Defending Your Life
The first true story of what happens after you die.
Is there love after death? After he dies suddenly, the hapless advertising executive Daniel Miller finds himself in Judgment City, a gleaming way station where the newly deceased must prove they lived a life of sufficient courage to advance in their journey through the universe. As the self-doubting Daniel struggles to make his case, a budding relationship with the uninhibited Julia offers him a chance to finally feel alive.
Production
Production
Trailers & Videos
Defending Your Life (1991) | Official Trailer
Cast
Albert Brooks
Daniel Miller
Meryl Streep
Julia
Rip Torn
Bob Diamond
Lee Grant
Lena Foster
Michael Durrell
Agency Head
James Eckhouse
Jeep Owner
Gary Beach
Car Salesman
Julie Cobb
Tram Guide
Time Winters
Porter
Clayton Norcross
Soap Opera Man
Jim McKrell
Game Show Moderator
Sage Allen
Game Show Contestant
Mary Pat Gleason
Waitress
Maxine Elliott Hicks
Elderly Woman on Tram
George D. Wallace
Daniel's Judge
Lillian Lehman
Daniel's Judge
Raffi Di Blasio
Daniel as a Boy
Ethan Embry
Steve
Gary Ballard
Mr. Wadworth
Buck Henry
Dick Stanley
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Reviews
GenerationofSwine
I remember when I was 12 or so, I woke up incredibly early (thank you Chicago Tribune TV Guide for helping me with missions like that) and went into the basement to record this off HBO. Then, shortly after I hit record I fell asleep on the couch and had the strangest freaking dream of my childhood because of the title of this film.
Had nothing to do with the movie, I just remember it to this day so I'm rambling about it.
Really though, it has a message, there is a moral to the story, but you aren't watching it for that. And when I was 11 or 12 I didn't record it for that. No, you're watching it because Albert Brooks is pretty funny and the film seems quirky and light hearted.
And, honestly, it delivers. It's one of those increasingly rare films that announces what kind of movie that it is, makes promises for a happy ending, and delivers on it. There aren't really any surprises, you assume how the movie is going to end before you even sit down to watch it, and you're only really watching it in the first place because you feel the need to see that kind of story.
And it delivers. It's fun in a quirky, dry, and understated way. It brings you into a fun little world, and it hits all the marks it promised to in the trailer, comedy, romance, happy ending.
Everything else is just icing.
You've reached the end.