Defending Your Life (1991)

In an afterlife resembling the present-day US, people must prove their worth by showing in court how they have demonstrated courage.

Director:

Albert Brooks

Writer:

Albert Brooks

Stars:

Albert Brooks, Michael Durrell, Rip Torn

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Albert Brooks	...	Daniel Miller
Michael Durrell	...	Agency Head
James Eckhouse	...	Jeep Owner
Gary Beach	...	Car Salesman
Julie Cobb	...	Tram Guide
Peter Schuck	...	Stan
Time Winters	...	Porter
Rip Torn	...	Bob Diamond
Sharlie Stuart	...	Susan
Beth Black	...	Soap Opera Woman
Clayton Norcross	...	Soap Opera Man
Jim McKrell	...	Game Show Moderator (as James MacKrell)
Wil Albert	...	Game Show Contestant
Sage Allen	...	Game Show Contestant
Mary Pat Gleason	...	Waitress

Storyline

Yuppie Daniel Miller is killed in a car accident and goes to Judgment City, a waiting room for the afterlife. During the day, he must prove in a courtroom-style process that he successfully overcame his fears (a hard task, given the pitiful life we are shown); at night, he falls in love with Julia, the only other young person in town. Nights are a time of hedonistic pleasure, since you can (for instance) eat all you want without getting fat.

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Plot Keywords:

afterlife | fear | prosecutor | courage | car accident | 

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Taglines:

The first true story of what happens after you die.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

22 March 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Visa al paraíso

Filming Locations:

770 The City Drive, Orange, California, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$16,371,128 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Geffen Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Ethan Embry.

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Goofs

In the Italian restaurant, the waiter pours cheese on Daniel's broccoli. However, in the next scene there is no cheese on the broccoli.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Daniel Miller: I was driving to work this morning thinking I will be here, in 2 months, it'll be 10 years. And you're like my real family. Isn't that tragic.
[laughter]
Daniel Miller: I got a call from my mother this morning, she wished me a happy birthday, and hinted around the fact that I wasn't making enough money. If you can call "are ya still making the same salary, honey" a hint. And my ex-wife used to say the same thing, although she never used the name "honey".
[laughter]
Daniel Miller: So, maybe in three years I can ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Minority Report (2002)

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Soundtracks

"That's Life"
Written by Dean Kay and Kelly Gordon

User Reviews

This is a MUST-SEE movie

OK, it may be a bit too romantic-comedy-like, but the one-liners and story concepts are excellent. Albert Brooks plays a very convincing confused dead guy trying to figure out how to justify his total lack of manlihood. Apparently, you can only go to the next level if you have no regrets in life. So, he must go to court to defend his life. Rip Torn couldn't be funnier. The whole story is a crack-up. Note the details in the surroundings. Things like billboards, items on desks, clothing, building architecture. It's all surrealistic. It's almost like it wasn't intended to be that way, but obviously, it was. Your gal will like this story for its romanticism, you'll like it for it's irony and comedy.