Refocus: the Films of Albert Brooks (ReFocus: The American Directors Series) - Softcover

Long, Christian B.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1474434282 ISBN 13: 9781474434287

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press, 2023

Synopsis

Offers the first book-length investigation Albert Brooks' more than six-decade comedy career Situates Albert Brooks' films in their cultural contexts, including representations of class, gender, religion, and race Assesses Albert Brooks' critical reputation and relative popularity, including his influence on contemporary filmmakers and comedians Analyses every film written and directed by Albert Brooks, as well as a number of his acting and voice-over roles, his stand-up comedy albums, his talk show appearances, and his writing, both short-form and novelistic This is the first sustained critical collection on Albert Brooks, one of the key but under-examined figures in American stand-up, television comedy and Hollywood film comedy. Analysing every film written and directed by Albert Brooks, including Real Life (1979), Modern Romance (1981) and Lost in America (1985), as well as a number of his acting and voice-over roles, his stand-up comedy albums, talk show appearances and writing, the book argues that Albert Brooks not only merits a wider viewership, both critical and popular, but also that his career offers a useful lens through which to understand American film and culture since the late 1960s.

About this title

About the Author

Dr Christian Long is an Academic Language and Learning Educator at Queensland University of Technology.

From the Back Cover

'This collection of essays makes the case for Albert Brooks's multi-faceted significance as a pioneer of meta-comedy, a satirist of baby-boomer complicity, and a prophet of fail culture. America has spent the last half-century trailing Brooks. This book catches up with him.' Robert J. King, Columbia University This is the first sustained critical collection on Albert Brooks, one of the key but under-examined figures in American stand-up, television comedy and Hollywood film comedy. Analysing every film written and directed by Albert Brooks, including Real Life (1979), Modern Romance (1981) and Lost in America (1985), as well as a number of his acting and voice-over roles, his stand-up comedy albums, talk show appearances and writing, the book argues that Albert Brooks not only merits a wider viewership, both critical and popular, but also that his career offers a useful lens through which to understand American film and culture since the late 1960s. Christian B. Long works in the Graduate School at the University of Queensland. Cover image: Albert Brooks and Bruno Kirby in Modern Romance, 1981, directed by Albert Brooks. Columbia Pictures/Photofest (c) Columbia Pictures Cover design: Stuart Dalziel [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-1-4744-3425-6 Barcode

Edition details

• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Publication date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1474434282
• ISBN 13: 9781474434287
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 280
• Editor: Long Christian B.