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Rating:  - Flawless
Exactly how in the world did I never see this movie before? Reputation has made this out to be "the ultimate chick flick" upon which every other tear-jerker is judged. But it's definitely more of a character study than a weepy mushy movie. In fact, it's anything but mushy. Where it could of been over-sentimental, it was poignant. Where it could of been boring, it was insightful. And where it could of been corny, it was tongue-in-cheek. I don't think I need to say anything about the acting in it, if you've seen Terms of Endearment you know that Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, and Jack Nicholson bring their characters to a life rarely seen in movies. I just can't get over how great this movie was. The story is so good, it's so funny and at times among some of the saddest moments I've ever seen portrayed in the movies. I don't want to go any further for fear that I might spoil it for those who haven't seen this incredible story about life and love and laughter among family. This is an AMAZING and moving film!
Rating:  - Great Movie!
I'd never seen it before, and was so pleased. Very quirky, but great.
Rating: - tear jerker
This movie will break your heart but only because the characters are so real. It truly the captures the tumultous relationship between independent daughters and controlling mothers. The good and the bad.
Rating:  - One of the top five "chick-flicks" of all time.
Sometimes popular culture idolizes something, whether it be a book, a movie, or a record; where I just don't "get it." I have to ask myself: Is it just me? What do people see in this? For the life of me I cannot understand why a melodramatic piece of twaddle like "Bridges of Madison County" was a hit. I don't see what the big thrill about Madonna is either. She absolutely can't act. Her records are put together for her by producers. They crowd the stage with dancers and special effects in her concerts, in hopes you don't notice how little talent she really has.
She doesn't write her own songs. She doesn't play any instruments. She doesn't have a strong voice. Compared to someone like Sheryl Crow, who writes all her own material, plays most of the instruments, and has a very strong voice, Madonna is a poseur. I really have to wonder about anyone who would view her as anything other than a egomaniacal twit.
And please, don't even get me started on Bruce Springsteen.
Which brings me to "Terms of Endearment." What is so hard to understand about the fact that your average American male doesn't care about "Women, and their relationships with their mothers"? I don't know of any man under the age of 40 who would sit through something like this movie, unless he thought it would help put his wife or girlfriend "In the Mood", and that he would reap the benefit later that evening. The characters aren't all that sympathetic. Debra Winger is supposed to elicit sympathy as the dying cancer sufferer, but she's such a whiny bitch it's hard to feel it. Shirley MacLaine is so obnoxious you just want to punch her right in the face. Jeff Daniels is a clueless career student who becomes a college teacher so he doesn't have to go out in the real world to make a living. The one bright spot for me was Jack Nicholson, but even his bright moments are too few and far between. Terms of Endearment isn't a awful movie, but I don't think it deserved anywhere near the accolades it got. No one can tell me that Shirley Mac deserved the best actress oscar over Meryl Streep in "Silkwood". Absolutely one of the most overrated films ever.
Rating: - Terms of Endearment
James L. Brooks' film "Terms of Endearment" based on the novel by Larry McMurtry (co-screenwriter of Brokeback Mountain) won Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and other Oscars back in the 80's. The film is frequently regarded as a "chick flick" and it does that have that mock-sadness that plagues so many films and that women who watch movies like Steel Magnolias flock too. Having said that, Terms of Endearment is not Brooks' best film...But it's got some great performances and it has it's share of humorous moments and dialogue. Shirley McClaine, in her Oscar winning role, plays Aurora; An overbearing single mother who's preparing for her daughter Emma (Debra Winger) to get married. The film takes place over a very long period of time and with no warning jumps around. There's one scene in particular that had such a smooth transition, I was surprised to find out the scene was taking place three years later. Anyway, her daughter Emma is marrying Flap (Jeff Daniels) a school teacher who Aurora doesn't really approve of. The story continues as Emma has children, discovers that Flap may be having an affair, and Aurora frequently (almost religiously) calls and chats with her daughter. Meanwhile, Aurora begins having a relationship with her next door neighbor; An astronaut named Garrett (Jack Nicholson, who won the Supporting Actor Oscar). Oddly enough, Nicholson doesn't have a large amount of screentime. I mean, technically, he does but the film is 132 minutes and in that aspect...He's not in it that much. Everytime Jack is onscreen, the film definitely picks up speed. He's wonderful. The movie is fantastic, but it's not flawless. As I said, it's 132 minutes and it does tend to drag at moments. The melodramaticness of the finale is so cliche (by todays standards though. Back then it probably wasn't). I don't know what croud to recommend it to, but as I said...Good film, just slightly too long.
GRADE: B
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