NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (August 2024): Criterion have transferred Albert Brooks's Real Life to Blu-ray and 4K UHD. It is cited as being from a "New 4K digital restoration, supervised and approved by director Albert Brooks". We aren't able to obtain 4K 2160P captures now, probably, till after the release date - a function of the encode. This is presently true of many 4K UHD transfers - sometimes we get lucky - not here. We will try to add them here when they are accessible. The 1080P should give you an idea of the rendering as it will be from the same source. The 4K UHD package has one 4K UHD disc of the film presented in HDR and this reviewed Blu-ray with the film in 1080P and special features. This was Brooks' first feature and it has a pleasing grassroots feel to the image which shows textures, richness to the colors, some depth and the image presentation is pristinely clean. These are heightened in 2160P. It looks brand new and hopefully our screen captures below will give you an idea.

NOTE: We have added 44 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. Real Life has no demonstrative moments although there are some tech-related effects. The score was by Mort Lindsey (40 Pounds of Trouble, The Seducers, Gay Purr-ee.) There is some other music; Johnny Mercer's Something's Gotta Give performed by Albert Brooks, Max Steiner's Tara Theme and Harry Nilsson's Jump Into The Fire. It's as clean and competently rendered as the video. Criterion offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray. The 4K UHD is Region FREE.

Extras are on the lighter end of the spectrum. I enjoyed the new 1/2 hour interview with Brooks recalling the film making process and his career. I could listen to him all day. There is also a new interview, running 1/4 hour, with actor Frances Lee McCain (who played Jeannette Yeager) remembering the production and Brooks. She began her career in film and television and also did Broadway. Criterion include a faux-promotional 3D trailer of Real Life directed by Brooks which includes a chap with two paddleballs going simultaneously - a gimmick sometimes used in 3D films. The package has a liner notes booklet with an essay by film critic A. S. Hamrah (author of The Earth Dies Streaming.)

I was probably expecting too much from Albert Brooks' Real Life unfairly comparing it to later masterworks like Lost in America. Real Life shows the filmmaker's burgeoning satirical / deadpan style and wit - it is both prescient and humorous. I was reminding of Woody's Allen's early films and evolution. It's hard to believe that it came out 45 years ago! In a similar reality-TV vein The Truman Show came out almost 20-years later. Brooks was intentionally hammy and straight-man Charles Grodin (Heaven Can Wait, Midnight Run) is always great. I ended up enjoying it for what it was - satirizing the ruthlessness and insincerity regarding the goal of attracting eyeballs with humanity falling a distant second. His oblivious narcissism and showbiz ringleader persona shows why he was an influence on comedians like Steve Martin and Andy Kaufman. I was pleased with the Criterion Blu-ray and it will remain a keeper with other Brooks' gems like Defending Your Life, Modern Romance and my favorite Lost in America; "The Desert Inn has heart....The Desert Inn has heart....The Desert Inn has heart... I'm getting chills." Recommended to Brooks' fans!

Gary Tooze