Albert Brooks Gets “Lost” Again!
Actor/Director Albert Brooks posted this note on Twitter, letting fans know that The Criterion Collection is releasing a new, expanded blu-ray edition of his 1985 comic gem “Lost In America!”
“You couldn’t change your life on a hundred thousand a year?”
The film includes this great line about changing your life…and so much more!
First of all, bravo to Criterion for continuing to release remastered editions of great movies, with tons of extras!
Before we dig into the details, refresh your memory about his comic cult classic:
Prior to making “Lost In America” in 1985, Albert Brooks was well known in the 70’s for his short films that aired on “Saturday Night Live” – he was also a Standup Comedian, Writer, Director and Actor. His first film was “Real Life”, a parody of the groundbreaking PBS documentary-series about the Loud family…
This prescient comedy imagined an era when camera crews invaded your house and captured your entire life – without being “intrusive”…so the Camera people wore them on their heads!
For his second film, Brooks told the story of a couple who decide to “drop out” of society and travel across America by Winnebago…
Julie Hagerty plays his wife – you will know her from “Airplane” – and as you can see from the trailer, EVERYTHING goes wrong:
“Twenty-two, twenty-two, come on back to me, come on back to me!”
Julie Hagerty is incredible in the film, exhibiting perfect comic timing, especially when she has a “hunch” on the number twenty-two at the Roulette table…
While their journey to “touch Indians” is a fiasco, the film is a hilarious look at Reagan-era Yuppies who want to drop out, but still need their big salaries – as the Employment Director in a small town says to him:
“You couldn’t change your life on a hundred thousand a year?”
Bravo to Monica Johnson, who co-wrote the script. Here is what’s on the Criterion Blu-Ray:
DIRECTOR-APPROVED EDITION:
New 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
New conversation with director Albert Brooks and filmmaker Robert Weide
New interviews with actor Julie Hagerty, executive producer Herb Nanas, and comic writer and director James L. Brooks
Trailer
PLUS: An essay by critic Scott Tobias
I can’t wait to see this again, and check out all of the supplements…
If you aren’t familiar with Brooks, you are missing out on terrific movies like this one and “Defending Your Life” with Meryl Streep – and Brooks is a great Actor as well:
Brooks is great in “Drive” with Ryan Gosling from a few years ago…as well as “Broadcast News” and “Out Of Sight” – check out more of his great performances here:
https://johnrieber.com/2012/01/22/albert-brooks-great-acting-moments-pt-1/
Here’s a film you may not even remember he starred in:
That’s right, Brooks was one of Cybil Sheppard’s co-workers in the film – and he was sharp in the role:
“Taxi Driver” is one of the greatest films ever made, and it recently had a big 40th anniversary screening – check it out here:
Let me know if you haven’t seen “Lost In America”!
Categories: 70's Cinema, Academy Awards, Action Films, Albert Brooks, Art, Awards, Books / Media, Comedy Movies, Cult Movies, Director Martin Scorsese, Exploitation films, Film Fight Club, Film Noir, Golden Globes, Great Films, Hollywood, Independent Cinema, Los Angeles, Memoirs, Movies, New York, Obscure Movies, Revenge Movies, Steven Soderbergh, Talent/Celebrities, TV Show, Uncategorized
johnrieber 
I remember Lost in America, and thought it was a great allegory of those times. I also liked him in Taxi Driver, as the man who really wanted to date Sheppard’s character. He is a little manic at times perhaps, but has real skill at delivering a line.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, “Lost” is exactly how many Americans’ feel right now – just want to get away from it all! Thanks as always for your comment!
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