TMS Movie Review: Defending My Life
(HBO / Max)
Albert Brooks is a man with success spanning five decades on stage, television, film, radio and in literature as a writer, director, actor and comedian. Yet, I feel like he’s almost underrated or at least overlooked compared to peers like Robin Williams or Steve Martin. To my generation or my younger sister’s generation, we probably most recognize Brooks as the voice of the neurotic clownfish Marlin in Andrew Stanton’s Finding Nemo (2003), or as the ruthless villain in Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive (2011). Film aficionados remember him as the friend-zoned colleague of both Cybill Shepherd in Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver (1976) and Holly Hunter in James L. Brooks’s Broadcast News (1984). Albert’s stints on late night talk shows in the late 1960s to early 1970s; shorts on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” (1975-76); and his comedy albums ‘Comedy Minus One’ (1973) and ‘A Star is Bought’ (1975) grew quick followings in both the stand-up and sketch comedy circuits. But he seemed to really hit his stride as a filmmaker.
HBO’s new documentary on Brooks, Defending My Life, directed and hosted by the comedian’s lifelong best friend Rob Reiner is a love letter to the man’s career and sense of humor. For 90 minutes, we witness two old pals reminisce while eating dinner in between the usual talking heads+clip show combo there is with docs. The commentators range from peers like David Letterman, Steven Spielberg, Larry David and JL Brooks to more contemporary comics such as Chris Rock, Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart and Ben Stiller.
(HBO / Max)
Though the added input from the stars isn’t necessarily a negative, we can’t help but feel Defending My Life is already strong enough with the friendly chat. Reiner is not particularly known as a stylish or artful director, so there isn’t much deep or specific messaging beyond letting Brooks share his life story. Perhaps it’s because of the personal connection, but it’s nice Reiner lets his friend speak mostly unfiltered about his experiences and wisdom he’s gained.
One of the best segments of Defending My Life is when Brooks reflects on his relationship with his parents—comic Harry Einstein [AKA, Parkyakarkus] and singer-actress Thelma Leeds. With these two parents intentionally penning ‘Albert Einstein’ on his birth certificate, it’s no wonder Brooks was destined to go into comedy. The other great segments are when he goes into detail on the peak of his film career with Real Life (1979), Modern Romance (1981), Lost in America (1985) and Defending Your Life (1991). His four most successful and acclaimed films as a writer-director, which effectively answer philosophical questions with Brooks’ signature irreverent wit and humor. The last ten minutes of the doc get a little preachy, but Reiner manages to still end it on a decent note. It’s not groundbreaking or insightful, but Defending My Life is a nice gift from one friend to another.