Terms of Endearment (1983)

Synopsis of Terms of Endearment

Terms of Endearment covers three decades in the lives of widow Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine) and her daughter Emma (Debra Winger). Fiercely protected by Aurora throughout childhood, Emma runs into resistance from her mother when she marries wishy-washy college teacher Flap (Jeff Daniels). Aurora is even more put out at the prospect of being a grandmother, though she grows a lot fonder of her three grandkids than she does of her son-in-law. Flap proves that Aurora's instincts were on target when he enters into an affair with a student (Kate Charleson). Meanwhile, Emma finds romantic consolation with an unhappily married banker (played by John Lithgow, who registers well in a rare "nice guy" performance). As for Aurora, she is ardently pursued by her next-door neighbor, boisterous astronaut Garrett Breedlove (Jack Nicholson). After 75 minutes or so of pursuing an episodic, semi-comic plotline, the film abruptly shifts moods when Emma discovers that she has terminal cancer. Terms of Endearment won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay for TV veteran James L. Brooks making his first feature film, Best Actress for MacLaine, and Best Supporting Actor for Nicholson. It was followed by a sequel, The Evening Star (1996), which again featured MacLaine as Aurora. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:

131 mins

Director(s):

James L. Brooks

Writer(s):

Larry McMurtry, James L. Brooks

Producer(s):

James L. Brooks

Theatrical MPAA Rating:

PG(Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Profanity)

• 1983 - Directors Guild of America - Best Director
• 1983 - Golden Globe - Best Picture - Drama
• 1983 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Screenplay
• 1983 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Picture - Drama
• 1983 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
• 1983 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
• 1983 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Actress
• 1983 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Director
• 1983 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Screenplay
• 1983 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Picture
• 1983 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Supporting Actor
• 1983 - National Board of Review - Best Supporting Actor
• 1983 - National Board of Review - Best Picture
• 1983 - National Board of Review - Best Director
• 1983 - National Board of Review - Best Actress
• 1983 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Picture
• 1983 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Supporting Actor
• 1983 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Actress

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