the evening star movie review

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“The Evening Star” is a completely unconvincing sequel to “ Terms of Endearment ” (1983). It tells the story of the later years of Aurora Greenway ( Shirley MacLaine ), but fails to find much in them worth making a movie about. It shows every evidence, however, of having closely scrutinized the earlier film for the secret of its success. The best scenes in “Terms” involved the death of Aurora's daughter, Emma, unforgettably played by Debra Winger . Therefore, “The Evening Star” has no less than three deaths. You know you're in trouble when the most upbeat scene in a comedy is the scattering of the ashes.

The movie takes place in Houston, where Aurora lives with her loyal housekeeper Rosie ( Marion Ross ) and grapples unsuccessfully with the debris of her attempts to raise her late daughter's children. The oldest boy ( George Newbern ) is in prison on his third drug possession charge. The middle boy (Mackenzie Astin) is shacked up with a girlfriend and their baby. The girl, Melanie ( Juliette Lewis ) lives with Aurora, but is on the brink of moving in with her boyfriend, a would-be actor. (The absence of their father, Flap, played in the first movie by Jeff Daniels , is handled with brief dialogue.) Aurora has broken up with the General ( Donald Moffat ), who lives down the street, but he is still a daily caller, drinking coffee in the kitchen with Rosie and offering advice. Next door, in the house that used to be owned by the astronaut ( Jack Nicholson ), is now the genial Arthur (the late Ben Johnson ), who also pays Rosie a great deal of attention. And still on the scene is Patsy (Melanie Richardson), Emma's best friend and now one of Aurora's confidants.

All of these people live together in the manner of 1950s sitcoms, which means they constantly walk in and out of one another's houses, and throw up the windows to carry on conversations with people in the yard. I don't know about you, but if I had to live in a neighborhood where all of my friends and neighbors were hanging out in the kitchen drinking my coffee and offering free advice and one-liners all day, I'd move. Let them go to Starbucks.

Rosie, a lovable busybody, notices that Aurora has fallen into a depression and tricks her into seeing a therapist, Jerry ( Bill Paxton ). Aurora tells him that she is still seeking “the great love of my life.” Anyone who has slept with an astronaut played by Jack Nicholson and can still make that statement is a true optimist. Soon, amazingly, the much-younger Jerry violates all the rules of his profession and asks her out, and we get one of those patented movie scenes designed to show how a rich older lady is the salt of the earth: She takes him to a barbecue joint named the Pig Stand, where she knows everybody by name (this is probably one of the danger signals of alcoholism).

Now we're in for a series of scenes showing how colorful Aurora is, and sure enough, before long she actually crawls in through Jerry's window. The explanation for Jerry's fascination with her, when it finally arrives, is no less inane for being predictable. (I dislike most movie scenes where new characters are dragged onscreen for one shot, just to provide a punch line.) More developments: Melanie, the granddaughter, wants to move to L.A. with her boyfriend, Bruce. Rosie and old Arthur start dating. The General gets into a snit because Aurora is dating Jerry. Rosie decides to marry Arthur (“Nobody else has ever told me they loved me. Besides, I'll just be next door.”). When Rosie gets sick, Aurora reveals her credentials as a control freak by going into Arthur's house and carrying Rosie back to her own house, in the rain.

As a counterpoint to these events, Aurora rummages in a closet and comes up with a roomful of diaries, photo albums, old dance cards, theater programs and journals, which collectively suggest set decorators and prop consultants are on an unlimited budget. And the astronaut (Nicholson) turns up again, briefly, adding a shot in the arm. “I'm still looking for my true love,” Aurora tells him, and he replies, with the movie's best line, “There aren't that many shopping days until Christmas.” “Terms of Endearment” was about a difficult relationship between two strong-willed women, the MacLaine and Winger characters. Juliette Lewis, as the granddaughter, is available for similar material here, and indeed her performance is the most convincing in the movie, but the script marginalizes her, preferring instead a series of Auntie Mame-like celebrations of Aurora, alternating with elegiac speeches and clunky sentiment.

Sequels are a chancy business at best, but “The Evening Star” is thin and contrived. Even the music has no confidence: William Ross' score underlines every emotion with big nudges, and ends scenes with tidy little flourishes. The title perhaps comes from “Crossing the Bar,” by Tennyson, who wrote: Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me! And let there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea . . .

