Defending Your Life (1991)

Director:

Albert Brooks

Writer (WGA):

Albert Brooks (written by)

Release Date:

22 March 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

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 | Fear | Prosecutor | Courage | Car Accident

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 (as James MacKrell)
Wil Albert	...	Game Show Contestant
Sage Allen	...	Game Show Contestant
Mary Pat Gleason	...	Waitress
Maxine Elliott Hicks	...	Elderly Woman on Tram (as Maxine Elliott)
Marilyn Rockafellow	...	Helen
Roger Behr	...	Comedian
Meryl Streep	...	Julia
Art Frankel	...	Arthur
Ernie Brown	...	Ernie
Lee Grant	...	Lena Foster
George Wallace	...	Daniel's Judge (as George D. Wallace)
Lillian Lehman	...	Daniel's Judge
Raffi Di Blasio	...	Daniel as a Boy
Kristopher Kent Hill	...	Bully
Eric Ehasz	...	Child in Schoolyard
Matthew Scharch	...	Daniel as an Infant
S. Scott Bullock	...	Daniel's Father
Carol Bivins	...	Daniel's Mother
Ethan Embry	...	Steve (as Ethan Randall)
Gary Ballard	...	Mr. Wadworth
Mary Mukogawa	...	Sushi Hostess
Toshio Shikami	...	Head Sushi Chef
Kagko Shikami	...	Sushi Chef
Samee Park	...	Sushi Chef
Tommy Inouye	...	Sushi Chef
Ken Thorley	...	Frank
Bob Braun	...	Talk Show Host
Jennifer Barlow	...	Talk Show Guest
Buck Henry	...	Dick Stanley
Joey Miyashima	...	Casio Tipster
Nurit Koppel	...	Daniel's Date
Susan Walters	...	Daniel's Wife
Sidney Chankin	...	Used Car Salesman
Greg Finley	...	Used Car Salesman
Leonard O. Turner	...	Sam
Clifford Einstein	...	Julia's Prosecutor (as Cliff Einstein)
Rachel Bard	...	Julia's Judge
Newell Alexander	...	Julia's Judge
Shirley MacLaine	...	Herself
Hal Landon Jr.	...	Man in Past Lives Pavilion
Ida Lee	...	Woman in Past Lives Pavilion
Noley Thornton	...	Victorian Girl
Glen Chin	...	Sumo Wrestler
James Ekim	...	Native
Clarke Coleman	...	Knight
Ron Colby	...	Majestic Doorman
David Purdham	...	Peter
James Paradise	...	Stage Manager
Jerry Prell	...	Banquet Manager
Arell Blanton	...	Fire Marshall
Shana Ballard	...	Julia's Daughter
Chris Macris	...	Julia's Son
Joseph Darrell	...	Maitre d'
James Manis	...	Eduardo
Alex Sheafe	...	Martin
Cathleen Chin	...	Ticket Counter Agent
Lisa Sears	...	Tram Port Attendant
Mark Dunlap	...	Tram Port Attendant
Vernon Roguen	...	Tram Port Attendant
Dennis Germain	...	Tram Driver

Directed by
Albert Brooks

Writing credits (WGA)
Albert Brooks		(written by)

Produced by
Robert Grand	....	co-producer
Michael Grillo	....	producer
Herb Nanas	....	executive producer (as Herbert S. Nanas)

Original Music by
Michael Gore

Cinematography by
Allen Daviau		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
David Finfer

Casting by
Barbara Claman
Mark Saks

Production Design by
Ida Random

Art Direction by
Richard Reynolds

Set Decoration by
Linda DeScenna

Costume Design by
Deborah Lynn Scott		(as Deborah L. Scott)

Makeup Department
Hallie D'Amore	....	makeup artist
J. Roy Helland	....	hair stylist: Ms. Streep
J. Roy Helland	....	makeup artist: Ms. Streep
Marlene D. Williams	....	hair stylist (as Marlene Williams)

