Stanley Kubrick is among some of the most renowned filmmakers in Hollywood and is known for his excruciating detailed shots and complex storytelling techniques. His remarkable work in the world of cinema has served as an inspiration for many aspiring filmmakers. And it was also the case for the actor-director Albert Brooks after Kubrick reached out to him following the release of his 1981 movie Modern Romance. Brooks talked about the impact he had on his career and how their relationship soured over the years, during an interview.
Stanley Kubrick Saved Hollywood Actor Albert Brooks
After starring in movies like Taxi Driver and Private Benjamin, actor Albert Brooks turned to filmmaking and made his directorial debut with the 1979 film Real Life. He continued working as a filmmaker. However, his second directorial project, Modern Romance, reportedly did not perform that well at the box office.
It caused a sense of doubt in Brooks about his future as a director. He shared that he was depressed and didn’t understand what was going on. However, he was able to overcome such thoughts thanks to a valuable piece of advice from the legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick.
He shared that The Shining director told him that it was not his fault. “You’re going to blame yourself, and it has nothing to do with you,” the Drive actor recalled Kubrick’s words during an interview with IndieWire before adding, “Releasing a movie has nothing to do with you; it has to do with a corporation.”
Getting a call from one of the greatest directors in the industry was like “the President calling” for Brooks. It not only helped him gain confidence to take the director’s seat again but also gave him an insight into Hollywood economics. However, their relationship would soon fall out.
Stanley Kubrick and Albert Brooks’ Rift
While Stanley Kubrick and Albert Brooks bonded pretty great over the latter’s 1981 romantic comedy, it was not long before their relationship saw a falling out. After advising him no matter how good it is, sometimes a movie fails due to several factors, Kubrick asked to have a look at the script of his next film, Lost in America.
As before, Kubrick shared some suggestions with the Mother actor that he found “terrible.” He recalled saying, “Gee, Stanley, I don’t know …” to the Dr. Strangelove director. And their relationship ended after the actor expressed his desire to visit Kubrick during his tour of England, and he said, “No. No, no, no, no. Not a good idea..”
Brooks spoke out about how he felt about the Oscar winner in an interview with Esquire, saying, “Everything about him points to a genuine obsessive-compulsive disorder.” He also called out the filmmaker as he stated that he did not care who he was and that he could not do multiple takes over and over.
Source: IndieWire
