduates and theological scholars...You know, smart people and shit. I can't wait for the Defending Your Life Talkback.
-
You wanna fucking fight about it? It wasn't my fault.
-
It wasn't what I was expecting because it was a much more thoughtful and mature Albert Brooks. Smart and enjoyable but not "funny." The scene where Rip Torn and M. Streep walk out of the screening room and they're laughing and Streep says she's going to lunch with her "judges" is terrific, though, just for the look on Brooks' face.
-
Three great, funny movies (one of which, Lost In America, I rate as one of the funniest ever) and a great role in Broadcast News, then in the 90's, what? Defending Your Life was gently funny but nothing special. The Scout was the single worst thing he ever did, except maybe for voice work in Dr. Fucking Dolittle, or the pointless and maudlin I'll Do Anything, or the pointless and desperately unfunny The Muse. Never saw Loooking for Comedy... At least he's still manages to rise to the occasion for the Simpsons and Pixar, but it's a shame that his writing and directing went so far off track.
-
Which was very funny and almost up to par with the earlier stuff.
-
my First Contact with Albert Brooks was 'The Muse' which is one of my alltime top 10 hated movies. I wanted to set myself on fire so that I would be distracted from the shit my brain was processing. It will take a lot of convincing to watch another one of this dudes movies...
-
I really like Albert Brooks. "Lost In America" was absolutely wonderful. I'm smiling just thinking about it. But my all-time favorite is indeed, "Defending Your Life". This is a movie you need to watch more than once, just for the little things, if nothing else. 'I had a dog...did I tell you about my dog?' Rip Torn and Lee Grant were perfect as the opposing counselors. So, if you don't like this film...know that you are in fact, a "little brain".
-
he lived long enough to find his sensibility thoroughly trounced by the blockbusting coming out of hollywood. he couldn't compete, much less match his sensibility to the times. i guess _the muse_ was one attempt, and one that should not have been attempted. on the plus side, there was an almost fuck-all attitude about _looking for comedy..._ a film whose content could never compete with that great title. a.b. ruins the middle east and thinks he's deserves a medal or three by the end, but did those ingrates in the state dept. even try? "nothing"!! sadly, there weren't a ton of laughs by the end and the whole (short!) experience felt threadbare. in the reality-tv era, _real life_ is hystyerically prescient and _modern romance_ makes three of a perfect, uh, trio ofg comments on modern american life with _modern romance_ and _lost in america_. still here and there, he does get off a few unforgettable lines, as in _looking_, where he suggests to a mel gibson fan that she doesn't want to have _the passion of the xt_ happen to her, and of course, in _mother_, wherein mr. brooks sums up the 90's neatly, and thusly: "it's fancy jam time!"
-
The "Albert, you are more uncomfortable around black people than any white man I have ever met" scene alone makes it the greatest comedy of all time.
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 439 total posts 159 posts
- WTF HOLLYWOOD: SOLARBABIES -- 144 total posts 142 posts
- Herc’s Seen Tonight’s Return Of THE WALKING DEAD!! Discuss Also DOWNTON ABBEY, FEAR FACTOR, PAN AM, ONCE, SIMPSONS, DYNAMITE, LUCK, SHAMELESS, BAIT CAR, THE GRAMMYS And More!! Sunday Is Sweeps Day 11!! -- 155 total posts 140 posts
- Avid Comic Reader Hercules Does Battle With Tedium During Kevin Smith’s COMIC BOOK MEN! -- 55 total posts 45 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 196 total posts 45 posts
- I am The Behind the Scenes Pics of the Day! No, I’m the Behind the Scenes Pic of the Day! -- 35 total posts 35 posts
- If the Behind the Scenes Pics of the Day drops her pen, pick it up, but don’t look at her legs or else it will be on your record. -- 60 total posts 34 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 127 total posts 32 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 513 total posts 29 posts
- The Sensorties Revisit The Friday Docback (And Still Smell)!! DOCTOR WHO Story #7 Again, The Coming Of Season/Series 7, And More!! -- 118 total posts 27 posts