Loren's Top 10 Movies 1. Gilda (1946) 2. The Joy Luck Club (1993) 3. Swing Time (1936) 4. Stella Dallas (1937) 5. When Harry Met Sally... (1989) 6. Defending Your Life (1991) 7. Circle of Friends (1995) 8. Mary Poppins (1964) 9. Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) 10a. Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) 10b. The Wedding Banquet (1993) Back to the Movies Page

DEFENDING YOUR LIFE This simple 1991 film from writer-director-actor Albert Brooks shows that fantasy films don't need big budgets, just ingenuity and heart. The story revolves around advertising executive Daniel Miller (Brooks) who, after dying in a car accident, finds himself not in Heaven, but in a place called Judgement City. Daniel discovers that he must defend his life and prove that he has conquered his fears. If he proves that his fears are gone, he can "move forward" in the universe...however, if he doesn't, he must be sent back to earth to be reincarnated into another form. What complicates matters is when he meets and falls in love with Julia (played by Meryl Streep). It becomes apparent that Julia will be moving forward and Daniel will be left behind...so, in the final moments, Daniel faces his fears. Wonderful characters fill the world of Defending Your Life, most notably Defender Bob Diamond, played by the hillarious Rip Torn. Shirley MacClaine pokes fun at herself in a funny cameo. 1991, Directed by Albert Brooks For more information, see: The Internet Movie Database: Defending Your Life Buy This Movie Through Amazon.Com