His bar, of course, was made of sand, and is not to be confused with the Pig Stand. In “The Evening Star,” however, there is a great deal of moaning when anyone puts out to sea.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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The Evening Star (1996)

Rated PG-13 On Appeal For Some Sexual Situations and Brief Strong Language

129 minutes

Shirley MacLaine as Aurora

Miranda Richardson as Patsy

Marion Ross as Rosie

Bill Paxton as Jerry

Juliette Lewis as Melanie

Jack Nicholson as Garrett

Donald Moffat as The General

Ben Johnson as Arthur

Written and Directed by

• Robert Harling

Produced by

• David Kirkpatrick
• Polly Platt
• Keith Samples

Based On The Novel by

• Larry McMurtry

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The Evening Star

Artistically speaking, "The Evening Star" is to "Terms of Endearment" what "Texasville" was to "The Last Picture Show," a vastly disappointing sequel to a superlative original. As scripted and directed by Robert Harling, this three-generational meller about the neuroses of an extended family has subplots, characters, thesps - and mushy sentiments - fitting a TV soap or miniseries, though not enough substance or quality for one good feature.

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Artistically speaking, “The Evening Star” is to “Terms of Endearment” what “Texasville” was to “The Last Picture Show,” a vastly disappointing sequel to a superlative original. As scripted and directed by Robert Harling, this three-generational meller about the neuroses of an extended family has subplots, characters, thesps – and mushy sentiments – fitting a TV soap or miniseries, though not enough substance or quality for one good feature. Still, considering the popularity of the 1983 Oscar-winning “Terms of Endearment,” the film should generate sufficient curiosity for a reasonably strong opening – until the cumulative effect of mixed-to-negative reviews and lukewarm word of mouth send the picture to the video bin.

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James L. Brooks’ masterly touch as writer and director and Debra Winger’s edgy presence are very much missing from “The Evening Star,” a film that in sensibility, structure – and basic flaws – bears more resemblance to “Steel Magnolias,” which was also scripted by Harling, than to “Terms of Endearment.”

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The primary elements that hitch together the 1983 pic and its sequel are Shirley MacLaine’s obnoxious/charming overbearing matron and her resolutely bad taste in clothes (here designed with great flair by Renee Ehrlich Kalfus).

Pic is set in l988, 15 years after the first film ended, with Aurora Greenway (MacLaine) still defiant and perky. But instead of having one complex relationship with one reverent daughter, Emma (Winger), she now has complex relationships with three troubled grandchildren. Melanie (Juliette Lewis) may be the most level-headed and driven of the trio, but she has a history of choosing “bad men,” detested by Aurora with the same bile she felt for her son-in-law. Melanie’s current beau, Bruce (TV’s “Party of Five” heartthrob Scott Wolf) is handsome but selfish, concerned chiefly with his modeling career while Melanie works as a waitress to support his lofty ambitions.

Middle grandchild Teddy (Mackenzie Astin) lacks ambition and, what’s more, produces a baby out of wedlock with his g.f., Jane (China Kantner); Aurora labels the boy “monstrous.” Then there’s the eldest, Tommy (George Newbern), who’s serving time in prison on a drug charge. Guilty about not having raised her grandchildren to be “upstanding citizens,” Aurora visits Tommy in jail regularly with a batch of homemade cookies, which he dumps into the garbage right in front her.

Not much more comfort comes from Aurora’s tempestuous, on-off relationship with arch-enemy Patsy (Miranda Richardson), Emma’s best friend. And while housekeeper-companion Rosie (Marion Ross) provides some emotional stability, she leaves Aurora after decades of service to marry Arthur (Ben Johnson), their old, gentlemanly neighbor.

A temporary joy is offered by Jerry Bruckner (Bill Paxton), a much younger shrink whom Aurora reluctantly visits and ends up having an affair with – only to realize that he’s been bedding Patsy. In one of the movie’s few genuinely humorous moments, Aurora shows up for a luncheon date with Patsy wearing the latter’s yellow belt, which she found under Jerry’s bed.

One waits with anticipation for Aurora’s former suitor, ex-astronaut Garrett Breedlove (Jack Nicholson) to show up. And, indeed, in the very last sequence he turns up – for exactly five minutes. But, alas, even Garrett can’t pump energy into the proceedings, which at this late point have sunk to irredeemable tedium. Saddled with embarrassing lines, which he has to deliver while gazing at the stars, Nicholson (who won a 1983 supporting Oscar for his role) looks ill at ease.

MacLaine is decent and overacts only occasionally. The tension that prevailed between her and Winger – as characters and actresses – is absent here. Instead, we get a domineering woman who tiresomely moves from one episode to another and then, exhausted, retires to her bedroom to look at her photo albums. Under the guise of Aurora organizing a chronicle, pic shamelessly subjects the audience to snapshots and mementos from “Terms of Endearment,” yet another reminder of the superiority of Brooks’ film.

Neophyte helmer Harling displays an erratic comic touch that can’t conceal the shallow quality of the material. Many scenes are off-key, moving to a far slower and graver tempo than necessary. Periodically, Harling imbues the vignettes with a campy sensibility, particularly in the catty rivalry between Aurora and Patsy. A tasteless brawl between the grand dames (on an airplane, no less) brings to mind the equally disgraceful one between MacLaine and Anne Bancroft in “The Turning Point.”

