80s Movie Review - Terms of Endearment

Director: James L. Brooks
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 132 minutes
Year: 1983
Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson, Jeff Daniels, Danny DeVito, John Lithgow

Description: Follows the hard-to-please Aurora (Shirley MacLaine) looking for love and her daughter’s (Debra Winger) family problems.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 12: A FILM THAT HAS WON AN ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST PICTURE
 
Review: Aurora and her daughter Emma are all by themselves after their husband/ father passes away. Emma is about to get married to Flap, a man Aurora finds not to be right for her. Flap also seems to hate Aurora. While Emma marries him, seeing that he is boorish and unfaithful, Aurora tries to live a life without her daughter. Eventually falling for her next door neighbor Garrett.

“Terms of Endearment” won 5 Academy Awards in 1984. Shirley MacLaine won for her role as Aurora and Jack Nicholson for his portrayal of Garrett. But it also took home the Best Picture Award, which I really don’t understand. Unpopular opinion, but I did not like this movie and I don’t believe it’s really that good. The fact that it has drama in it and I did not care about a single character, says enough. This is one of those Oscar-winning movies that I just can’t get behind.

Rating: 2 / 5

Movie Reviews - Noelle

Director: Marc Lawrence
Genre: Family/ Adventure/ Fantasy/ Comedy
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Bill Hader, Shirley MacLaine, Julie Hagerty, Billy Eichner, Michael Gross

Description: Santa’s daughter Noelle (Anna Kendrick) finds herself to take over the family business when her father dies and her brother, who is supposed to inherit the role of Santa, gets cold feet.

Review: The title figure is the daughter of Santa Claus, who died recently. Her brother Nick inherits the title of Santa Claus, as has been done in the Kringle family for generations. But, Nick isn't waiting for that at all.
The story of “Noelle” is wafer-thin. The given itself is quite original: that Santa's title has been in the same family for centuries and that the eldest son always inherits it. It's a little bit like royalty. Also nice is that the next one in the line of 'succession to the throne' isn't really waiting for that at all. But: it's a Christmas movie and it's a Disney movie so you can count on it that everything will be all right. The movie only lasts an hour and a half because there are no subplots or other interesting storylines. It's all about saving Christmas and Santa's title. And that's fine, because that's all you have to expect.
With a different cast, "Noelle" would have been a significantly lesser film. The casting is really very good. Anna Kendrick does what she's good at in the title role: playing a semi-unhanded but sweet person and of course her charisma is fantastic. She can even wear a predictable sweet movie well. Bill Hader is always good, whether he does soft SNL sketches or plays a more serious role like he did recently in "It: Chapter 2". He was really phenomenal in that. As Nick Kringle, he could have gotten a bit more screen time. And Shirley MacLaine is a living legend. Even though her role is really awful, not a bad word about this beautiful lady.
"Noelle" is a really sweet movie. Sugar sweet if I may say so. The only thing missing is the cast that spontaneously bursts into carols, but there is actually no singing in this movie. Furthermore, you can assume that everyone gets a 'they lived happily ever after', even the somewhat cranky cousin and the irritating owner of the mall. Can you feel where the story is going? Yeah, sure. Already in almost the first scene. Is that bad? Not like that. It's what you'd expect from a Disney Christmas movie. It doesn't make the message any less. But if you don't like predictable, sweet, sweet movies, you better skip "Noelle".
This is obviously really a family movie. There is no swearing in it ('oh my garland' is the strongest scream the Kringles use), there is no romance in it (no kiss on the cheek yet) and there are cute critters in it. Which is also a point of criticism because: the CGI in "Noelle" is just not good. The little white reindeer Snowcone looks like he belongs in another movie. The budget has clearly gone to the cast and not to the special effects. But for the kids the Snowcone cuddles will be hard to find.
All in all, “Noelle” is a great Christmas movie. You know what you're getting into and you won't get anything extra. This is sweet, predictable and sweet, but still it is a nice movie to watch in between.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 14: Bernie

Director: Richard Linklater
Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 95 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey

Description: In small-town Texas, an affable mortician (Jack Black) strikes up a friendship with a wealthy widow (Shirley MacLaine), though when she starts to become controlling, he goes to great lengths to separate himself from her grasp.

