Great Film overall

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

For a majority of us. we spend our time on earth and are taught through religious training about the Ten Commandments. Laws handed down by a superior being or friendly guy in the sky then follow them to the best of our abilities. We are so indoctrinated by living within the guidelines of these rules of behavior which is passed on via Abraham, Jacob, Issac, Moses, Jesus or even the Reverend Billy Graham that good prevails against evil. So when you die you'll be judged by whomever and sent to your final destination. Heaven, Hell or purgatory. Basically Judged by your behavior. Writer and creator Albert Brooks takes a sui generis approach to death/crossing over to another plain. Our story is about a recently divorced 39 year old ad exec Daniel Miller (Albert Brooks), who neglects watching the roads when his tapes fall to the floorboard of his newly purchased vehicle. When he looks up he crashes into a bus and wakes up in wearing a white robe and is pushed in a wheel chair to a tram . Daniel appears to be dazed but unharmed physically as the tram guide tries to explain the current situation. The guide,attractive antiseptic woman with microphone explain that they are in Judgement city and will be judged by a panel and while the newly acquired deceased are here they can enjoy all the amenities of this climate controlled city. You see the powers that be made this domain as Earth like as possible with endless buffets and bistros of every description with the proviso you can eat as much as you want and not gain a pound.. The fair woman guide asks if anyone plays golf but the newly acquired dead are mostly senior citizens who can barely raise their arms. Daniel is dropped off at his hotel which is basic at best and is escorted to his room complete with a bed and TV set. Daniel is awakened the next morning by his defending attorney. The confident Bob Diamond (Rip Torn) who tells him to shower and have a big breakfast. Daniel Stuffs his face temporarily as he catches the tram to Bob Diamond's office for an orientation. Daniel learns that the judgement is based on brave and noble acts during his lifetime. The judges will determine with a prosecuting attorney Lena Foster (Lee Grant) if Daniel has shown bravery and can move forward and not be sent back to Earth for another try. The Panel will view 9 days of Daniels life. The next several days Daniel will spend the day time in that courtroom viewing episodes from his past and Attorney Diamond will show episodes to prove his client worthy to move forward. The dialogue was so cleverly written and the twist of bravery rather than goodness prevails in this satellite of the after-world. Albert Brook's take on an individuals life judged by his peers to me was well thought out concept. Fear is what keeps us from attaining our full potential in life. There are times in our lifetime we have to take chances despite the dangers or uncertainty. Lee Grant plays the dubious fine tuned prosecutor with the moniker," The Dragon Lady". I like the multi racial judges, in particular Lillian Leyman who is unwavering ,stoic and smug putting Bob Diamond in his place saying," Who told you that?" One more addition and an important one is Daniel;s love interest Julia played by Merryl Streep . Julia and Daniel spend their nights together and developed a heavenly chemistry yet Daniel shows his jealous side as Julia is only judged as a formality and has enjoyable sessions with her heavenly judges. Daniel on the other hand is put under fire from the panel . Cameos by Buck Henry filling in for Diamond and Shirley MacLaine 's intro to the past lives pavilion round out this after life story. Merryl Streep seem to be enjoying herself throughout the picture as if she was really relaxed on the set. I've never seen her so happy in a role dealing with death. Based on my own experience in New York State Family Court, Lee Grant plays the prosecutor as well as any I've personally came up against in my lifetime. Rip Torn as Daniel's attorney, shows the confidence despite Daniel's floundering attempts to please the court Judges. The sets were modern and not at all like the heaven with pearly gates or clouds we are custom to visualize.. Judgement City reminds me of a clean industrial park somewhere in California. So watch this movie with 100% of your brain power on observing the after life and go with what's inside your heart and most importantly, move forward..... to a better location.

A romantic comedy blended with satire and riffing on the afterlife, movies like "Defending Your Life" just don't come along everyday. At least not one that's packaged this well. The material herein isn't a lot different from the rest of Albert Brooks' filmography, but the edges are softer, and it makes for a very likable romance (seriously, Brooks is staging Meryl Streep at maximum radiance here). It's hard to believe something so inoffensive actually has a message, but it's a substantial one. Hell, even a universal one.This doesn't mean that it's all about saying something; not at all. It's just that the tone and the seize-the-day message are working in harmony. You're not being taught anything here, but the whole thing goes down like a shot of whimsy.It's a great movie.8/10

Imperfect, but interesting exploration, which has been explored quite often in Hollywood movies, of the afterlife. This is another remarkable achievement of that favorite outsider, Albert Brooks.As in Broadcast News, Brooks plays a misguided, cynical and neurotic individual, but with softer edges this time. The main difference between that movie and this one, is that he actually gets sort of a happy ending. Also, where as most of the characters in Broadcast News couldn't stand him (not for a long time anyway), the supporting characters take those character traits and reduces them to fear of succeeding. Broadcast News was about Brooks screwing his life up, Defending Your Life is about not even trying to screw it up.Although, the picture is quite funny and clever there are a few sequences that don't work or are extremely underdeveloped and Brooks, a talented writer, wants it exactly that way, I think. We are not going to see an Albert Brooks film and immediately get what he's trying to tell us. Fortunately, they don't cause extreme harm to the overall enjoyment. Take the Meryl Streep character. In no way is Brooks trying to explain why her character would fall in love with him. The explanation: "Because he is the only guy there under 100 years old", is as good as you will get. Streep also thinks that Brooks' cynical attitude is endearing and not annoying. Really not that believable. But as said before, it's a minor quibble.The premise of going to trial to defend your actions or non-actions of your life is clever. But again, the stakes are not that high. If you do nothing with your life you get another one up to a point. Rip Torn's defense attorney says one guy/girl lived a hundred times. That is another weakness of the plot. There is a bizarre sequence where the defendants get to see what their past lives where. Streep sees that all her lives where basically fair, while Brooks get the underprivileged. Again, clever but the scene doesn't add that much. Only amusement of seeing Meryl Streep and Brooks with their mouthes wide open of seeing who the host of this program is.I wish that I could have given this movie a better rating, but I think there are a few too many shortcomings. However, most of the film is really funny, so I will give it an above average score.

Well, here we are -- over two decades later -- and I still can't come across it while surfing the Web without becoming hooked, as usual; and I just know I'll never cease to avail myself of every future opportunity to stop by for a treasured visit until I end up in Judgment City myself. I am a Master Yoga Therapist, and yogic philosophy is based on two main objects of life: (1) to conquer all of one's personal fears, and (2) to do battle with evil wherever one finds it and to the fullest extent possible within one's sphere of personal influence. Brooks has brilliantly captured the essence of #1 in this film, feeding us ceaseless spoonfuls of sugar to help the medicine go down; so I would love to see him apply his talent to encapsulating the second arm of the yogic credo as adroitly as he has the first. The world could surely use a poignant reminder of this one right now.