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ComedyFantasyRomance

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.

Release Date : 1991-03-22

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Geffen PicturesWarner Bros. Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Albert Brooks

Character Name : Daniel Miller

Original Name : Albert Brooks

Gender : Male

Meryl Streep

Character Name : Julia

Original Name : Meryl Streep

Gender : Female

Rip Torn

Character Name : Bob Diamond

Original Name : Rip Torn

Gender : Male

Lee Grant

Character Name : Lena Foster

Original Name : Lee Grant

Gender : Female

Michael Durrell

Character Name : Agency Head

Original Name : Michael Durrell

Gender : Male

James Eckhouse

Character Name : Jeep Owner

Original Name : James Eckhouse

Gender : Male

Gary Beach

Character Name : Car Salesman

Original Name : Gary Beach

Gender : Male

Julie Cobb

Character Name : Tram Guide

Original Name : Julie Cobb

Gender : Female

Peter Schuck

Character Name : Stan

Original Name : Peter Schuck

Gender : Male

Time Winters

Character Name : Porter

Original Name : Time Winters

Gender : Male

Sharlie Stuart

Character Name : Susan

Original Name : Sharlie Stuart

Gender : Male

Beth Black

Character Name : Soap Opera Woman

Original Name : Beth Black

Gender : Male

Clayton Norcross

Character Name : Soap Opera Man

Original Name : Clayton Norcross

Gender : Male

Jim McKrell

Character Name : Game Show Moderator

Original Name : Jim McKrell

Gender : Male

Wil Albert

Character Name : Game Show Contestant

Original Name : Wil Albert

Gender : Male

Sage Allen

Character Name : Game Show Contestant

Original Name : Sage Allen

Gender : Female

Mary Pat Gleason

Character Name : Waitress

Original Name : Mary Pat Gleason

Gender : Female

Maxine Elliott Hicks

Character Name : Elderly Woman on Tram

Original Name : Maxine Elliott Hicks

Gender : Female

Marilyn Rockafellow

Character Name : Helen

Original Name : Marilyn Rockafellow

Gender : Female

Roger Behr

Character Name : Comedian

Original Name : Roger Behr

Gender : Male

Art Frankel

Character Name : Arthur

Original Name : Art Frankel

Gender : Male

Ernie Brown

Character Name : Ernie

Original Name : Ernie Brown

Gender : Male

George D. Wallace

Character Name : Daniel's Judge

Original Name : George D. Wallace

Gender : Male

Lillian Lehman

Character Name : Daniel's Judge

Original Name : Lillian Lehman

Gender : Female

Raffi Di Blasio

Character Name : Daniel as a Boy

Original Name : Raffi Di Blasio

Gender : Male

Kristopher Kent Hill

Character Name : Bully

Original Name : Kristopher Kent Hill

Gender : Male

Eric Ehasz

Character Name : Child in Schoolyard

Original Name : Eric Ehasz

Gender : Male

Matthew Scharch

Character Name : Daniel as an Infant

Original Name : Matthew Scharch

Gender : Male

S. Scott Bullock

Character Name : Daniel's Father

Original Name : S. Scott Bullock

Gender : Male

Carol Bivins

Character Name : Daniel's Mother

Original Name : Carol Bivins

Gender : Female

Ethan Embry

Character Name : Steve

Original Name : Ethan Embry

Gender : Male

Gary Ballard

Character Name : Mr. Wadworth

Original Name : Gary Ballard

Gender : Male

Mary Mukogawa

Character Name : Sushi Hostess

Original Name : Mary Mukogawa

Gender : Male

Toshio Shikami

Character Name : Head Sushi Chef

Original Name : Toshio Shikami

Gender : Male

Samee Park

Character Name : Sushi Chef

Original Name : Samee Park

Gender : Male

Kagko Shikami

Character Name : Sushi Chef

Original Name : Kagko Shikami

Gender : Male

Tommy Inouye

Character Name : Sushi Chef

Original Name : Tommy Inouye

Gender : Male

Ken Thorley

Character Name : Frank

Original Name : Ken Thorley

Gender : Male

