Defending Your Life (1991)
- Starring:
- Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, (more)
- Director(s):
- Albert Brooks
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG
- Category:
- Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Member Rating
My RatingTheatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
Albert Brooks wrote, directed, and stars in this philosophical comedy about a man having a hard time making a case for himself in the afterlife. When advertising executive Daniel Miller (Albert Brooks) finds himself in a fatal car crash minutes after taking delivery on a new BMW, he's whisked away to Judgment City, where the recently dead are put on a sort of trial to decide their fate. If in your time on Earth you were able to face your fears and learn from your mistakes, you get to move on to a life in a better world. However, if you didn't, you have to go back to Earth and try again. As he spends the next several days watching various episodes from his life, Daniel gets the impression he doesn't stand much of a chance of moving on -- and his representative, Bob Diamond (Rip Torn), seems to have little confidence in his case. In the meantime, he frequents Judgment City's many restaurants (where the food is delicious and you can eat all you want without gaining an ounce), pays a visit to the Past Life Pavilion, and meets Julia (Meryl Streep), who seems so kind, sweet, and noble that her advancement is practically assured. Daniel and Julia fall in love, but what's going to happen if they don't end up in the same place? Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep make a witty and engaging romantic team in Defending Your Life, and Shirley MacLaine appears in a highly appropriate cameo. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 111 mins
Complete Cast:
- Albert Brooks - Daniel Miller
- Rip Torn - Bob Diamond
- Buck Henry - Dick Stanley
- Wil Albert - Game Show Contestant
- Sage Allen - Game Show Contestant
- Shana Ballard - Julia's Daughter
- Jennifer Barlow - Talk Show Guest
- Roger Behr - Comedian
- Beth Black - Soap Opera Woman
- Bob Braun - Talk Show Host
- Scott S. Bullock - Daniel's Father
- Cathleen Chin - Ticket Counter Agent
- Glen Chin - Sumo Wrestler
- Ron Colby - Majestic Doorman
- Joseph Darrell - Maitre d'
- Mark Dunlap - Tram Port Attendant
- Sharlie Stuart - Susan
- Kagko Shikami - Sushi Chef
- Lisa Sears - Tram Port Attendant
- Matthew Scharch - Daniel as an Infant
- Marilyn Rockafellow - Helen
- Mark Saks
- Tim Winters - Porter
- George D. Wallace - Daniel's Judge
- Noley Thornton - Victorian Girl
- David Purdham - Peter
- Samee Park - Sushi Chef
- Clayton Norcross - Soap Opera Man
- Joey Miyashima - Casio Tipster
- James Eckhouse - Jeep Owner
- Cliff Einstein - Julia's Prosecutor
- Greg Finley - Used Car Salesman
- Dennis Germain - Tram Driver
- Maxine Hicks - Woman on bus
- Tommy Inouye - Sushi Chef
- Hal Landon, Jr. - Man in Past Lives Pavilion
- Lillian Lehman - Daniel's Judge
- Meryl Streep - Julia
- Lee Grant - Lena Foster
- Shirley MacLaine - Herself
- Newell Alexander - Julia's Judge
- Gary Ballard - Mr. Wadworth
- Rachel Bard - Julia's Judge
- Gary Beach - Car Salesman
- Carol Bivins - Daniel's Mother
- Arell Blanton - Fire Marshall
- Ernie Brown - Ernie
- Sidney Chankin - Used Car Salesman
- Chris Macris - Julia's Son
- Julie Cobb - Tram Guide
- Clarke Coleman - Knight
- Raffi Di Blasio - Daniel as a Boy
- Michael Durrell - Agency Head
- Toshio Shikami - Head Sushi Chef
- Alex Sheafe - Martin
- Peter Schuck - Stan
- Vernon Roguen - Tram Port Attendant
- Ethan Randall - Steve
- Barbara Claman
- Susan Walters - Daniel's Wife
- Leonard Turner - Sam
- Ken Thorley - Frank
- Jerry Prell - Banquet Manager
- James Paradise - Stage Manager
- Mary Mukogawa - Sushi Hostess
- James Manis - Eduardo
- Eric Ehasz - Child in Schoolyard
- James Ekim - Native
- Art Frankel - Arthur
- Mary Pat Gleason - Waitress
- Kristopher Kent Hill - Bully
- Nurit Koppel - Daniel's Date
- Ida Lee - Woman in Past Lives Pavilion
- James MacKrell - Game Show Moderator
- Director(s):
- Albert Brooks
- Writer(s):
- Albert Brooks
- Producer(s):
- Michael Grillo
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG(Adult Humor, Questionable for Children, Adult Language)
- Categories:
- Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
