Happy du Jour

Netflix is showing some serious Albert Brooks love starting tomorrow!

• “Defending Your Life” (1991): Brooks plays a man who dies and arrives in the afterlife only to find that he must stand trial and justify his lifelong fears in order to advance to the next phase of existence; or be sent back to earth to do it again; co-starring Meryl Streep and Rip Torn.
• “Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World” (2006): To improve its relations with Muslim countries, the U.S. government sends Brooks to South Asia to write a report on what makes followers of Islam laugh; co-starring Sheetal Sheth and John Carroll Lynch.
• “Lost in America” (1985): A 30-something married couple, played by Brooks and Julie Hagerty, are inspired by the film “Easy Rider” to quit their jobs, sell their home and travel across America in a Winnebago.
• “Modern Romance” (1981): Brooks plays a successful film editor with far too many issues affects the relationship between him and his remarkably patient girlfriend (Kathryn Harrold). Also stars Bruno Kirby and George Kennedy.
• “Mother” (1996): A neurotic, successful sci-fi writer who is finalizing his second divorce (Brooks), decides to initiate a project that will help him understand what went wrong in his relationships: He moves back in with his mother (Debbie Reynolds).
• “The Muse” (1999): A Hollywood screenwriter (Brooks) has hit an artistic slump, he turns to the services of a woman (Sharon Stone) touted as a veritable muse — but he soon gets more than he bargained for. Also starring Jeff Bridges and Andie MacDowell.
• “Real Life” (1979): Brooks, in a parody of 1973 reality TV program “An American Family,” portrays a documentary filmmaker who attempts to live with and film a dysfunctional family for one full year. Also starring Charles Grodin, Frances Lee McCain, J.A. Preston and Matthew Tobin.

Defending Your Life, Lost in America and Real Life are in the pantheon, Mother is awesome and The Muse is really, really good. The other two I haven't seen but will.