Here's a Head's Up. Saturday evening, Turner Classic Movies is running Real Life, a 1979 comedy starring Albert Brooks and directed by him. You ever see it? If not, you ought to. Brooks plays himself, a young filmmaker out to make a documentary about a typical American family, following them around and capturing their lives. PBS had actually done a TV series along these lines and that's what Brooks was spoofing. But the film is even more relevant with reference to the kind of "reality" shows we've had in recent years.
Brooks's film was not particularly successful. Possibly, its sense of humor sailed over a lot of moviegoers' skulls. Possibly, the dislikability of Albert and an uncomfy ending kept audiences away. I don't love it but I admire the hell out of it…and there are some wonderful moments, mainly in the first half hour. Charles Grodin is also quite wonderful as the head of the family whose lives are disrupted by the intrusion of Brooks and his cameras.
Catch it if you haven't seen it. Once again, it's this Saturday. It's on at 6:30 PM on my satellite dish but it may be some other time where you are. You can see the trailer over here and it's pretty funny but it has almost nothing to do with the movie.
And while you're setting your TiVo (or if you insist, VCR) for that, you might be interested in this. Early Saturday, TCM is running Zenobia, the 1939 movie that Oliver Hardy made without Stan Laurel but with Harry Langdon. Here's a little piece I wrote about this oddment. Also, Saturday evening after Real Life, they're running Best in Show, followed by This is Spinal Tap but you've seen both of those.