Terms of Endearment
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Movie Reviews of Terms of Endearment
Movie Review: "I Don't Know What It Is About You, Aurora, But You Bring Out The Devil In Me"
Summary: 5 Stars
Perhpas the greatest film of the 1980s', James L. Brooks' 1983 masterpiece "Terms Of Endearment" (based on the novel by Larry McMurtly) is a powerful, motional and often hilarious story of a mother and a a daughter and the ups and downs in their often sad relation ship. Showered with awards (including an Oscar for best picture), it has not aged a bit since then.
Shirley MacLaine won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Aurora Greenway, a middle agd woman dealing with a dull life hampered by a tumultuous relationship with her daughter Emma (Debra Winger). Married to the dull witted Flap Horton (Jeff Daniels) and raising three kids, Aurora is dissatisfied with the lifestyle Emma has chosen. She is also unhappy with her own life. She is living alone except for her maid (Betty King), and the only man who seems to be interested in her is a short, semi-unlikable man named Vernon Dahlart (Danny DeVito). However, one man is about to change her life forever. That man is Garret Breedlove (Jack Nicholson, who deservedly won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar), a carefree, boozing, womanizing former astronaut who adds a sense of la bella vita to Aurora's mundain existence. Meanwhile, Emma has suspected Flap of cheating, and she hooks up with a married banker named Sam Burns (John Lithgow, who wowed me with his performance). Unfortunately, Flap accepting a job in Nebraska ruins their chance of a true relationship. Soon, Aurora realizes that even though Garret has made her happy, she can't be with him. And to make matters worse, Emma has cancer. Everything culminates in a touching, heartwrenching finale (including MacLaine's famous "give my daughter the shot!" sequence) that will stay with you forever.
This is truly a movie that has stood the test of time. This film set the vanguard for tearjerkers, and with the exception of "Steel Magnolias", no film has ever matched this film (not even the 1996 sequel "The Evening Star"). Truly, this is one film that has earned the title "must-see".
Movie Review: Best Picture of 1983.
Summary: 5 Stars
This film won 5 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress(Shirley MacLaine), Best Director(James Brooks), and Best Supporting Actor(Jack Nicholson). The script is outstanding, based Larry McMurty's novel, with each and every character coming across as very believable and very human(i.e. "flawed"). It is so easy to identify with all of these characters, with the entire cast of actors showing up for even the smallest of roles and nailing the part. Included in the cast are Debra Winger, John Lithgow, Jeff Daniels, and Danny DeVito; but the entire cast shines (even the checkout girl in the shopping market) which makes this film especially noteworthy. But the shining stars of this film are undeniably Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson. Shirley MacLaine finally recieved an Academy Award for her incredible work here showing amazing depth of character development. Jack is, well, charming as usual; devilish and sly, and has many of the best lines in the film. When Shirley and Jack have scenes together, however, they show some unparalleled chemistry and some of the finest character interplay ever brought to the movie screen. They are simply superb! Director James Brooks shows for the first time how he can manipulate actors to give fantastic performances. In 1987 he did it again with "Broadcast News," which received 7 Oscar nominations(3 for acting), and in 1997 he brought home Oscars for Helen Hunt and Jack Nicholson (again) for "As Good as it Gets" (Greg Kinnear received a nomination, as well). If you love great acting then "Terms of Endearment" should be in your collection. This is an exceptional film.Movie Review: A Film of Joy, Tragedy and Hope.
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the top grossing films of 1983, including sweeping away 5 Oscars, Terms of Endearment, not only is a heart-felt relationship between a sensitive and compassionate daughter (Debra Winger) and her over bearing mother, (Shirley MacLaine) but also what it means to get caught-up in the day to day: and faced with the really tough things in life like seeing one's child go through unnecessary torment and hardship- but most of all, the film shows us about living in the moment, having fun in the moment, because life is fleeting, and often times, tragic.
Garrett Breedlove (Jack Nicholson), a retired astronaut, lives next door to Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine) and as middle age can be very lonely sometimes, reveals to Aurora a selfish man, but also one who enjoys life and she sets out to meet him, that ends in a strange but beautiful relationship. Taking away, at least, a little attention from her suffering daughter miles and states away.
This film is certainly a character driven film rather than plot driven because the story is a simple one. It is the dialouge, acting and the great direction of James L. Brooks, (Broadcast News, As Good as it Gets, to name a few) known in the industry as the 'actors director' which makes this film one of the best of 1883.
A beautiful film: loving, caring, moving, emotional, revealing the joys and the tragedy of life, leaving a glimmer of Hope for us all.
Outstanding.
Movie Review: A remarkably believable and touching film!
Summary: 5 Stars
Terms of Endearment captivates me with the believable relationship of mother and daughter as brilliantly portrayed by
Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger. It covers approximately 30 years of the turbulent yet loving relationship between mom Aurora and daughter Emma. They have their differences; yet the love between them is always so obvious. It's also refreshing how they seem to be able to talk about anything with each other, even their sex lives.
I've seen this movie several times, and everytime I cry at the end. In spite of the death, the movie ends on a positive note, giving us the feeling that life is going on and everything is going to be okay.
The budding relationship between Aurora and her neighbor (also brilliantly portrayed by Jack Nicholson) creates a plot-within-a-plot that is very entertaining and provides some comic relief from the sadness of the relationship between Emma and her husband and children.
The most interesting aspect is that Emma gets so bent out of shape when she finds out that her husband has been cheating on her, when she has been cheating on him as well. Somehow though we sympathize with Emma and her gentle lover (played by the very talented John Lithgow). We feel like they belong together and somehow their relationship doesn't seem wrong.
If you are in the mood for a movie that is entertaining and gut-wrenching at the same time, this is a perfect choice.
Movie Review: Corny, manipulative, and MARVELOUS!
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved Terms the first time I saw it in a theatre, and still love it today - I've watched it over and over through the years. I first met Emma and Flap in Larry McMurty's extremely long novel, "Moving On" and was pleased to learn more about these two interesting characters. Everyone knows the plot, the superb performances all round, the tragic ending. I wanted to call attention to two scenes, one being the most heart-warming love scene I've ever seen, and the other, the last few moments.When the usually overdone, perfect Aurora walks into the Nebraska motel after being with Emma, Aurora with her black roots capping her blond hair, make-up shot, shlepping along, and you hear Jack Nicholson (Garrett) say, "Aurora!", she looks up the motel stairs and there he stands, the cad, his tummy barely diguised by his black sweater, with his face full of love and compassion, and they meet on the stairs, they embrace, Aurora's nose is running, and she says "And who thought you'd turn out to be a nice guy?" Of course, the theme music adds its special magic, and corny, yeah - and I JUST LOVE IT. And then, just before THE END, the scene between Garrett and Emma's oldest, troubled son dressed in his church suit. I used to have that scene memorized word for word - I thought it just perfect. As I've worn out a Beta tape and a VHS tape, maybe I'll invest in a DVD. This film just touches every emotion.