Criterion Press Release: Defending Your Life (1991) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

​

Is there love after death? Acerbic everyman Albert Brooks finds a perfect balance between satirical bite and romantic-comedy charm as the writer, director, and star of this wonderfully warm and imaginative existential fantasy. After he dies suddenly, the hapless advertising executive Daniel Miller (Brooks) finds himself in Judgment City, a gleaming way station where the newly deceased must prove they lived a life of sufficient courage to advance in their journey through the universe. As the self-doubting Daniel struggles to make his case, a budding relationship with the uninhibited Julia (Meryl Streep) offers him a chance to finally feel alive. Buoyed by a brilliant supporting cast that includes Rip Torn, Lee Grant, and Buck Henry, Defending Your Life is a rare feat of personal, philosophical filmmaking that happens to also be divinely entertaining.
FILM INFO

• Albert Brooks
• United States
• 1991
• 111 minutes
• Color
• 1.85:1
• English
• Spine #1071

DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• New 4K digital restoration, supervised by director Albert Brooks, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
• New conversation between Brooks and filmmaker Robert Weide
• New interview on the afterlife with theologian and critic Donna Bowman
• New program featuring excerpts from 1991 interviews with Brooks and actors Lee Grant and Rip Torn
• Trailer
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by filmmaker Ari Aster
  
  New cover based on an original theatrical poster
  
  March 30, 2021

 

[Ronald Epstein]

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[Josh Steinberg]

Nice!

 

[Matt Hough]

Very happy with this announcement. The movie is a fun viewing experience.

 

[Angelo Colombus]

Great film and i like Rip Torn's performance.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

I have no idea what happens after we die but if this wound up being the correct answer, I could work with that

 

[Tino]

Awesome. Smart Hilarious film. Day one purchase for me.

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

Awesome. Smart Hilarious film. Day one purchase for me.

FWIW, in case you weren't aware, it also just happens to be $5 (for HD) on iTunes right now. I'll probably just go w/ that myself in this case...

_Man_

 

[Tino]

FWIW, in case you weren't aware, it also just happens to be $5 (for HD) on iTunes right now. I'll probably just go w/ that myself in this case...

_Man_

I’ve owned it for years. This one i love and I want the disc and the extras.

 

[JohnRice]

I got it in HD on iTunes earlier this year, but I suspect I’ll still get the Criterion.

 

[Colin Jacobson]

Don't think I've seen this one since it ran theatrically!

Will have Criterion send me the BD!

 

[Angelo Colombus]

Have the Criterion disc and a big improvement over the dvd. Hope to see Real Life next on Blu-ray.

 

[Tino]

Love this film. Too bad it’s a bit light on extras for a Criterion release. Would have loved a Brooks/Streep commentary.

I’ll wait for it to drop to $19.99 before I bite.