Review: This film is quirky and that’s an understatement. But that makes this true story even more unbelievable. Jack Black is playing probably one of his best roles, as the mortician Bernie. It’s a weird true story, but definitely a movie you should watch. Because this is a highly overlooked film.
Bernie Tiede is the kind of guy that everyone loves. As assistant mortician, he seems to have found his calling. He manages to make the deceased look pretty in their casket, but is also a great salesman. And Bernie also loves to sing and provides vocals on funerals. Jack Black can show his many talents here. When the rich mister Nugents dies, Bernie takes care of his funeral. But later also of his wife Marjorie Nugent.
The movie is filmed in a documentary style. In between scenes, you see people of the Texan town being interviewed about their town, Bernie and other citizens of the town. This is a fun take and made this movie even more unique.
The story feels so unbelievable, especially with knowing that it really happened. This film really surprised me and I think more people should see it.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 119: The Apartment

Director: Billy Wilder
Genre: Drama/ Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 1960
Starring: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Jack Kruschen, Edie Adams, Ray Walston, David Lewis, Hope Holiday, Joan Shawlee, Naomi Stevens, Johnny Seven

Description: C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) tries to rise in his company by letting its executives use his apartment for trysts, but complications and a romance of his own ensue.

Review: Movies by director Billy Wilder stand the test of time. Wilder is a master in portaying people in the most comical, tragic, honest and human way. These ingredients are all present in “The Apartment”.
Jack Lemmon plays C.C. Baxter, a lonely office worker. He can’t even go to his own apartment, because he lets his co-worker with higher positions use it to have affaires. Baxter plays along, probably to be liked and also to get a promotion. Baxter also has a thing for Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), one of the elevator girls in the office he works in. he is hurt when he finds out Fran is having a relationship with his married boss Sheldrake. And the two also used Baxter’s apartment. When Sheldrake tells Fran he won’t divorce his wife, Fran tries to commit suicide. In Baxter’s apartment.
The power of “The Apartment” lies in the honest and human characters. For both MacLaine and Lemmon this was a new beginning in their career. Jack Lemmon was mostly known as a comedy actor and he showed in “The Apartment” that he can easily switch from comedy to drama to everyday situations. Shirley MacLaine had been in lighter comedies, but “The Apartment” made her a more believable and serious actress.
“The Apartment” has some daring themes for the 1960s: suicide, adultery. But the film was a huge success and to date is still a favorite to many. I simply loved this comedy, over two hours long but I didn’t feel it at all.
For every comedy fan, “The Apartment” is a must see.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 127: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Director: Ben Stiller

Genre: Drama/ Comedy/ Fantasy/ Adventure

Runtime: 115 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Sean Penn, Patton Oswalt, Katherine Hahn, Shirley Maclaine

Description: When his job along with that of his co-worker are threatened, Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined.

Review: It started as a short story in The New Yorker in 1939 and this is the second movie based on this story. The first adaptation dates from 1947, so it’s not strange to see “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” with a more modern touch.

Ben Stiller plays the leading role, but also directed the film. Walter Mitty leads an unremarkable life. He has been working for LIFE magazine as a photo developer. He is a daydreamer, where he sees himself as a mountain climber and a hero. Collegue Cheryl is often the leading lady in his day dreams. Walter’s secure life is about to collapse when the magazine decides to only publish digitally. With that he also has to find the negative of the photo that’s supposed to go on the last issue of LIFE. From that moment on Walter is determined to find its photographer Sean O’Connell.

“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” has some good dry humor. Here you see that Ben Stiller has a comedic background, but not of the silly category. The film often has a melancholic feel to it. The desire for the seemingly unattainable, lamenting missed opportunities, craving the past; all feelings that many people recognize. The visuals are stunning and that in combination with the music make “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” a true cinematic adventure. The film has a clean style, seamless transitions and beautiful graphics.

Ben Stiller is really good in this film both as Walter and as a director. Kristen Wiig was the perfect choice to play the natural charming Cheryl. Sean Penn is cool as ever and Adam Scott is a very convincing douchebag.

Even the biggest cynic would have trouble to keep that smile of his face while watching “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”.

Rating: 4,5/ 5