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Rating:  - On Their Own Terms
1983's Terms Of Endearment is based on a novel by Larry McMurtry, the man who also wrote Lonesome Dove and The Last Picture Show. Much like most of Mr. McMurtry's stories, the film takes place in Texas. It centers around the tumultuous relationship between Aurora & Emma Greenway, who are mother and daughter. Aurora is played with a spitfire essence by Shirley MacLaine and Emma is played by Debra Winger. Aurora is a bit overprotective of Emma and this leads to the relationship strains especially when Emma marries Flap Horton (Jeff Daniels). The two drift apart and Aurora starts up an unusual romance with her ex-astronaut next door neighbor, Garrett Breedlove (Jack Nicholson). The scenes between Aurora and Garrett are the best in the film and both Ms. MacLaine and Mr. Nicholson are brilliant in them. The movie teeters on the brink of sappiness at the end as it digresses into a complete tear-jerker as Emma develops a terminal illness. But despite that, director James L. Brooks has crafted an enjoyable film that will make you both laugh and cry. The film swept the 1983 Oscars as it won Best Picture, Best Director & Screenplay for Mr. Brooks, Ms. MacLaine beat out Ms. Winger for Best Actress and Mr. Nicholson took home his second Oscar and first in the Best Supporting Actor category.
Rating:  - A truely Genuine movie, a Golden Award to Me
An award winning cast that portrays a mother and daughter's bonding to each other to the death. It's a heart breaker, but shows life as it should be in loyalty between mother and daughter when life is at it's hardest times. Jack Nicholson is funny to put a break in the sadness, but he comes through just as loyal to Shirley McLain when she needs him the most. He appears to be irresponsible to her, but she learns that he is a very genuine person who cares very deeply for her and comes through for her when she needs him the most. It shows how children can get confused when their parents marriage ends and the loss of their mother creates even more confusion. Shirley Mclain and Jack Nicholson are there for them to help to sort it out and love the children dearly when the father does not come through for them. They are there to help to create stability after the death of the mother they loved so much. It is a movie of human relationships and everyone should see this movie to understand the dynamics of how events of life affect adults and children. It is important for people not to take life for granted and to understand what happens to the people who are left behind, Mrs. Symmington
Rating: - You will laugh and you will cry
As cliched as my title sounds, those sentiments are appropriate to this movie. "Terms of Endearment" won five Oscars back in the early eighties, and this movie will easily show you why.
The story spans many years of the life of a mother and daughter. From the beginning you can tell that Shirley MacLaine's character is a bit eccentric, but we never quite understand how. You can tell that she loves her daughter and wants only the best. She does, however, disapprove of her daughter's choice of husband.
This is where the chief divide in the relationship lies. The rift does not separate them, but this gap does provide distance, which allows them to continue to grow as characters. Illness will bring them together.
I love Debra Winger's work, and I think her character here is well done. My hat is off though to Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson. Both gave a lot of life to their characters and keep me engaged in their life. This is a fine display of acting talent.
I would recommend watching this movie. It is at time laugh-out-loud funny, and at others, tenderly sad.
Rating:  - Miscast?
It's been some years since I saw this movie and even more since I read the book. After reading McMurtry's novel, however, I could never imagine anyone except Elizabeth Taylor portraying Aurora on screen. And no one but Holly Hunter as Aurora's friend and housekeeper, Rosie. The film introduced the astronaut character (Jack Nicholson), probably because he is younger and sexier than his counterpart in the original story, retired General Hector Scott. (General Scott, while not as appealing to the movie-going public, is a better foil for the mature woman Aurora is supposed to be and is also a more original creation than the astronaut.) Still the movie, even with some significant changes, is interesting if only in comparison to the novel. Whatever else can be said about "Terms of Endearment," it is vastly superior to its cloying film sequel, "The Evening Star."
Rating:  - I Can't Come to Terms with How Bad "Terms of Endearment" Is!
I found this movie long and an extremely boring waste of time. Shirley MacLaine played Aurora, an abnoxious [person] who can't seen to find a boyfriend. Meanwhile, her daughter Emma, played by Debra Winger, is dying of cancer. One hour of this movie is taken up with Aurora's love affair, and the other is spent on Emma's problems with cancer. (just goes to show you that the director thought that Aurora's sexlife is more important than the death of her daughter). I heard so many reviews that this movie was "astounding and breathtaking." The only astounding thing about this movie was how long it took to finish.
This movie is a new enductee of my hall of fame for being one of the WORST films of all time. I wish that there was a choice of putting zero stars up for this movie, because, frankly, it was just that bad. I would never wish on my worst enemy to have to watch this ... of a movie.
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