MovieChat Forums > Terms of Endearment (1983) Discussion > There is not one genuine moment in the e...

There is not one genuine moment in the entire film!!

posted 8 years ago by johnhopkins-46748
15 replies | jump to latest

What a total cornfest! I have never seen a more manipulative, in-your-face acting, screen-writing, or directing! All in one movie! It's like every actor, with every line, and facial expression wants to hump the bloody camera and say "LOOK AT ME, LOOK WHAT I'M DOING!" The only exception is Jack Nicholson.

I want to punch Jeff Daniels every time he rolls his eyes, punch Debra Winger every time she says ANYTHING with the most grating, annoying voice on earth.

McClane is also corny and over-done with her endless squinting of eyes: I half expect her to start twirling a goddamn moustache like a Spanish villain.

But the guy who takes the cake is John Lithgow. Holy crap,has this guy ever heard of subtlety and nuance?! It's like he's practically LICKING Debra Winger's face, and licking the camera while oogling with his giant googly eyes in every direction!

And if I see Danny Devito's unchanging sad puppy-eyes one more time, every time he's on camera, I'm going to scream!

And what's the deal with the kids? They never SMILE or do anything remotely childlike! Has the idiotic director ever seen how a child acts in his life?! LOL!

[–] Redart27 8 years ago

sheesh it was 1983. Give 'em a break, futureman

be ayse der wax falama. ok hoone

[–] fentress 8 years ago

sheesh it was 1983. Give 'em a break

So ... why is the fact that the movie was made in 1983 a relevant factor? Please explain.

[–] Pmdmnym 8 years ago

I gotta say, this is the first time I have ever heard anything negative about this movie! I loved it! But to each his own.... :)

Wait! Wait! Where are you going? I was gonna make Espresso!

[–] chaserofmoon 8 years ago

Curious- As this will make sense later ...
How old are you now watching "Terms of Endearment" for the first time?
Am Interested in your take...???

[–] fentress 8 years ago

I don't know if you were inviting comment from anyone in general, but I'll bite.

I was in college when the movie came out. Was in my early 20's I guess. I thought it was a great movie at the time. I thought Terms of Endearment was a solid choice for winning Best Picture. I saw it several times. Found it genuinely moving. I'm a guy too, if that makes a difference.

But nowadays ... not as much. I haven't watched it for a number of years. But the last time I ever saw it, I found it to be entertaining enough, still somewhat moving. Some good acting moments. But would it make my personal short list of favorites? Not at all. It's a little too conventional. Just doesn't have the grit to be a favorite.

[–] wizzyliz 8 years ago

To each his own. This was the 1983 best picture and best actors/ actresses/ director. Interesting to read a scathing review though.

[–] johnhopkins-46748 8 years ago

The Academy has made mistakes plenty of time. And there certainly wasn't much competition that year

[–] trainer1158 8 years ago

I, too, would like to know how old you are. Thanks.

[–] russellclo 8 years ago

When I saw the movie in my 20's back in the 80's, and recently, I felt the same way you do. I just had a hard time buying any of the acting, although Nicholson and Maclaine made an effort. I wondered why a girl from an obviously well off home would not consider school instead of marrying right away and popping out kids one after another, and I wondered why Debra Winger's character was so dingy and stupid acting. Supposedly it's based on a book, but something definitely got lost between the book/screen writing/acting. It is cringeworthy, and I don't understand why it's such a lauded movie.

[–] fentress 8 years ago

there certainly wasn't much competition that year

Interesting to read that. Just on a personal note, I was in college back then, and I remember 1983 as being a year in which I was very excited about the movies. I was having a personal awakening that a movie can be experienced as a work of art, not simply as a device to keep oneself amused for a couple of hours.

But as you get older, your tastes mature and you outgrow some things. At the time, I loved "Terms of Endearment" and "The Big Chill" (another best picture nominee). But today ... well, they're both entertaining, each has some good moments. But they don't quite make the cut for me as great movies.

However, "The Right Stuff" (another best picture nominee), still stands for me today as a very good movie, more than Terms or the Chill. It holds up, in my opinion.

I also liked "Tender Mercies" and probably still would today. But it's a very small, quiet, understated film. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's not the kind of thing that usually wins Best Picture.

Never saw "The Dresser". Never even talked to anybody who'd ever seen it.

Another 1983 movie that was not nominated for best picture, but was nominated for Best Actor and I think best adapted screenplay, was a film called "Reuben, Reuben" starring Tom Conti. It's truly an underappreciated, forgotten movie. It wasn't even on DVD until a couple of years ago. It's one of my favorites.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] LLOwens 8 years ago

And there certainly wasn't much competition that year

I've read similar misconceptions stated on other forums. There were several good films that were released that year including, but not limited to:

The Right Stuff
Tender Mercies
Scarface
The Big Chill
A Christmas Story
The King of Comedy
The Dresser
Yentl
The Fourth Man
Danton
El Norte
Trading Places
Return of the Jedi
L-Argent
Silkwood
Risky Business
The Outsiders
Koyaanisqatsi - Life Out of Balance
Rumble Fish
Carmen
Gorky Park
Entre Nous
Bad Boys
Nostalghia
WarGames
Zelig
Videodrome
Sans Soleil
Local Hero
Educating Rita

[–] fentress 7 years ago

I would add to that list Reuben, Reuben, in my opinion a much underappreciated film. It actually was nominated for two Oscars, and featured the debut appearance of Kelly McGillis.

I believe Koyannisqatsi actually came out a little earlier, 1982 according to imdb. Glad you mentioned it though. Great film.

[–] BeautifulBooser 8 years ago

Sounds like a little kid that has never touched a booby or had a genuine emotion themselves. Over half his posts are about the movie Frozen and Beauty and the Beast, enough said.

[–] MikeO_64 8 years ago

A worse troll I have never seen.