Defending Your Life | 
| Director: Albert Brooks
Actors: Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, Roger Behr, Beth Black
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $7.42
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Rating:  103 reviews
Sales Rank: 3688
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
DVD Layers: 2
DVD Sides: 1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 111 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 5.6 x 0.6
MPN: WARD12049D
ISBN: 0790757257
UPC: 085391204923
EAN: 9780790757254
ASIN: B000056WRG
Theatrical Release Date: March 22, 1991
Release Date: April 3, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New and Factory Sealed Item Fast Shipping
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Amazon.com
Albert Brooks proves there's laughs after death with this almost heavenly comedy--almost heaven as in Judgment City, where recently perished Daniel Miller (Brooks) learns whether he is worthy of advancing to a higher plane of existence or will be sent back to earth for another incarnation. His fate will be determined in a very special trial, during which scenes from his life are replayed on a giant screen. "Isn't it realistic?" a judge asks. "It makes some people nauseous." While the steely prosecutor (Lee Grant) will try to prove that Daniel failed in life to face his fears and insecurities, his glad-handing, reassuring defender (Rip Torn) will argue on behalf of this hapless "little brain" (a Judgment City term for residents of earth). As Woody Allen did for the future in Sleeper, so does Brooks create an original vision of the afterlife. In Judgment City, white-robed residents can eat as much as they want without guilt or fear of gaining weight. They can also visit the Past Lives Pavilion, where they are greeted by a hologram of--who else--Shirley MacLaine. Daniel finds himself touched by an angel. Meryl Streep gives an enchanting performance as Julia, whose exemplary life is in stark contrast to his. During her trial, the court watches in rapture as she saves not only children, but a cat from a burning building. Daniel and Julia are a match made in Judgment City, but first Daniel must summon up the courage to express his true feelings for her, or she will surely advance without him. Defending Your Life is Brooks's most ambitious film and, with Mother, his most accessible. --Donald Liebenson
Product Description
Judgement city is where the newly departed go to be judged before deciding whether they are heavenbound or hellbound. Special features: trailer: cast/director film highlights: subtitles in english french spanish and portuguese dubbed in quebec. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 06/07/2005 Starring: Albert Brooks Meryl Streep Run time: 112 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Albert Brooks
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| Customer Reviews: Read 98 more reviews...
 Dull, plodding, endless... oh, a joke! How nice. December 30, 2008
Davalon (Tokyo)
This movie was funny to some extent in 1992. Viewed now, it is an endless chat fest where a character says something, and another character repeats the same thing, either in shock, surprise, or as a question. This type of "dialogue" is often found in scripts written by stars/directors or someone who is really incapable of writing natural dialogue.
The movie has tons of cultural references that may have seemed hysterical to an L.A. audience in the early 90s, but, again, viewed now is neither funny or interesting.
Our leads are Meryl Streep, who is gorgeous and has so much presence that it is unfortunate that she had to be in this film, and Albert Brooks, who was also the writer/director--but should have only been one of the three, not all.
The "courtroom scenes," which, at last count, we had to endure three times, go on and on and on. Brooks "spins" around his chair to look at his former life, and then spins back to look at the judges with all the verve and enthusiasm of Tony Perkins's dead mother in "Psycho."
Albert Brooks can be funny, no question about it. And this was a unique idea. But someone really needed to take a gardening shears to the script and to have cracked a whip on the set. The pacing is so deadly that I would have had to down a jar of Vivarin in order to maintain enough alertness to get through the whole thing.
Good idea; questionable execution, deadly pacing.
 My favorite all time movie December 24, 2008
Shanna (Northern Wisconsin, USA)
I along with my husband watch many movies, but this movie, "Defending Your Life" is my all time favorite. I guess it just struck a cord in me. The usual view of death has never been an amusing subject. In this movie death becomes the ultimate fantasy. Judgment City is portrayed as the most luxurious vacation resort you would ever want to visit. It's restaurants serve the best food imaginable. I have a favorite restaurant scene in the film that highlights Julia's (Meryl Strep's character's) fun easy going attitude toward eating. While spending time in transition waiting for the ultimate decision to be made, Julia(Meryl Strep)enjoys all the wonderful amenities the resort has to offer. Her joy is so infectious that Daniel Miller (Albert Brooks character) soon learns to love her as well as what life is meant to be. This movie is a unique classic. One you will want to store in your collection and view many times over.
There is only a one letter difference between Comic and Cosmic December 23, 2008
Bill Thomas
Albert does it again in one of my all time favorite movies. Other reviewers gave a fine synopsis of the plot so I won't rehash it here other than to say don't miss the snowmobile and restaurant scenes (I had a friend who had an "incident" with a rented snowmobile in West Yellowstone while on a Yellowstone vacation and he burst out laughing when I played the snowmobile scene for him).
I saw the film when it was out and the DVD several times since. I am drawn to this movie because its premise of why we are here makes as much sense to me as any other view and the comic spin works on so many levels. I don't remember the original reviews other than the glowing one given by a San Diego Reader movie critic. I am not surprised that many mainstream critics did not "get" this movie, just like they did not "get" Joe vs The Volcano.
If you like Albert Brooks and if you want to see an interesting, comic take on the afterlife then this one you must check out.
P.S. I became a big fan of Rip Torn after seeing this movie, as did the producers of The Larry Sanders Show.
Did they know what they wrote? October 21, 2008
Jaydee (Palm Springs, CA)
I saw this movie a number of years ago and thought it was cute. When I found it on DVD I bought it thinking it would make a nice addition to my easy watching collection. I watched it and found it had a whole new meaning to me and wondered "Did they know what they wrote"? Very interesting point of view as well as fun to watch.
Journey of the soul September 30, 2008
Marie Pauline Mejia (US)
I love this movie. For those of you who believe in the existence of the soul and what happens after you die, this movie is for you. It tells the story of a man defending his past life to a panel of judges in judgment city. Is he ready to go on to heaven or does he need to go back to earth and do it all over again. The character very well played by Albert Brooks seems to muddle through his defense mimicking how he muddled through his life on earth. He realizes this as he hears the judgment to return to earth. His one act of bravery changes his destiny and he goes on to heaven. It is a funny, feel good movie and a must see.
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