Terms of Endearment

1983 "Come to laugh, come to cry, come to care, come to terms."
7.4| 2h12m| PG| en| More Info
Released: 20 November 1983 Released
Producted By: Paramount
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

Aurora, a finicky woman, is in search of true love while her daughter faces marital issues. Together, they help each other deal with problems and find reasons to live a joyful life.

Genre

Drama, Comedy

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Terms of Endearment (1983) is now streaming with subscription on Paramount+

Director

James L. Brooks

Production Companies

Paramount

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Terms of Endearment Audience Reviews

Nonureva Really Surprised!
Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
Roman Sampson One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.
Tobias Burrows It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.
a_athanas That's what it will take to pick up on all the details.None of this drama would have happened if Aurora and Emna would have made smart decisions.Aurora was a narcissist and control freak, but she was right to tell Emma to choose a more stable man than Flap. However, if Emma had listened to her mom, Aurora wouldn't have ended up with 3 beautiful grandchildren.Emma was annoyed growing up with narcissistic, controlling Aurora and married the first man who looked at her twice. Then Emma proceeded to have more children than Flap was intetested in having. Emma took too long to notice that Flap was his own kind of narcissist who thought he could cheat on her with his young female college students (using his teaching job for "access"), while she slaved away carrying the heavy load with 3 kids at home. Finally catching Flap practically in the act, Emma moved back home with the kids to her mom's house in Houston. What Emma SHOULD have done was take advantage of her mother's wealth and get a college degree and find a WORTHY husband. Aurora certainly would have been happy to pay for Emma's college because Emma was her only child and Aurora was a wealthy widow and enjoyed having Emma living at home. There was no reason Emma had to leave home unprepared or marry an immature cheating jerk.Aurora also made bad decisions in men after her husband died. Sure, Jack Nicholson's character was sexy and exciting, but he was obviously a perpetual playboy who was never going to settle down. Aurora had multiple men interested in settling down with her. The tall fellow could have been a good choice. But Aurora didn't want stability apparently. I would have thought the astronaut probably had multiple STD's and was a narcissist who would talk about his glory days until he died. But Aurora made a play for the astronaut and demeaned and humiliated herself in the process several times. Her grandchildren would have benefitted more had Aurora made a stable choice in one of her many viable suitors other than the astronaut. But Aurora was selfish and immature. But I enjoyed Jack Nicholson's character in the movie and he definitely added a lot of excitement and humor.Maybe if Emma hadn't married Flap and put herself through the ringer moving every few years, and constantly worrying about who Flap was cheating on her with NOW, while she did all of the grunt work around the homestead with the children, she might not have gotten cancer. The children got short shrift in the movie being depicted as burdens. Emma was overburdened because Flap hardly helped even when he WAS home, and she was distracted wondering who Flap was porking, so she acted like the kids were secondary. Yet when Emma moved back home it seemed Aurora was finally going to give the children the adoration and attention they deserved. Maybe Emna was just too distracted by Flaps flops and their financial troubles to fully enjoy her children. She could have considered working and having fewer children to balance out their finances, but Flap would have continued cheating anyway - he just would have been able to buy nicer clothes and drive a nicer car WHILE he cheated. The one who really had it good was Aurora, who was gorgeous, smart and classy, married well so that when her husband unexpectedly passed she lived comfortably, had a maid and a cook, made wise decisions with her money, didn't have any expensive vices, had plenty of worthwhile suitors, and her daughter became a baby factory producing multiple grandchildren for her to enjoy and their father, Flap, had no interest in remaining in their lives in a big way so that Aurora could have custody of them. Of course Flap was relieved when Emma passed because then he could hit all that young stuff at his teaching job without looking over his shoulder (plus maybe he could finally go after Emma's BFF, at least for one night - which is about as far ahead as Flap was ever able to think). The dumb thing Aurora did was waste one minute trying to get serious with the astronaut. In the end, he finally came through for Aurora, but it took a long time and can a leopard really change its spots? She will always have to be checking his sports car for foreign panties, and what will Garrett do when