IMDb > Defending Your Life (1991)
Defending Your Life
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Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   6,559 votes
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Up 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer (WGA):
Albert Brooks (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Defending Your Life on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
22 March 1991 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
The first true story of what happens after you die.
Plot:
In an afterlife resembling the present-day US, people must prove their worth by showing in court how they have demonstrated courage. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
3 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
Julie Benz Talks 'Dexter' Season 4 Finale
 (From Aceshowbiz. 14 December 2009, 6:49 PM, PST)

Meryl Streep Says She’s Past Her “sell by date”
 (From Gossipvita. 1 December 2009, 5:20 AM, PST)

User Reviews:
Sweet and highly entertaining. more (75 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Albert Brooks ... Daniel Miller

Michael Durrell ... Agency head

James Eckhouse ... Jeep owner

Gary Beach ... Car salesman
Julie Cobb ... Tram guide
Peter Schuck ... Stan

Time Winters ... Porter

Rip Torn ... Bob Diamond
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
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Additional Details

Runtime:
112 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Cameo: [Shirley MacLaine]The MC in the Past Lives Pavillion. (she's a believer in reincarnation) more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In the Past Lives Pavilion, as the subjects walk to their viewing booths, the overhead asks them to proceed to the "first available booth on the left." The subjects actually proceed to the last available booth. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Daniel Miller: I was driving to work this morning thinking I will be here, in 2 months, it'll be 10 years. And you're like my real family. Isn't that tragic.
[laughter]
Daniel Miller: I got a call from my mother this morning, she wished me a happy birthday, and hinted around the fact that I wasn't making enough money. If you can call "are ya still making the same salary, honey" a hint. And my ex-wife used to say the same thing, although she never used the name "honey".
[laughter]
Daniel Miller: So, maybe in three years I can double my income?
Agency head: Good luck.
Daniel Miller: Four years? Okay. So, you're great people to work with, and this is a great present, and I wish I could squeeze all of you into one pretty woman.
[laughter]
Daniel Miller: And if you'd like to go to my office, I'll drive.
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
References West Side Story (1961) more
Soundtrack:
That's Life more

FAQ

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22 out of 23 people found the following review useful.
Sweet and highly entertaining., 25 December 2000
7/10
Author: gridoon

A wonderful comedy-fantasy that has all the wit of a good Woody Allen movie combined with genuine sweetness and good-naturedness. It's one of those rare films that achieve profundity without pushing for it; here it is done with the help of the clever structure. Albert Brooks delivers some great one-liners and wins the audience's affection easily, while Meryl Streep is atypically unaffected and Lee Grant is excellent in her supporting role. And who could ask for a better ending? (***)

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Defending Your Life (1991)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Favorite quotes FlyingPie
Favorite movie ever. Someone should do a sequel!!!!! thestugots1492
'I was trapped near the intercircle of fault' zigistardusted
Albert Brooks and the Daffy Duck mug transmentalist
Few arguments about this great film An3
I Thought Lee Grant Was So Sexy In This Movie saturdaze
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