Why would FEAR be the basis of judgement? I would think acts of KINDNESS would be how we are evaluated in the after life.
Many people have panic attacks and OCD and live lives filled with fear.... and if given a choice would not choose to live their lives filled with constant fear.
So this barometer of evaluation left me cold.
If you had OCD or something, even conquering that would be conquering a challenging fear. I think it's a good barometer.
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OCD and other "defects" are a biological issue, not one of the soul - assuming that the soul exists.
I agree with OP that fear is a bad barometer of a human's worth in the universe. I would also agree that compassion and benevolence are better barometers.
Completely agree, but because Daniel was the protagonist, the writers needed a barrier for Daniel to cross to advance to the next level. Having Daniel possess the quality of kindness already gives us the motivation to root for him.
Agreed...
I just watched it for the first time and this film really missed the mark. I did not like it. It really could have been a very intriguing film.
Meryl was good as usual, especially with what she had to work with but Brooks just couldn't stay with her. She dominated the film and I'm not sure that was a good thing to be honest because the dialogue is quite cheesy and that Italian restaurant scene was pretty much awful.
And yeah, fear? REALLY?? So that's what everyone's life boils down to? wow...
I honestly couldn't give a rat's ass if the guy invested in Casio or not. Or if he took the first offer at his job. LOL! laughable film to be honest. Guess I was expecting too much but I went into it hoping this was going to be a clever and intelligent comedy/drama and it's nothing of the sort. It's basically a romance and even this part of the film was not believable. He didn't know her last name but was madly in love with her. haha...
I mean, it's not horrible, I would give it about a 4 out of 10 but it really REALLY could have been a great movie.
If you really believe this, then it is you who missed the mark.
It is clearly established early on that human weakness is the great shortcoming to be cured: “Being a Small Brain means that most of your brainpower has been devoted to fear.” People who fear make terrible decisions, including not showing kindness. Weakness is fear.
For more on this, take a good look at our current president.
This was a fanciful film about a place that may or may not exist. It is Albert Brooks' take on the afterlife. Who is to say that his theory is any less valid than any others. Making fear the barometer made for much bigger laughs when the footage from his life is played before the tribunal. I agree with strntz. Had good vs. evil been the gauge, we would not have rooted for him because we wouldn't able to get past the really mean spirited things Lena Foster would have produced for the tribunal.
share>>> Making fear the barometer made for much bigger laughs when the footage from his life is played before the tribunal.<<<
I think that's the problem, I just didn't find the movie to be funny. After you realize "fear" is the barometer, the comedic atmosphere dissolved pretty quick. But that is probably just my personal taste in comedy. But then again, did anyone actually laugh when he was critiqued for not investing in Casio?
>>Who is to say that his theory is any less valid than any others<<
It's not exactly a bad barometer or less valid than others, but to me it just wasn't interesting. The movie is basically an afterlife romance, featuring Meryl Streep but it could have been a lot more than this.
That's interesting, stickman38. I always thought Defending Your Life was a lot more than "an afterlife romance featuring Meryl Streep." In fact - though I don't detest it - I always felt the romantic storyline between Brooks and Streep seemed tacked-on. I did think Streep needed to be part of the film because it was very funny to see her life footage and the disposition of both of her 'attorneys' and 'judges,' compared to that of Daniel's proceeding. And I guess he had to fall in love with her because otherwise he wouldn't have performed such a brave overture at the end. But there had to have been so much more to this film than a Meryl Streep romance because it has stayed with me (and seemingly so many other people) over the past 33 years.
Though I don't think fear should be the barometer to determine who should 'move on,' and who must try again, this movie often appears in my head whenever I am at a crossroads between doing something safe and conservative vs. the risky/brave. I often choose the more courageous, albeit riskier proposition, because of Defending Your Life. And while it may not make a bit of difference once I die, I can happily say that those decisions have not haunted me while alive. And I think my life has been better for having made them. So if one movie can change a person's outlook that profoundly, and it has not led to harm, it's got to be a lot more than a simple romantic comedy.
Maybe I'll watch it again someday but I really didn't find the movie all that intriguing, but then again, I was probably expecting too much going into it.
That said, I could see how some people might like it. I mean, 'fear' is not a horrible barometer but it just lacks interest. Did anyone really care that much that he was judged on whether or not he invested in Casio? lol...
Maybe that's what we're supposed to laugh at? It's all in how ridiculous the criteria is to "move on" in the universe. Idk.. it just didn't work for me. I've seen some better afterlife movies.
<<< whenever I am at a crossroads between doing something safe and conservative vs. the risky/brave. I often choose the more courageous, albeit riskier proposition, because of Defending Your Life >>>
Same.
>>> did anyone actually laugh when he was critiqued for not investing in Casio? <<<
When the judge pointed to the Casio on his wrist and said, “I know” — yes.
I was down with the romance, and not just for the reasons you mentioned. The critical feature of Julia *is* a good person and *does* see that Daniel is, too — something that he himself had trouble seeing. If he could just stop taking the first salary offer and get over his issue over being seen with too many pies, that is. She helps him grow over those few days, especially after he learns how going back for the cat pays big dividends in the hereafter.
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While I agree on our current president (although that's an unfair shot), I really don't think it's fair that not being a "small brain" is reason to deny eternal happiness.
Daniel showed fear and made many lousy decisions in business, yes, but he was never shown to not be compassionate. My wife is one of the best human beings I ever met - she's a great wife, a great mother, a great friend, a great boss (before retiring) and a wonderful grandmother. But she's afraid of many things. If her fear meant she would be denied eternal happiness, then I would want to go wherever her soul goes.
Getting back to Daniel, the story required some sort of hurdle for Daniel to clear before being allowed to move on in the universe, and it had to be something that wouldn't cause us not to root for him.
If he was a thief, cheater, abuser, or just not a kind person, we would root for him not to make it. But the story requires us to pull for him, and fear is something the vast majority of humans understand. Him not being brave would not preclude the audience from rooting for him.
>> then it is you who missed the mark.<<
Don't get personal on me, Tabby. I didn't like this film, which again, it's a romance, not a comedy/drama involving the afterlife. But maybe this is what's funny about it, it's actually a romance disguised as a comedy/drama/fantasy. haha...
There’s definitely comedy.
“Do we all have to listen to that?” (Barbara’s Broadway album)
[old woman on tram looking at Daniel’s face] So young. AIDS?
“Are we going to stay and listen to this?”
“Well, I have to. That’s my dad.”
“How did you die?”
“Onstage — like you.”
“I’m glad we stayed. Let’s go.”
“Oh my God … NINE DAYS!”
“I was the first to use the phrase, ALL NUDE. Yep, that was mine. Doubled business in a month. Hey, I gotta take a piss. Wanna come?”
“You’re eating a few shrimp and I’m having a fishing boat!”
Defense and prosecutors feuding childishly despite being advanced souls.
Defense making silly or illogical defenses of Daniel’s behavior while having a mind sufficient to get trapped in the Fifth Circle of Thought.
Shirley MacLaine.