Aurora really starts aging and losing her looks and when the hrandchildren get older and really need hands on help with big issues? Will Garrett stick around? And do Aurora and Garrett ever actually marry? Does he make a tangible commitment to her, or can he sell his house and move on at any given moment? What are the grandkids going to think of Aurora when they realize she isn't married to Garrett and that "Grandpa Garrett" is just a horny neighbor and has-been astronaut with a drinking problem?If only Emma had stayed at home with her mom and gone to college, married better, and Aurora had married a stable suitor. Emma might not have contracted cancer, may have had kids with an honorable man, and Aurora could have a stable home for those grandkids to come visit and Emma may have been able to live nearby in Houston with her husband and kids.I think the moral of the story is that bad choices in men damage lives and peripheral lives..
John Corda It's often a strange experience to revisit a film that made a big splash decades earlier. I remember enjoying it enormously and enjoyed it enormously again last night but the reasons for the enjoyment have changed. The film as a film has remained solidly planted in 1983, specially the score but what will lead this film into the forever ever are the writing of course and the performances. Shirley MacLaine's truthfulness warts an all is a work of art. She is present one hundred per cent of the time and let's remember, Shirley MacLaine didn't start as an actress, she was a dancer who became a star thanks to a twist of fate and she has remained there as an example of honesty and courage ever since. Her Aurora in Terms Of Endearment is a monumental treat. Debra Winger's performance is a revolution of sorts. Every detail confirms and/or challenges our feelings for her but she's never less that one hundred per cent truthful. It's impossible not to love her even if she doesn't make it easy for you. Jack Nicholson is a terrific interference and every one of his moments have a pleasure of their own. So, a 35 year old movie with a teenager's heart.
Davis P Terms of Endearment (1983) is a classic dramedy film. It's really much more of a drama than it is a comedy. It was praised by critics and swept the major awards, winning five academy awards, including best picture. It stars Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson, Jeff Daniels, and John Lithgow. I absolutely loved the casting, every actor represented their character so well. MacLaine turns in a performance of a lifetime, she is funny and witty at times, then sharp as a tack and tough as nails in other moments. And Winger is so skilled and charming in her role, she plays Emma with a certain lovable innocence. I love how these two talented actresses commanded the screen, and had amazing chemistry together while doing it. Another Hollywood heavyweight that turns in a great performance here is Jack Nicholson, I really loved him playing Garrett, he brings something to the role that only he could do, it's something about Nicholson that is just perfect for this character. And he and Auroras connection in the film is really something fantastic, it was great to see an older mid life romance between two people with such chemistry. The writing is superb, the writing really focuses mainly on Emma and Auroras relationship, their connection as mother and daughter, but it also brings in subplots that Nicholson and Daniels. I love how the script includes all those different very important aspects of the movie, and it brings them all together to form a near perfect film. This a classic film that I recommend, but I warn that you may need a few tissues. 9/10 for Terms of Endearment.
HotToastyRag Oh boy, get out your Kleenexes. And be sure to have an extra box on hand! I don't usually like Debra Winger, but she gives an incredible performance in the film. It's easy to see why she was nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars alongside Shirley MacLaine, although it's sad that in such a contest one woman will inevitably lose. Shirley MacLaine won, largely due to the famous and often spoofed "Give my daughter her shot!" scene.Jeff Daniels, John Lithgow, and Jack Nicholson provide the male talent, and each give great performances without overshadowing the women; after all, the movie belongs to Shirley and Debra. There are a few humorous moments, but keep in mind that it's a heavy drama. Don't be fooled by the cuteness of the opening scene.I'm not going to spoil the plot, or even tell you anything about it. It's a story about a mother and her daughter, simple as that. Sometimes they get along, sometimes they don't, but they love each other more than most people love in their entire lives. Everyone—yes, I mean everyone—will bawl during this movie. If you love your mother, hate your mother, have a complex relationship with your mother (or daughter), are extremely close or wish you'd been closer—everyone will bawl. Snot sniveling, mouth drooling, can't-catch-your-breath bawl. So, if you're in the mood for that, go ahead and watch Terms of Endearment. And if you really want to sob, watch it with your mother.