Defending Your Life (1991)

March 22, 1991 (US) • Romance, Fantasy, Comedy, Drama • 111m

Overview

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.

Director

Albert Brooks

Writer

Albert Brooks

Top Billed

Albert Brooks

Keywords

afterlife allegory prosecution heaven satire reincarnation car accident courtroom advertising agency past life

Where to watch

Rent

Buy

Top Billed 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

Peter Schuck

Stan

Time Winters

Porter

Sharlie Stuart

Susan

Beth Black

Soap Opera Woman

Clayton Norcross

Soap Opera Man

Jim McKrell

Game Show Moderator

Wil Albert

Game Show Contestant

Sage Allen

Game Show Contestant

Mary Pat Gleason

Waitress

Maxine Elliott Hicks

Elderly Woman on Tram

Marilyn Rockafellow

Helen

Roger Behr

Comedian

Art Frankel

Arthur

Ernie Brown

Ernie

George D. Wallace

Daniel's Judge

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

Gary Ballard

Mr. Wadworth

Mary Mukogawa

Sushi Hostess

Toshio Shikami

Head Sushi Chef

Samee Park

Sushi Chef

Kagko Shikami

Sushi Chef

Tommy Inouye

Sushi Chef

Ken Thorley

Frank

Bob Braun

Talk Show Host

Jennifer Barlow Grodsky

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

Rachel Bard

Julia's Judge

Newell Alexander

Julia's Judge

Shirley MacLaine

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

Ronald L. 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

Jorga Caye

Deceased Lady (uncredited)

Robert Gatewood

Afterlife Traveler (uncredited)

John Michael Quinn

Man in Heaven (uncredited)

Crew

Albert Brooks

Director

Albert Brooks

Screenplay

Michael Grillo

Producer

Michael Gore

Original Music Composer

Allen Daviau

Director of Photography

David Finfer

Editor

Barbara Claman

Casting

Mark Saks

Casting

Deborah L. Scott

Costume Design

Ida Random

Production Design

Robert Grand

Co-Producer

Herb Nanas

Executive Producer

Robert Grand

Production Manager

Michael Grillo

First Assistant Director

Carey Dietrich

Second Assistant Director

Richard Reynolds

Art Direction

Linda DeScenna

Set Decoration

Ric McElvin

Leadman

Donn Piller

Swing

John Rankin

Swing

Sara Gardner-Gail

Swing

Randy Bostic

Swing

James Hegedus

Production Illustrator

Martha Johnston

Set Designer

Eric Engler

Camera Operator

Reggie Newkirk

First Assistant Camera

Bobby Mancuso

Second Assistant Camera

Spencer Cross

Associate Editor

Maureen Mitchell

Assistant Editor

John Morrisey

Assistant Editor

Judd H. Maslansky

Assistant Editor

Dane A. Davis

Supervising Sound Editor

G.W. Brown

ADR Editor

Jim Borgardt

ADR Editor

John Kwiatkowski

Sound Effects Editor

Kimberly Lowe Voigt

Dialogue Editor

Hector C. Gika

Dialogue Editor

Robert Bradshaw

Dialogue Editor

Tom Hammond

Foley Editor

Valerie Davidson

Foley Editor

Melinda Garey

Assistant Sound Editor

Darrell Hall

Assistant Sound Editor

Joan Rowe

Foley Artist

Gregg Barbanell

Foley Artist

Thomas Causey

Production Sound Mixer

Joseph F. Brennan

Boom Operator

Richard Kite

Boom Operator

Wayne Artman

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Tom E. Dahl

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Franklin Jones Jr.

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Joel Moss

Scoring Mixer

Curtis Roush

Music Editor

Shirley Walker

Orchestrator

Steph Benseman

Location Manager

Lauren Ross

Assistant Location Manager

Luca Kouimelis

Script Supervisor

Annette Sutera

Second Second Assistant Director

George Stokes

Construction Coordinator

James F. Orendorff

Construction Foreman

Robert E. Denne

Standby Painter

David Harris

Greensman

John Thompson

Greensman

Dennis Dion

Special Effects Supervisor

Chris Burton

Special Effects Coordinator

Michael Kenner

Key Grip

Jim Shelton

Dolly Grip

Larry Wallace

Chief Lighting Technician

William R. Mayberry

Assistant Chief Lighting Technician

Robert W. Meyers

Rigging Gaffer

Larry Clark Bird

Property Master

Ken Zimmerman

Assistant Property Master

Hallie D'Amore

Makeup Artist

Marlene D. Williams

Hairstylist

J. Roy Helland

Makeup Artist

J. Roy Helland

Hairstylist

George L. Little

Wardrobe Supervisor

Phyllis Corcoran-Woods

Set Costumer

Deborah Hopper

Set Costumer

Greg Hall

Set Costumer

John George

Set Costumer

Nancy Ramey

Production Accountant

Cheri Hall

Assistant Accountant

Lisbeth Wynn-Owen

Production Office Coordinator

Patti Hawn

Unit Publicist

Carol McCullough

Still Photographer

Bill Erickson

Stunt Coordinator

Paul E. Short

Stunts

Jeff Jensen

Stunts

Maggie Erickson

Casting Assistant

Robert Raring

Color Timer

Mat Beck

Visual Effects Supervisor

Robert Stadd

Visual Effects Producer

Paul Slansky

Thanks

Fernando Castroman

Assistant Director Trainee

Cary Conway

Paint Coordinator

Kini Kay

Sound Effects Editor

Val Kuklowsky

Sound Editor

Richard L. Hill

Special Effects Technician

Ken Allen

Matte Painter

Jeff Burks

Animation Supervisor

Jon Farhat

VFX Artist

David Goldberg

Modelling Supervisor

Erik Henry

VFX Editor

Robert Scifo

Matte Painter

Kevin Scott Mack

Modeling

Linda Renaud

VFX Editor

James Valentine

Roto Supervisor

Tom Bookout

Second Company Grip

Lee Redmond

Camera Operator

László Regos

Steadicam Operator

Laura Adler

Casting Assistant

Jenny O'Haver

Casting Assistant

Robert Foulkes

Assistant Location Manager

Tom Boyd

Musician

Bruce Fowler

Orchestrator

Malcolm McNab

Musician

Louise Di Tullio

Musician

Shirley Walker

Conductor

Tom Dias

Transportation Captain

Daniel Quick

Transportation Coordinator

John Sagray

Driver

Bill Daly

Post Production Accountant

Reviews

GenerationofSwine

⭐ 10/10

January 12, 2023

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 h… read the rest.