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Rated: PG
Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, et al.
Director: James L. Brooks Review
Larry McMurtry's novel becomes a somewhat lumpy film as directed by James
L. Brooks (As Good As It Gets). Nevertheless, it is entirely winning, with
Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger playing a combative mother and daughter
who see each other through various ups and downs in love and loss, and
most especially through a terminal illness endured by Winger's character.
Jack Nicholson deservedly won an Oscar for his supporting role as a
free-spirited astronaut who backs away from a romance with MacLaine and
then returns in the clutch. As he always does, Brooks keeps things from
getting too soapy with his intense concentration on the soulful evolution
of his characters. --Tom Keogh -----------
James Brooks, who of late gave us AS GOOD AS IT GETS, has an uncanny way
of sketching characters that are believable, and completely winning,
despite their many foibles. TERMS is filled with such people, and is so
deft at winning your affections that it is virtually impossible not to
feel that lump in your throat -- if not tears rolling down your cheek --
as it makes its way to its manipulative but moving nonetheless finale.
Each performer works to his/her potential, and the supposed fireworks
between Debra Winger (who inhabits her role so intensely she IS Emma) and
Shirley MacLaine -- who won an Oscar -- works perfectly on screen. Jeff
Daniels pulls off a neat trick, and manages to be both reprehensible as
Emma's multi-flawed husband, but also engenders your sympathy vote as the
movie wears on. Jack Nicholson (also Oscar winner) and MacLaine
combatively explore one of the funniest romances ever; the screenplay's
distinctive sense of humor adds much charm and much needed comic relief
from the increasingly depressing proceedings. Michael Gore's
already-classic theme music can still inspire tears and resound with
humanity. This movie feels absolutely commercial, and twists your heart in
way that few movies do -- we are talking majorly sad sad sad -- AS BAD AS
IT GETS, so to speak. Yet, in the final moments, Brooks does give the
movie a sweet and surprising lift, and nearly promises hope to these
characters, most of whom we have grown to love.
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