Defending Your Life
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(s)
Albert Brooks
Michael Grillo
Carey Dietrich
Annette Sutera
Luca Kouimelis
Fernando Castroman
Where to watch
Amazon Video
Rent
Cast & crew
Lee Grant
Lena Foster
Albert Brooks
Daniel Miller
Ethan Embry
Steve
Meryl Streep
Julia
Sage Allen
Game Show Contestant
Greg Finley
Used Car Salesman
Clarke Coleman
Knight
Joey Miyashima
Casio Tipster
Mary Pat Gleason
Waitress
Time Winters
Porter
Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine
Rip Torn
Bob Diamond
Luca Kouimelis
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Jorga Caye
Deceased Lady (uncredited)
Ken Thorley
Frank
Clifford Einstein
Julia's Prosecutor
George D. Wallace
Daniel's Judge
Susan Walters
Daniel's Wife
David Purdham
Peter
Leonard O. Turner
Sam
Marilyn Rockafellow
Helen
Art Frankel
Arthur
Fernando Castroman
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Michael Grillo
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Jim McKrell
Game Show Moderator
Hal Landon Jr.
Man in Past Lives Pavilion
James Eckhouse
Jeep Owner
Raffi Di Blasio
Daniel as a Boy
Shana Ballard
Julia's Daughter
Ernie Brown
Ernie
Buck Henry
Dick Stanley
Newell Alexander
Julia's Judge
Michael Durrell
Agency Head
Gary Beach
Car Salesman
Julie Cobb
Tram Guide
Peter Schuck
Stan
Sharlie Stuart
Susan
Beth Black
Soap Opera Woman
Clayton Norcross
Soap Opera Man
Wil Albert
Game Show Contestant
Maxine Elliott Hicks
Elderly Woman on Tram
Roger Behr
Comedian
Lillian Lehman
Daniel's Judge
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
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
Bob Braun
Talk Show Host
Jennifer Barlow Grodsky
Talk Show Guest
Nurit Koppel
Daniel's Date
Sidney Chankin
Used Car Salesman
Rachel Bard
Julia's Judge
Ida Lee
Woman in Past Lives Pavilion
Noley Thornton
Victorian Girl
Glen Chin
Sumo Wrestler
James Ekim
Native
Ronald L. Colby
Majestic Doorman
James Paradise
Stage Manager
Jerry Prell
Banquet Manager
Arell Blanton
Fire Marshall
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
Robert Gatewood
Afterlife Traveler (uncredited)
John Michael Quinn
Man in Heaven (uncredited)
Carey Dietrich
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Annette Sutera
-
Details
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.
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