|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product Details
|
Product Description
From Amazon.com
His fate will be determined in a very special trial, during which scenes from his life are replayed on a giant screen. "Isn't it realistic?" a judge asks. "It makes some people nauseous." While the steely prosecutor (Lee Grant) will try to prove that Daniel failed in life to face his fears and insecurities, his glad-handing, reassuring defender (Rip Torn) will argue on behalf of this hapless "little brain" (a Judgment City term for residents of earth).
As Woody Allen did for the future in Sleeper, so does Brooks create an original vision of the afterlife. In Judgment City, white-robed residents can eat as much as they want without guilt or fear of gaining weight. They can also visit the Past Lives Pavilion, where they are greeted by a hologram of--who else--Shirley MacLaine.
Daniel finds himself touched by an angel. Meryl Streep gives an enchanting performance as Julia, whose exemplary life is in stark contrast to his. During her trial, the court watches in rapture as she saves not only children, but a cat from a burning building.
Daniel and Julia are a match made in Judgment City, but first Daniel must summon up the courage to express his true feelings for her, or she will surely advance without him.
Defending Your Life is Brooks's most ambitious film and, with Mother, his most accessible. --Donald Liebenson
Video Details
superb music score won an Academy Award.s life, you must go back to Earth and try again. But Daniel doesn't want to go back after he meets Julia in this heavenly fable written and directed by Albert Brooks.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A smiler, not a knee-slapper,
By
This review is from: Defending Your Life (Widescreen) (DVD)
A perplexing movie in that I don't really think it is all that good. Yet I continually come back to it. This is one understated movie from beginning to end. A couple of unexpected bumps would have been a welcome relief. It is a fairly ingenious plot but Brooks does little to develop it. There is nothing special about the characters, the acting or the humour. You have no real reason to cheer for the Brooks character, the Streep character is boring and, far too often, the movie settles for banal and effortless chuckles. Given the premise, there is plenty of opportunity for Brooks to say something profound, wry or witty. But he never does. The ending is pedestrian and devoid of insight. Heaven seems to be the most mundane place possible. I'm not sure I want to go there. And yet, I have watched this movie many times and, everytime, catch myself sitting on the couch with the most idiotic smile on my face throughout the film. For that reason, and the fact that I invariably spend a couple of days afterwards wondering how my life would stand up to the same type of scrutiny, the film gets 4 stars. So, maybe in some devilishly subtle way, the movie does work after all. Despite everything I've said, I like it. I just don't know why. While I'm here, someone help me out. In his review, does LP Quagmire really think Mel Brooks and Albert Brooks are the same person? Or have I been punk'd by a brilliant piece of sham idiocy?
5.0 out of 5 stars
Make sure you have a good attorney!!!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Defending Your Life (Widescreen) (DVD)
Albert Brooks is one of the most talented writers and actors around. I have been a fan of his for years and I believe this movie is a perfect example of his comedic genius. It's terrific!Brooks plays the part of Daniel Miller, a young professional with everything to live for, who is suddenly killed in a senseless accident. He then finds himself arriving in Judgement City where he is expected to defend his life, or rather, the manner in which he has lived it. Only then will the "powers that be" decide if he is ready to move on to the next level or if he will have to return to life on earth to give it another try. Daniel is surprised to learn that the things he will be judged on are much different than he expected! Albert Brooks has a very neurotic, self-deprecating sense of humor and he is wonderful in this movie! Meryl Streep is lovely as Julia, the woman that Daniel becomes involved with during the course of his "trial." The contrast between her experience in Judgement City and Daniel's makes for some of the funnier moments of the movie. And while Brooks is definitely the star of this show, Rip Torn steals more than his fair share of laughs in his role as Daniel's defense attorney. This is an unforgettable comedy whose basic message is that life is full of risks and sometimes we have to overcome our fears and make a few giant leaps if we want to be happy. Do yourself a favor and watch it soon!
5.0 out of 5 stars
one of best and witty comedies ever made,
By
This review is from: Defending Your Life (Widescreen) (DVD)
This is just a masterpiece. A perfect combination of humour, great acting, intelligent script, romance, and a lovingly ending. Ah! And a great music score too. Rent it, bought it, borrow it, whatever. Just don't miss this one.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Movies & TV > Comedy > Comedy Directors > James L. Brooks
- Movies & TV > Comedy > Comedy Stars > Albert Brooks
- Movies & TV > Comedy > Romantic Comedies
- Movies & TV > Comedy > Satire
- Movies & TV > En français > Comédie > Comédies fantastiques
- Movies & TV > En français > Comédie > Comédies romantiques
- Movies & TV > En français > Comédie > Comédies satiriques
- Movies & TV > En français > Enfants, Jeunesse et Famille > Films > Comédie
- Movies & TV > En français > Enfants, Jeunesse et Famille > Films > Fantastique, Horreur et Science-fiction
- Movies & TV > En français > Fantastique, Horreur et Science-fiction > Fantastique
- Movies & TV > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
|
