Modern Romance

Modern Romance is a 1981 American film that audaciously shuffles between laughs and contemplation, directed and written by comedic virtuoso Albert Brooks. The movie lends a novel, comedic twist to the tradition of romantic comedy, taking an irreverent, introspective look on the ups and downs of relationships.

Brooks pulls double duty in the movie, directing himself as the film’s lead character Robert Cole. Robert is a successful film editor in Los Angeles who is trying to rationalize his chaotic personal life. The film brilliantly uses Robert’s craft as a movie editor as a metaphor for his attempts to carefully control and manipulate his romantic relationships. Robert is seen as a somewhat neurotic and self-obsessed individual who is incredible at his job but struggles when it comes to finding contentment in his love life.

Boasting of a richly constructed narrative, Modern Romance’s central theme orbits around the on-again, off-again relationship between Robert and his on-screen lover Mary Harvard, played charmingly by Kathryn Harrold. Robert’s love life appears to be in a constant state of flux, trapped in a seemingly endless cycle of breakups and makeups. This roller-coaster ride of a relationship, brimming with passion and conflict, serves as a narrative backdrop for Brooks to explore themes of love, obsession, and commitment in the context of modern society.

Mary Harvard is depicted as an independent, graceful woman who has her own ideals, expectations, and ambitions in life. Her character struggles between her love for Robert and the emotional turmoil he bestows on her. Her relationship with Robert often mirrors the confusion, frustration, and absurdity that are elements of dating and relationships in contemporary society.

The screwball comedy is chockful of playful, highly dialogue-driven scenes that are both humorous and pitiful, revealing the fickleness of human nature. In between, are interspersed scenes of Robert’s attempts at independence, including awkward dates, extreme sports, and self-analysis. More serious are the threads of self-deception Brooks weaves through Robert’s actions, indicating the self-made chaos in his personal life.

Director Brooks has significantly upped the ante in terms of his directorial dexterity following his debut film, exploiting humor to probe complex emotional subjects. His signature comedic style could be best described as 'humor in pathos', with every joke revealing a little more about the complexity of the human character. His flair for comedy extends beyond his directorial duties to his acting and screenwriting abilities as well. This is seen in the sharp, witty dialogues and both hilarious and cringe-worthy situations that Robert finds himself in throughout the movie.

Moreover, James L. Brooks, an uncredited co-writer in the film, supplements Albert's comic insight, providing a unique blend of comedic styles that fuel the narrative’s humor and wit. The film is filled with beautifully executed comic moments that utilize silence and character interaction, rather than setup-punchline jokes.

The cinematography is nothing short of brilliant, combining the sun-kissed cityscape of Los Angeles with the everyday mundane settings and situations. Each shot has an intentional degree of realism added to it. The camerawork, lighting, and visual aesthetics contribute heavily to the storytelling elements, whilst matching the mood of the narrative and the characters.

In Modern Romance, Brooks also manages to pack in a wonderful commentary on the cinematic process. His role as a film editor offers insights into the painstaking work behind the creation of a movie. It lays bare the unsung struggles and influences of film editors, beautifully tying this subplot into the main story.

On the whole, Modern Romance successfully elevates the paradigm of romantic comedies by instilling a sense of truth and authenticity into its narrative. Despite being hilariously funny, it resonates deeply through its exploration of the comic and tragic nature of love and relationships within an urban setting. This film is a must-watch for those who enjoy subtle, dialogue-driven comedy and a poignant exploration of human relationships.