The Evening Star | | Cast : | Shirley MacLaine, Bill Paxton, Juliette Lewis | | Director : | Robert Harling | | Studio : | Paramount Studio | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | December 25, 1996 | | DVD Released Date : | May 13, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Original Language), English (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 09, 2005 | | Summary | Terms of en-bore-ment | Content
 | TERMS OF ENDEARMENT had a unique sort of success. With a storyline usually limited to Lifetime Television or the Monday Night Disease of the Week, it rose above that through it's consistent use of great comic dialogue care of writer director James L Brooks (BROADCAST NEWS, AS GOOD AS IT GETS). Now we are given a sequel directed by former screenwriter Robert Harling. Without a sense of comedy, this installment is extremely maudlin. Disease of the Week, here we come.
Aurora Greenway (Shirley Maclaine working hard to recapture her vibrant performance) is now struggling with the children of her deceased daughter. One is stuck in poverty, one in prison and the youngest is a rebellious young adult. Although they are most of the story, there is nothing unique or even believable about their plights. One of the weakest and least enrolling characters from TERMS OF ENDEARMENT was Debra Winger's best friend who is now an important character, even though she is still not enrolling or interesting. Like Terms of Endearment, this story revolves around a death, this time of Aurora's maid portrayed by Marion Ross. Even with her strong performance, the loss never deserves much notice. A tear will not be shed. The last portion of the film involves a questionable sexual relationship with a young therapist, played awkwardly by Bill Paxton.
In the last portion of the film, the screen sees brief sunlight when Jack Nicholson comfortably revives his character from the prequel. His superstar quality is effervescent but he quickly retreats from the film.
The DVD includes a nice widescreen transfer and the pleasant musical score nicely supports the pacing. The DVD also includes a running commentary by the director but the film doesn't seem to warrant it. Like its superior predecessor, this was based on a Larry McMurtry's novel.
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| Rating | | | Date | January 21, 2005 | | Summary | Shirley MacLaine, back as Aurora Greenway... | Content
| THE EVENING STAR is the long-awaited sequel to TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, continuing the story of Aurora Greenway and the children of her daughter Emma.
Aurora (Shirley MacLaine) has succeeded in raising Tommy (George Newbern), Teddy (Mackenzie Astin) and Melanie (Juliette Lewis), though she's not very happy with the outcome. Tommy is in jail, Teddy has had a family out of wedlock and Melanie is skipping college and sleeping with a boy that Aurora (to put it mildly) doesn't approve of.
Aurora's lovelife has also taken a nosedive. Garrett (Jack Nicholson) has moved away and the house seems too big and lonely. At the `suggestion' of maid Rosie (Marion Ross) she goes to see a counsellor (Bill Paxton). Trying desperately to keep Emma's family together, Aurora slowly mends the rift between the past and present.
This emotional sequel to TOE is fantastic. Miranda Richardson fills the role of bitchy Patsy (played by Lisa Hart Carroll in the original film) perfectly, and Marion Ross more than fills the shoes of Rosie (played previously by Betty King). Juliette Lewis is lovely as Melanie (and does resemble Debra Winger who played Emma). And no sequel to TERMS OF ENDEARMENT would be complete without Jack Nicholson dropping by!
So lets revisit Aurora as she takes us through the next chapter of the Greenway story... |
| Rating | | | Date | December 21, 2004 | | Summary | Not Great, but I Still Couldn't Turn it Off | Content
| Shirley MacLaine can take a so-so movie and make it totally watchable.This is proven yet again with this movie. Were the makers of this movie actually expecting an Oscar for their efforts?Puh-LEASE!
Don't get me wrong, this movie is played to death on cable and I have yet to not stop and watch when I do stumble upon it, but to call this a sequel to Terms is ridiculous. This is ABC Movie of the Week quality at best. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 16, 2003 | | Summary | Heartmoving! | Content
| Everytime I watch this witty, funny, sad, tearful movie, I both laugh and cry. The acting is wonderful. Shirley Macclaine is a very lovable character along with the rest of the cast. Great movie! Never get tired of re-watching. |
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