The thesps playing the grandchildren and their respective mates are pale. The good moments in “The Evening Star,” which amount to no more than a fraction of the unjustifiably lengthy movie, belong to the cast’s older members: Richardson, as the elegant nemesis Patsy; Donald Moffat, as a retired general and Aurora’s former beau; and Johnson, in his final role, as the kind neighbor.

Tech credits are not as polished as one would expect from a major studio release. Don Burgess’ bright-color lensing and Bruno Rubeo’s production design are OK, but Priscilla Nedd-Friendly and David Moritz’s editing, so crucial to the fragmented narrative, is often choppy and abrupt.

Pic is dedicated to the late Ben Johnson, who won a 1971 supporting Oscar for “The Last Picture Show,” also based on a Larry McMurtry novel.

• Production: A Paramount release of a Rysher Entertainment presentation of a David Kirkpatrick production. Produced by David Kirkpatrick, Polly Platt, Keith Samples. Co-producer, Dennis Bishop. Directed, written by Robert Harling, based on the novel by Larry McMurtry.
• Crew: Camera (Deluxe color), Don Burgess; editors, Priscilla Nedd-Friendly, David Moritz; music, William Ross; production design, Bruno Rubeo; art direction, Richard L. Johnson; set decoration, Rick Simpson; costume design, Renee Ehrlich Kalfus; sound (Dolby stereo), Douglas Axtell; assistant director, Steve Danton; casting, Jennifer Shull. Reviewed at Paramount Studios L.A., Dec. 2, 1996. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 128 MIN.
• With: Aurora Greenway - Shirley MacLaine Jerry Bruckner - Bill Paxton Melanie Horton - Juliette Lewis Patsy Carpenter - Miranda Richardson Arthur Cotton - Ben Johnson Bruce - Scott Wolf Tommy Horton - George Newbern Rosie Dunlop - Marion Ross Teddy Horton - Mackenzie Astin Hector Scott - Donald Moffat Jane - China Kantner Garrett Breedlove - Jack Nicholson

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The evening star.

Directed by Robert Harling

The continuing story of 'Terms of Endearment'.

Continuing the story of Aurora Greenway in her latter years. After the death of her daughter, Aurora struggled to keep her family together, but has one grandson in jail, a rebellious granddaughter, and another grandson living just above the poverty line.

Shirley MacLaine Bill Paxton Juliette Lewis Miranda Richardson Ben Johnson Scott Wolf George Newbern Marion Ross Mackenzie Astin Donald Moffat Jennifer Grant China Kantner Jack Nicholson Shawn Taylor Thompson Jake Langerud Sharon Bunn Clement von Franckenstein Antonia Bogdanovich Jimmie Lee Balthazar Melinda Renna Mark Walters Ann Hardman-Broughton Woody Watson Larry Elliott Donny Caicedo Connie Cooper Laura Cayouette John McCalmont John Bennett Perry Show All… Mary Gross Alex Morris Will Wallace Kim Terry Eileen Morris Christopher Ballinger Austin Samuel Hembd Don Burgess Steve Danton Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc

Director Director

Robert Harling

Producers Producers

Dennis Bishop David Paul Kirkpatrick Polly Platt Keith Samples

Writer Writer

Original writer original writer.

Larry McMurtry

Casting Casting

Jennifer Shull

Editors Editors

David Moritz Priscilla Nedd-Friendly

Cinematography Cinematography

Don Burgess

Production Design Production Design

Bruno Rubeo

Art Direction Art Direction

Richard L. Johnson

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Rick Simpson

Special Effects Special Effects

Randy E. Moore Margaret Johnson Rick Josephsen

Visual Effects Visual Effects

Craig Barron

Stunts Stunts

Russell Towery Donna Evans Diane Peterson Conrad E. Palmisano Chick Bernhard Diane Towery Howard Griffith Mark Chavarria Jim Henry Gary Pike Debbie Lynn Ross Ben Loggins John Shults David Sanders

Composer Composer

William Ross

Sound Sound

Douglas Axtell Yann Delpuech Susumu Tokunow

Costume Design Costume Design

Renee Ehrlich Kalfus

Makeup Makeup

Hairstyling hairstyling.

Jennifer Bower O'Halloran

Paramount Pictures Rysher Entertainment

Releases by Date

05 dec 1996, 25 dec 1996, 27 feb 1997, 14 mar 1997, 02 oct 1997, releases by country.

• Theatrical U
• Premiere Houston
• Theatrical PG-13

129 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by anna nomaly ★★

It is essentially the Lifetime-ready weepie Terms of Endearment so skillfully avoided becoming, but Shirley MacLaine does justice to the continuing evolution of Aurora regardless. She makes even the most sitcom-y scenes feel dignified, which is no easy feat.