Production Management
Robert Grand	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Fernando Castroman	....	dga trainee
Carey Dietrich	....	second assistant director
Michael Grillo	....	first assistant director
Annette Sutera	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Larry Clark Bird	....	property master (as Larry Bird)
Randy Bostic	....	swing gang (as Randy Bostick)
Robert E. Denne	....	stand-by painter (as Bob Denne)
Sara Gardner-Gail	....	swing gang (as Sara Gardner)
David Harris	....	greens
James Hegedus	....	production illustrator
Martha Johnston	....	set designer
Ric McElvin	....	lead person (as Rick McElvin)
James F. Orendorff	....	construction foreman (as Jamie Orendorff)
Donn Piller	....	swing gang
John Rankin	....	swing gang
George Stokes	....	construction coordinator
John Thompson	....	greens (as John D. Thompson III)
Ken Zimmerman	....	assistant property master
Cary Conway	....	paint foreman (uncredited)
Frank White	....	laborer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Wayne Artman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Jim Borgardt	....	adr editor (as James A. Borgardt)
Robert Bradshaw	....	dialogue editor
Joseph F. Brennan	....	boom operator (as Joseph Brennan)
G.W. Brown	....	adr editor
Thomas Causey	....	production sound mixer
Tom E. Dahl	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Tom Dahl)
Valerie Davidson	....	foley editor
Dane A. Davis	....	supervising sound editor
Melinda Garey	....	assistant sound editor
Hector C. Gika	....	dialogue editor (as Hector Gika)
Darrell Hall	....	assistant sound editor
Tom Hammond	....	foley editor
Frank Jones	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kini Kay	....	sound effects editor
Richard Kite	....	boom operator
John Kwiatkowski	....	sound effects editor
Kimberly Ellen Lowe	....	dialogue editor (as Kimberly Lowe Voigt)
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
Val Kuklowsky	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Chris Burton	....	special effects foreman
Dennis Dion	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Ken Allen	....	matte artist: DQI
Scott Beattie	....	motion control supervisor: DQI
Mat Beck	....	visual effects supervisor: DQI
Jeff Burks	....	animation supervisor: DQI
Rob Burton	....	motion control supervisor: DQI
Jon Farhat	....	visual effects artist: DQI
David Goldberg	....	model supervisor: DQI (as Dave Goldberg)
Erik Henry	....	visual effects editor: DQI
Fred Iguchi	....	electronics supervisor: DQI
Rick Johnson	....	blue screen technician: DQI (as Richard Johnson)
Jeff Matakovich	....	optical supervisor: DQI
Robert Scifo	....	matte artist: DQI
Robert Stadd	....	visual effects producer: DQI
Kevin Scott Mack	....	model painter (uncredited)
Linda Renaud	....	visual effects editor (uncredited)
James Valentine	....	rotoscope supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Bill Erickson	....	stunt coordinator
Jeff Jensen	....	stunts
Paul E. Short	....	stunts (as Paul Short)

Camera and Electrical Department
Tom Bookout	....	second grip
Eric Engler	....	camera operator
Michael Kenner	....	key grip
Bobby Mancuso	....	second assistant camera
William R. Mayberry	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Bill Mayberry)
Carol McCullough	....	still photographer
Robert W. Meyers	....	rigging gaffer (as Robert Meyers)
Reggie Newkirk	....	first assistant camera
Randy Nolen	....	panaglide operator
Jim Shelton	....	dolly grip
Larry Wallace	....	chief lighting technician
Lee Redmond	....	camera operator: pick-up shots (uncredited)

Casting Department
Maggie Erickson	....	casting assistant
Jenny O'Haver	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Phyllis Corcoran-Woods	....	set costumer
John George	....	set costumer
Greg Hall	....	set costumer
Deborah Hopper	....	set costumer
George L. Little	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Spencer Gross	....	associate editor
Judd H. Maslansky	....	assistant editor (as Judd Maslansky)
Maureen Mitchell	....	assistant editor
John Morrisey	....	assistant editor
Robert Raring	....	color timer

