serafinogm This movie should have been the denouement of Albert Brooks advancement as an actor. He was terrific, he was real, he was believable, he was entertaining, he had arrived and everything was just going to get better, yet it never happened. Sure he has been successful and he's experienced a degree of success that the majority of us (in particular me) could only dream about but his laid back witty, effortless acting style appears not to have caught fire, now the both of us are 69 and unless either of us can pull something out of a hat (never happen for me) our pinnacles are behind us and it's all down hill from here. Despite what has occurred to Albert's acting career this movie is a must see and it has the terrific Meryl Streep, as well as Rip Torn, Lee Grant, and Buck Henry (quite the cast). Watch this film and I promise you'll enjoy it, it's time well spent and the ending sequence is a tear jerker! Oh and Albert is far and away the reason this film is so enjoyable! He's a hoot! I discovered this film bombed at the box office, I am quite pleased that, in my small way, I helped pad the numbers!

vincentlynch-moonoi So, what happens when you die? The film poses that question and decides that you must defend certain aspects of your life...though apparently not sin. It's an interesting concept. In this case, Albert Brooks has to defend his indecision and fear throughout his life...which he only does at the very last moment.Albert Brooks is a bit passive here...although that seems right for the character he is playing (and by the way he wrote and directed the film, also). It seems like we almost always like Meryl Streep, and I do here. It's a much lighter role for her, and I think I liked it for that very reason. Rip Torn is good as Brooks' defender. Lee Grant seems a little cold here as the prosecutor...which often seemed to be her role in films...but it works. Buck Henry...nice to see him...briefly...but why is he here.So what's to criticize here. Well, the film is a bit slow at time. There are some missed opportunities (for example it would have been interesting to see more about the main characters previous lives). And we are left hanging as Brooks and Streep ride off into the sunset...to do what?...be together?...seems unlikely.Nevertheless, this film makes you think more than most films do. It's interesting, but not enthralling.

stephenlovelette This is a 'snoozer.'Technically it's not a 'sleeper hit' because it made $16M at the box office. Which, in 1991, is a lot of money, right?Well, it's money, we can agree on that.Anyway. Now twenty-three years post-theatrical release, nobody remembers its existence. It's a shame, really. That's why I'm coining the phrase, 'snoozer,' a good movie everyone seems to forget about.Because wow, this movie holds up.I think it's easier to watch Defending Your Life when you know the year it's from. Even then though, the production design is spectacular. It's easy to discern they're shooting on a set sometimes, but it's strangely enchanting.First of all, this movie's written, directed by and starring Albert Brooks as Daniel Miller. That man's talent is underutilized. He's a great actor, and Defending Your Life is an all-star picture that fires on all cylinders.From recent memory, he's great as Paul Rudd's father in This is 40, and he's just spectacular in Drive. In DYF he's playing a much less antagonistic role.An obvious and (what some may consider) dull comparison to make is with Kafka's The Trial. Perhaps there was some inspiration there.The script is reminiscent of a Woody Allen movie; each line's meticulously written so there's humor in every beat. Everything occurs for more than one reason, and it's all very thought provoking.Judgment City is one of the most intelligent and detailed depictions of the afterlife you'll ever see.The 'attorneys' (although they prefer not to be thought of that way) are the best part of this film. Lee Grant as Lena Foster (the prosecutor) and Rip Torn as Bob Diamond (Miller's defense attorney) are stupendous. They establish a captivating back-and-forth from the get-go.Grant's role in DYF comes in toward the tail end of a long acting career. It's her job to be the bad guy in purgatory, and she accomplishes this in spades, but Lena's not without subtlety or nuance.To use his own quote, Torn's character is, "just dynamite." He's the most optimistic, lovable person and I enjoy seeing the loyal friend character; someone the protagonist (and the audience) can always count on.Meryl Streep's excellent also; her character exemplifies 'affability.' It's the quality you recognize in all genuinely good people. She's quick to laugh and can tell when someone expects her to, and she's easy going; unfettered by worry.Seriously, it's quietly a masterful performance. This is the best role I've seen Meryl in.Well friends, if you haven't seen Defending Your Life, it's a five star comedy with compelling characters, an intelligent narrative and some very touching sequences. Despite the predictable ending, it brought a tear to this humble reviewer's eye.But if you're sensitive to spoilers stop reading now.To comment on the aforementioned character of Lena Foster, it's worthy of note because she's intense and accusatory but you can see her feelings deep down. She wants Miller to move on from Earthly life, but she can't force it on him. Ultimately, she wishes him the best.In consideration of the inherent difficulty in world building, Brooks' exploration of the material is vast and thorough. He put a lot of work into writing this screenplay, and it shines through in certain moments in an indirect manner.For example, Miller asks where Diamond (Rip Torn) was the day before."I'd tell you but you wouldn't understand," Diamond says."Don't treat me like a moron, try me," Miller says."I was trapped near the inner circle of fault.""I don't understand.""I told you…"There are four main trial sequences, and instead of doing the exact same thing (having Diamond vehemently defend the merits of Miller's choices) the stand-in utilizes a different defensive method by having Miller defend himself. This offers the viewer a greater variation in scenes.And if the only option for pay-off is explaining it as nonsensical (literally), then so be it.Another good example is during the final trial sequence.I think we all know what's coming when Foster shows the clip of the night before, a scene from the lobby of Julia's hotel. Perhaps Brooks recognized the potential for cheesiness ahead of time, and wrote the following exchange as a precautionary measure.Foster brings up the clip and Rip Torn objects."I was told we're not doing that anymore," Diamond says."No one told you that," a judge responds.It's hilarious, nonsensical and completely out of left field, but it works! It's a great joke, and totally justifies the placement of the scene.Which transitions into my sole criticism of the film. It's a bit predictable. But that's fine, given the unbroken flow of well-rounded moments provided along the way.It's illustrative of a larger truth. A well-thought out story can be efficient. The ending doesn't have to be spectacular for us to buy in. It can be satisfactory if the ride was even more so to get there.Defending Your Life reminds us that great screenplays can often be great enough.There's still one thing that baffles me:Why isn't it out on Blu-Ray?

forbeshathaway Robert Monroe, founder of The Monroe Institute, calls Judgment City, "Level 27" where people go after death to process their previous life and debrief for their next life. Military and lay people have trained at this institute and learned to access various levels of consciousness. According to those who have been to Level 27, this movie is dead on!This movie was instrumental in a personal assessment of life and the challenges we came to the planet to handle. Our fears rule our experience here--small fears to big fears we are constantly limited by reactionary thinking. True courage through confronting our fears is what this movie is all about. It will put you right in that 'courtroom' as you recall the times you could have stood up for yourself and failed. A shot in the arm for the fear flu!