Defending Your Life (1991)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Albert Brooks

Writer (WGA):

Albert Brooks (written by)

Release Date:

22 March 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

The first true story of what happens after you die.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Afterlife | Prosecutor | Courage | Car Accident | Defense Lawyer

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

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
Wil Albert	...	Game show contestant
Sage Allen	...	Game show contestant
Mary Pat Gleason	...	Waitress

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG (certificate #30916) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Australia:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

770 The City Drive, Orange, California, USA

Company:

Geffen Pictures

Trivia:

The trams used throughout the film are older ones from Universal Studios Hollywood.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Daniel and Julia are walking up to hotel for the first time, the front of the hotel very clearly has a canvas overlay saying "Majestic Hotel", covering the real name of the hotel being used.

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 double my income?
Agency head: Good luck.
Daniel Miller: Four years? Okay. So, you're great people to work with, and this is a great present, and I wish I could squeeze all of you into one pretty woman.
[laughter]
Daniel Miller: And if you'd like to go to my office, I'll drive.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'The Larry Sanders Show' (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

That's Life

Eat All You Want!

Albert Brooks' view of death is very pleasing to me! Imagine eating all you want while dressed in a comfortable Star Trek outfit! Plus the weather is always great!

Unfortunately, that's only at Judgement City..who knows the circumstances at the other places?

Daniel (Brooks) dies in the first ten minutes, while listening to Streisand in his brand new car. He is whisked off to Judgement City where everyone's life is evaluated. You see glimpses of your own past and have to defend your life and yourself. There's a prosecutor and your trial will decide if you 'go on' or 'go back' but none of that really matters that much. Its really just a reason to see all the flashbacks and relive all the memories. Everything is based on fear - how you handle it, if you let it run your life and, most importantly, if you overcame it at all.

On night in a comedy club he meets Julia, played by Meryl Streep. They get along immediately and enjoy each other very much. She has a better hotel than he does and as the movie progresses you see Daniel as more of a loser than anything, while Julia was apparently in the other category. She is on a first-name basis with her lawyer and gets invited to a dinner party he throws. Daniel eats alone in a sushi bar (very funny scene!) that night.

There is one priceless scene that I closely identified with. Daniel is on his way to Hong Kong (this is a scene from his life, obviously) and finds he has seat 'B', meaning he's between two people. He can't even consider sitting in between two people for that long a trip so asks the flight attendant if there are any available seats in first class. She says there is one seat, but it costs $3000 more. He takes it! I would also do a lot to avoid seat 'B', too!

Albert Brooks movies are never laugh riots, but they are not supposed to be. They are pleasantly amusing, memorable and thoughtful. This movie falls into the category too but does contain a couple of very funny scenes - during his 'trial' there is what seems to be a 'blooper' tape of his life that is very funny and played strictly for laughs. Its a little disrespectful of the character but Brooks never minds portraying himself as vulnerable and human.

Outcome is very satisfying. Streep underplays beautifully and the two actors have a considerable amount of chemistry. Rip Torn, Lee Grant and Buck Henry are the lawyers, and all of them are servicable. 8/10.