Music Department
Joel Moss	....	music scoring mixer
Curtis Roush	....	music editor
Shirley Walker	....	orchestrator
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)
Bruce Fowler	....	additional orchestrator (uncredited)
Shirley Walker	....	conductor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Tom Dias	....	transportation captain
Daniel Quick	....	transportation coordinator
John Sagray	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Michael Antunez	....	tram coordinator
Christina Bennett	....	assistant production office coordinator
Steph Benseman	....	location manager
Cheri Hall	....	assistant accountant
Lloyd Hamm	....	tram consultant
Michael Haro	....	staff assistant
Patti Hawn	....	unit publicist
Peter E. Hirsch	....	staff assistant (as Peter Hirsch)
Jiovanni Iacoviello	....	staff assistant (as John Iacoviello)
Luca Kouimelis	....	script supervisor
Ruben Martinez	....	craft service
Fran Messer	....	assistant: Mr. Nanas
Jack E. Pelissier Jr.	....	staff assistant
Laura Petticord	....	staff assistant
Nancy Ramey	....	production accountant
Jason Roberts	....	staff assistant
Lauren Ross	....	assistant location manager
Susan Schader	....	assistant: Mr. Brooks
Catherine Varvaro	....	assistant: Mr. Grillo
Lisbeth Wynn-Owen	....	production office coordinator
Bill Daly	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)

Thanks
Paul Slansky	....	special thanks: for his invaluable support

Production Companies

• Geffen Pictures

Distributors

• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Geffen Pictures
• Pioneer Entertainment (laserdisc)
• TV4 Sweden (1996) (Sweden) (TV)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (through)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Dream Quest Images (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Cenex Casting  extras casting
• City and County of Los Angeles  the producers wish to thank: for their cooperation in this production (as The City and County of Los Angeles)
• Columbia Records  soundtrack
• D. Bassett & Associates  negative cutting
• Michelson Food Services  caterer (as Michelson Food Service)
• Orange County, California  the producers wish to thank: for their cooperation in this production (as The County of Orange)
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision  lenses and camera (as Panavision®)
• Saxon/Ross Film Design  title design
• State of California  the producers wish to thank: for their cooperation in this production (as The State of California)
• Video Image  video services

Also Known As:

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

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:

On the coffee-table book "Above Judgement City," the picture is actually an aerial view of Denver, CO.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In the Past Lives Pavilion, as the subjects walk to their viewing booths, the overhead asks them to proceed to the "first available booth on the left." The subjects actually proceed to the last available booth.

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

An amazing and unique commentary on life and death

Defending Your Life is one of those movies that has stuck with me over the years for some reason. The most likely one is that this film presents one of the most plausible and thought-provoking views of the afterlife that I have ever heard from a movie, or anywhere else for that matter. The protagonist (Brooks) dies and wakes up in Judgement City, where it's just like earth, only 70 degrees and clear all the time, and you can eat all of the most delicious food in existence that you want and not gain a pound.

The catch is that you are essentially placed on trial. Several random days from your like are examined, and the judges decide whether you will "move on", or be sent back to earth to try again. The most interesting thing to me is that you aren't judged according to how well you followed the commandments, but on whether you let your fear keep you from making the right choices in your life. You see, fear is what keeps those of us on Earth (comically referred to as "little brains") from realizing our full potential.

As great as this theory is, it's the character played by Albert Brooks that makes this film worth watching. We can sense his bewilderment, as well as his shame at not living his life as well as he could have. In fact, it is so easy to empathize with his character that I felt sorry for him, seeing myself in his place one day. But Don't get me wrong, Defending Your Life is also a very funny movie. Judgement City is a sort of parallel reality to our own, in ways that are very pleasant to see. And the ending is perfect. You owe it to yourself to see this movie.