• Latest
African Queen (1951)

Terms of Endearment (1983)

November 15, 2022
African Queen (1951)

Exodus (1960)

March 21, 2023
Just Some Thoughts

“Don’t Worry”

March 21, 2023
Job Training Well Done

Job Training Well Done

March 21, 2023

ACLU, Partners Call on Legislators to Oppose Plans for Prison Expansion

March 21, 2023

Conservation Supports New Farm In Central Vermont

March 21, 2023

Vermont Hunter Education Courses

March 15, 2023

Vermont Philharmonic and Green Mountain Youth Symphony Present “Awakenings: Music of Young Composers”

March 15, 2023

Central Vermont Council on Aging (CVCOA) Joins in Month-Long March for Meals Celebration with Communities Nationwide

March 15, 2023
African Queen (1951)

Divorce, Italian Style (1961)

March 15, 2023

Following Successful Public Pressure Campaign to Lower the Cost of Eli Lilly’s Insulin, Sanders and Bush Introduce Bill to Finish the Job and Cap the Price at $20 Per Vial

March 15, 2023
Udderly Crazy 4-H Club Members Take Part In 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl

Udderly Crazy 4-H Club Members Take Part In 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl

March 7, 2023
Hunger Free Vermont Receives $36,090 Nourishing Neighbors Grant from Shaw’s Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbor Campaign

Hunger Free Vermont Receives $36,090 Nourishing Neighbors Grant from Shaw’s Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbor Campaign

March 7, 2023
  • Home
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
Monday, March 27, 2023
The World Online
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The World Online
No Result
View All Result

Terms of Endearment (1983)

4 Stars

vt-world by vt-world
November 15, 2022
in Max's View
0
African Queen (1951)

As a teenager, I believed John Locke’s Tabula Rasa theory.

To a child’s brain, believing we are born as blank slates is appealing. It makes it sound like there is an explanation for the way we are, that we can change the way we are, and that the sins of humanity are solvable.

That’s mostly untrue, though. We are who we are. We can change a few things about our behavior with great effort. But, to a large extent, we were born this way. And we are going to die this way.

One great thing about this realization is that we can stop blaming our parents for our problems. Parents have two jobs: to be present and to love us. If our parents did that, then they probably did fine. Most of the issues we have are just accidents of nature.

“Terms of Endearment” begins with infant Emma Greenway asleep in her crib. Emma’s mom Aurora declares loudly that the baby has stopped breathing. Aurora awakens the slumbering baby to see if she is alive. The baby certainly is alive and she begins crying. Aurora is relieved.

Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine) is a self-absorbed drama queen. You might think that her daughter would grow up to be confused and anxiety-ridden.

But you’d be wrong. Emma Greenway (Debra Winger) was born without a neurotic bone in her body, and there is nothing her nutty mom can do to change that.

In a movie filled with talented screen legends, it’s Debra Winger who steals the show. Emma is completely realistic and relatable and yet I’ve never seen a character like her before.

Emma is enthusiastic and emotional. She’s always happy, but she isn’t blind to the problems in her life. Emma has no use for a psychiatrist, because she knows who she is and says what she wants.

The brilliance of “Terms of Endearment” is that it makes us believe in and then fall in love with Emma Greenway. [major spoiler alert] So when Emma is diagnosed with terminal cancer, it doesn’t feel like a manipulative plot device; it feels like an opportunity to explore how a happy woman handles sickness and death.

Shirley MacLaine is funny and infuriating as Emma’s mom Aurora. Writer/director James L. Brooks rightly won an Oscar for the way he juggles the two amazing leading ladies and their unrelated plots.

Aurora is closed-hearted but desperate for attention. She surrounds herself with men who worship her but she keeps them at arm’s length.

Aurora is finally challenged by her brash, womanizing next-door neighbor (Jack Nicholson).

“Terms of Endearment” is as honest and insightful as dramas get. Sometimes people choose the right person who treats them well; sometimes people choose the wrong person who treats them shabbily. Usually, it’s someone in between those extremes and it’s hard to know how much you’ve messed up.

Life is full of joy, laughter, and love – and horrific things happen to us along the way. I was impressed with how the film handles Emma’s vacation to New York City in between cancer treatments. It is her bucket-list adventure, but she isn’t able to have any fun and leaves early. Grim, but realistic.

Near her death, Emma reconciles with her imperfect, unfaithful husband (Jeff Daniels), but she chooses not to confess her own infidelity. She takes that secret to her grave. People are complicated, and the movie never simplifies them.

We certainly aren’t blank slates who our parents programmed like computers. We are mysterious creations of DNA and/or God. We should just be grateful if we are among the fortunate people who still have parents who love us.

Previous Post

On Being Last

Next Post

Gifford Participating in Upper Valley Everyone Eats Through 2022

Next Post

Gifford Participating in Upper Valley Everyone Eats Through 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This Week’s Ads

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
The World
403 US Route 302
Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 479-2582

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

No Result
View All Result
  • Art Exhibits
  • Audit and Reader Surveys
  • Births
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Daily Horoscope
  • Fall Guide
  • Food & Recipe
  • Home
  • Obituaries
  • Ongoing Events
  • Pay Your Bill Here
  • Senior Living Edition
  • Showtimes
  • Submit Birth Announcement
  • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
  • Submit Engagement Announcement
  • Submit Listing to our Local Directory
  • Submit Sports News/Photo
  • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Testimonials
  • The World Coupons
  • Weather Forecast
  • World Deadlines
  • World Distribution Map
  • World Rate Card
  • World Rates and Ad Sizes
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • About Us
  • Vermont Lottery
  • Advertising Information
  • The World Staff
  • Advertising Inquiry
  • Submit Letter To The Editor
  • Local Directory
  • Poll Results
  • Local Deals
  • Classifieds
  • Submit An Article To The World
  • Events
  • The World – This Week’s Online Digital Edition
  • The World Auto & Sports

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In