I really can't understand why Brooks got such raves for this movie, other than the novelty of Albert Brooks playing a murderous psycho. I thought Cranston did more with his much less flashy role.
Somebody who is cast against type and does a good job will always attract more attention than somebody who works more accustomed territory and does a great one. Also, there's a lot of good will towards Albert Brooks; his last few movies haven't worked out so great and people want to see him do well.
That said, I thought he was great.
I thought he did a good enough job, just not particularly award-worthy. He probably should have won every award there was for Broadcast News though.
Brooks' movies can be hilarious but they're not exactly gag-packed, which maybe takes some new viewers time to get used to. Plus, the characters in Lost in America and especially Modern Romance tend to cross the line from neurotic to genuinely, unnervingly out-of-their-minds at times (which was what led to him being cast in Drive in the first place).
But everyone should be able to agree this is great, right?
Albert Brooks Ventriloquist Bit