Yeah, I'm a HUGE James L.Brooks fan. I LOVE his stories -- even "Spanglish."

Off the top of my head, I like that scene in "Broadcast News" where Albert Brooks' character tries to steer Holly Hunter's character away from her attraction to John Hurt's character, so Albert's can have her, himself.

"He may look charming, but he is in fact -- the devil!" (It went something like that)

James L. Brooks' stuff is just good! I remember listening to Shane Black at a screening of "Kiss-Kiss, Bang-bang," (a Screenwriting Expo Event) and hearing him boast that James L. Brooks was his mentor. Very cool! We all be so lucky.

- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA

Yes, James L. Brooks absolutely belongs in anyone's pantheon! I am also one of the few (apparently) who likes "I'll Do Anything" - quite a bit, except for the weird Tracy Ullmann character.

A few nights ago Broadcast News was on FMC - I hadn't watched the movie in years and once I started I COULD NOT STOP & nearly kept watching again when they immediately re-ran it on the schedule.

Compulsively watchable.

One scene that always cracks me up: when Jane is trying to insert the Norman Rockwell picture for the news & has less than a minute to meet the deadline: "Bobby, Bobby, Bobby, Bobby."

All of Brooks' characters get to be somebody - get their own little agenda, whether we see too much of it or not. Example: also in Broadcast News, later when William Hurt's character is doing some editing he asks the editing tech (don't know the real title, sorry) for his opinion - and the tech is thrilled to be asked. Not many writers/directors would have time or think about giving a minor character a little moment.

@Judith: You and I must have been channel-surfing at the same time because I stumbled on Broadcast News the other night as well. And the way you put it -- "All of Brooks' characters get to be somebody" -- gets it just right. In fact, I'm going to update the original post with your comments. Thanks!

I also liked SPANGLISH and I'LL DO ANYTHING. They're not quite as good as it gets from Brooks, but they still make most other dramadies look pretty undernourished.

Coincidentally, I'm reading Broadcast News thanks to a post here a couple of weeks ago. His characters are so well-formed. Annoyingly real but empathetic. Little details abound. Jane has this routine where she cries every morning before she's ready for the day. Aaron is brilliant and neurotic and his own worst enemy. And, Tom is seemingly empty but actually the most sincere; impossible to dislike. This sets up a great dynamic between the three. The story is unpredictable. It has a structure but it's not telegraphed. Even though I saw the movie years ago, I'm on the edge of my seat to see how hit turns out. Great writer.