Defending Your Life (1991) 112 Minutes

The New Year found Movienight returning to the Great Outdoors and Nubs

rang in 2008 with this Albert Brooks classic.

Tooda and Bullseye (formerly Bourbon Cookie) traveled from New Hampshire

to join the Crew for this Pick. Save Buffy and Jaja, the rest of the Membership

was on hand, as was Movienight stalwart Pat Towne.

The weather was a little nippy, but the skies were clear as we huddled together

in front of the sheet for the first time since December 12th.

The three hour time change and long journey proved a bit too much for Tooda

and Bullseye, as Tooda snoozed a bit in his chair, and Bullseye threw in the

towel completely, sacking out on the Eisenberg’s couch for the film’s third act.

While the Pick echoes many themes in Netti’s ‘After Life,’ it featured the debut of a great many cinematic luminaries. Writer/Director Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, Shirley MacLaine, and Lee Grant all bow for the first time with this Selection. Buck Henry makes his on-screen debut here, though he was one of the writers on Towne’s sole Selection - ‘What’s Up, Doc?’

Next week, Netti returns to SELECTOR status with his follow up to the well-received ‘The Party.’

“Long coma, Art. Long coma.”

Written and Directed by: Albert Brooks

BBD Comments:

As I fell asleep, I will keep it brief.

First of all, falling asleep was not intended as any sort of editorial commentary whatsoever. This Pick was VERY far from ‘Road Games.’ In fact it is one more, in an almost unbroken line, of truly thoughtful and well-timed Selections that has become Nubs trade.

‘Defending Your Life’ is Albert Brooks’ most complete films. His work for me almost always falls short in the third act, but this film’s through line sustains. It is my favorite of his films. All of the performances are top tier, and if there is a flaw, it is that this is such a talky film. Doesn’t bother me though.

One thing I noticed upon this viewing, is that there seemed to be some post production changes to the script. Dialogue is clearly changed via ADR to point out that though his trial will cover nine days of his life, it will only last four days. Meryl Streep’s trial covers four days of her life and only lasts four days. I think they realized too late that they had to have the romantics on trial for the same amount of time in order for them to leave together. Not a flaw really, merely something I hadn’t noticed before.

Happy New Year Everyone, and once again Nubs, well done.

Onwards.

Brandon Comments:

I first saw ‘Defending Your Life’ when I was about 23, back when life was fresh and free from thoughts of death and the afterlife—back when we were all going to live forever. And now, after seeing it again at the age of 35, the film takes on a different resonance. It’s a romantic, comedic interpretation of the meaning of life, and the closer you get to middle of your life the more you crave some explanation as to why you’re here and what it all means. ‘Defending Your Life’ didn’t spawn a new religious phase with its theory of the afterlife, but it did make for a great film.

Albert Brooks can weave a great comedy, doing what Woody Allen did but in his own style. His writing and comedic timing are excellent. The scene where Brooks first gets the BMW and cruises down the street blaring that god-awful music is priceless. And I never really acknowledged it or even noticed it before, but Meryl Streep is one gorgeous woman!

‘Defending Your Life’ reminded me a lot of another great film: ‘Holy Smoke!’ They both have the same feel… shit, they’re nothing alike. It was worth a shot.

Nubs, good thematic blend of the New Year with starting a new life, both literally and figuratively. That’s what I’m talking about! Nubs, if I was Rip Torn and you were Albert Brooks, I would send you on to the next level of life just because you chose this flick at a perfect time.

SELECTOR Comments:

Football and family have consumed my week, and now I’m forced to write my review later Monday night during the College Football Championship. It seems appropriate since my life is little more than the aforementioned institutions. I wanted to illustate this with a rousing football movie to prepare us for the playoffs. Unfortunately, there aren’t many good New Year’s themed movies, nor many good Football movies.

Despite the poor quality, I was very close to forcing the Crew to watch ‘North Dallas Forty.’ Mainly because the ending eerily has the Dallas team losing by the place holder fumbling the game winning kick just like Romo did last year. I also figured no movie was going to hold the attention of our holiday hungover Crew so I might as well eliminate this movie which doesn’t really work as a good football movie - or a good Pick.

Well, with the little Holiday cheer I had left, I asked the crew if they wanted “hard” or “soft”. It was an overwhelming vote for Movienight mercy. I had ‘Defending Your Life’ in my back pocket because I thought the themes were appropriate to a brand new year and the resolutions and opportunities that come with it. In a nutshell I think it’s an imaginative story with some hilarious and genuine moments and Rip Torn is brilliant. I thought, just as it does every time I see it, ‘Defending Your Life’ did it’s job. Everyone seemed pleased despite the predictable exits from the two jet lagged travelers and myself to the unforgiving babies.

I enjoy watching this movie anytime and enjoyed it especially with all of you. I am thrilled to welcome some unique Hollywood personalities like Brooks, Torn, and Streep to Movienight. May 08 be great, oh, just take a seat on Dicks street.

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