Continuing on my journey of watching Oscar films for the first time, a period I’ve come to call my shame period, I found Terms of Endearment. I found it without audio description, which is problematic, since this is a Best Picture winner. I’m of the belief that any Best Picture winner or film added to the National Film Registry should be required to have audio description. These are all cornerstones of cinema, even if in some cases we like films that didn’t win, or aren’t in the registry yet more.
My thoughts on this include the fact that I didn’t check the cast ahead of time, and I somehow totally missed Danny Devito, which is amazing considering he has a very recognizable voice. The banter between Shirley Maclaine and Debra Winger is off beat, but I came away with a lot of love for Winger after this film.
I recently also tackled An officer and a gentleman, which did have audio description, and she did nothing for me there. Here, I think her storyline is the more interesting one, as I didn’t really care for the awkward exchanges between Maclaine and Jack Nicholson.These are two absolute titans in acting, and they’re both fine, but I dare you to label either of these as their best performance.
In supporting turns, john Lithgow and Jeff Daniel’s both do offer something. Lithgow was interesting, though I’m not sure he was worthy of an Oscar nomination here. Honestly, his underrated work in Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes is more dynamic and deserving. Winger has this film by the celluloid testicles, and I just wish I had the audio description to truly enjoy it. The score is fine, and I love that there’s a kid in the cast named Huckleberry Fox. What a great name. How he didn’t become an immediate star is beyond me.
I actually had managed to watch The Evening Star as a youth without ever watching this. My mom dragged me along. I remember mostly liking it, even though it wouldn’t have been my choice at 13.
We have got to get audio description on this. No matter where it streams. All the time. Best Picture winner. Come on now.
Final Grade: unwatchable without audio description.
Predicted Grade Range: B, B+, A-