Bob Braun

Character Name : Talk Show Host

Original Name : Bob Braun

Gender : Male

Jennifer Barlow Grodsky

Character Name : Talk Show Guest

Original Name : Jennifer Barlow Grodsky

Gender : Female

Buck Henry

Character Name : Dick Stanley

Original Name : Buck Henry

Gender : Male

Joey Miyashima

Character Name : Casio Tipster

Original Name : Joey Miyashima

Gender : Male

Nurit Koppel

Character Name : Daniel's Date

Original Name : Nurit Koppel

Gender : Male

Susan Walters

Character Name : Daniel's Wife

Original Name : Susan Walters

Gender : Female

Sidney Chankin

Character Name : Used Car Salesman

Original Name : Sidney Chankin

Gender : Male

Greg Finley

Character Name : Used Car Salesman

Original Name : Greg Finley

Gender : Male

Leonard O. Turner

Character Name : Sam

Original Name : Leonard O. Turner

Gender : Male

Clifford Einstein

Character Name : Julia's Prosecutor

Original Name : Clifford Einstein

Gender : Male

Rachel Bard

Character Name : Julia's Judge

Original Name : Rachel Bard

Gender : Female

Newell Alexander

Character Name : Julia's Judge

Original Name : Newell Alexander

Gender : Male

Shirley MacLaine

Character Name : Shirley MacLaine

Original Name : Shirley MacLaine

Gender : Female

Hal Landon Jr.

Character Name : Man in Past Lives Pavilion

Original Name : Hal Landon Jr.

Gender : Male

Ida Lee

Character Name : Woman in Past Lives Pavilion

Original Name : Ida Lee

Gender : Male

Noley Thornton

Character Name : Victorian Girl

Original Name : Noley Thornton

Gender : Female

Glen Chin

Character Name : Sumo Wrestler

Original Name : Glen Chin

Gender : Male

James Ekim

Character Name : Native

Original Name : James Ekim

Gender : Male

Clarke Coleman

Character Name : Knight

Original Name : Clarke Coleman

Gender : Male

Ronald L. Colby

Character Name : Majestic Doorman

Original Name : Ronald L. Colby

Gender : Male

David Purdham

Character Name : Peter

Original Name : David Purdham

Gender : Male

James Paradise

Character Name : Stage Manager

Original Name : James Paradise

Gender : Male

Jerry Prell

Character Name : Banquet Manager

Original Name : Jerry Prell

Gender : Male

Arell Blanton

Character Name : Fire Marshall

Original Name : Arell Blanton

Gender : Male

Shana Ballard

Character Name : Julia's Daughter

Original Name : Shana Ballard

Gender : Male

Chris Macris

Character Name : Julia's Son

Original Name : Chris Macris

Gender : Male

Joseph Darrell

Character Name : Maitre d'

Original Name : Joseph Darrell

Gender : Male

James Manis

Character Name : Eduardo

Original Name : James Manis

Gender : Male

Alex Sheafe

Character Name : Martin

Original Name : Alex Sheafe

Gender : Male

Cathleen Chin

Character Name : Ticket Counter Agent

Original Name : Cathleen Chin

Gender : Female

Lisa Sears

Character Name : Tram Port Attendant

Original Name : Lisa Sears

Gender : Male

Mark Dunlap

Character Name : Tram Port Attendant

Original Name : Mark Dunlap

Gender : Male

Vernon Roguen

Character Name : Tram Port Attendant

Original Name : Vernon Roguen

Gender : Male

Dennis Germain

Character Name : Tram Driver

Original Name : Dennis Germain

Gender : Male

Jorga Caye

Character Name : Deceased Lady (uncredited)

Original Name : Jorga Caye

Gender : Female

Robert Gatewood

Character Name : Afterlife Traveler (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Gatewood

Gender : Male

John Michael Quinn

Character Name : Man in Heaven (uncredited)

Original Name : John Michael Quinn

Gender : Male

Douglas M. Nelson

Character Name : Tram Attendee (uncredited)

Original Name : Douglas M. Nelson

Gender : Male

Reviews

G

GenerationofSwine

@GenerationofSwine

2023-01-12

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.