Review by Sally Jane Black 1

Sometimes you just cry your fucking eyes out for the last ten minutes of a mediocre movie, okay. Reunions, deaths, loves, renewals, inevitabilities all have their impact. The implications of the last film's ending seem erased here, though, in some ways, and the struggle feels at times like a rehash, redirected from lovers to family in the end. It's a weak facsimile of the original, itself a flawed by emotionally powerful movie. Shirley MacLaine reigns here, and her relationships with Rosie and Patsy especially feel worth exploring. But we don't see enough of Rosie (despite this, that arc is what made me cry the most), and Patsy is less a character than a recurring gag up til the end. This should have been left alone, she says as she wipes the stain of salt and water from her face.

Kathleen's VHS Collection 2017: 88/100

Review by Connor Carey ★★ 5

I bet most people didn't even know "Terms of Endearment" had a sequel let alone have even heard of this before. "The Evening Star" is one of the most unnecessary and pointless sequels ever made that's inferior to it's predecessor in every way. It ruins the ending of the first film and takes it's characters in directions that just didn't feel like natural progressions for them. This feels and is shot like a made for TV program and some of the storylines feel like they were pulled right out of a melodramatic lifetime movie. It even rehashes elements of the first film that don't work at all and the emotion feels so forced and manipulative this time around.

This isn't…

Review by DeanAndCo123 ★★★

A sequel to Terms of Endearment, more like a remake in some ways though. Almost shot-for-shot with certain scenes. Juliette Lewis is a pretty good Debra Winger replacement.

A lot of wasted food in this one. People chucking boxes of brownies in the bin, plates full of painstakingly handcrafted cuisine left to rot in the dumpster. Even a scene where Shirley MacLaine and Bill Paxton sit down and order two dishes filled to the brim with chips and pork and then just leave it. What a waste. Never heard of 'waste not, want not'?

Review by Lareon 🏳️‍🌈 ★★★

Wonderful characters in another pointless sequel.

Review by Krommedijk ★★★ 1

The Evening Star is a flawed but entertaining sequel to Terms of Endearment. It's little more than an overly long drama-sitcom. Juliette Lewis plays Aurora's granddaughter who wants to make things as difficult for her grandmother as her late mother. In the meantime, control freak Aurora (MacLaine) still can't find love, so we have to wait for Jack Nicholson, who eventually appears, delivers some powerful lines and disappears again, after which the film continues for a long time. It has good scenes, but it could have been shorter - with less storylines. Good to see Marion Ross, tough.

Review by willmoviefan97 ★★

"The Evening Star" has to be one of the most unnecessary sequels I've ever seen. Its heart is certainly in the right place, and there's plenty of nice little moments sprinkled throughout, but unlike the fabulous original film, a lot of the emotions of this film honestly feel rather contrived, as good as the performers are. The first film told such a well accomplished, completed story, and not only does this sequel even undo some of that film's beautiful ending, there's nothing really here that is compelling enough to justify this film's existence. Shirley MacLaine is by no surprise still pretty great here and while I do not at all like what they do with his character, Nicholson's few scenes with her are again a highlight. The cast all work well together here, it's just unfortunately not a sequel story worth telling.

Review by Ruben Quiroga Kanahuaty ★★

Despite a tenacious lead it feels like a sitcom, all sorts of situations, funny, sad, unerving but it feels like the ending of seasonal show. The music compensated the laugh track. It even had a guest star cameo!

Review by Dawson Joyce ★★

July 2017: Flounder’s Scavenger Hunt #6 TASK #12: A sequel that has no reason to exist!

The very definition of a pointless and unnecessary follow-up, The Evening Star is simultaneously overlong and underwritten, with Terms of Endearment writer and director James L. Brooks' lack of involvement being very obvious, and its talented cast, who do give good performances, is stuck playing characters who are too underdeveloped for what's going on to be compelling.

Review by Danakin Filmwatcher ★★★½

I just watched “Terms of Endearment” for the first time and didn’t realize it had a sequel! A friend mentioned it, so I went right to it. This is a solid continuation of the original, even if it doesn’t pack the same punch as the first. It’s just trying to recreate the first. It’s fun and familiar. It really just feels like I watched one long movie, watching both back-to-back. I kinda wish this one ended on the wedding instead of another death, but I guess it needed to happen, unless there was a part 3, which there isn’t. Anyway, this is a nice and inoffensive little flick and Aurora is a champion!

Review by fran cesca ½

worst sequel ever

Review by Burrows ½

THE EVENING STAR is a film that believes in its mass market appeal despite the reality that its target market is tiny, tiny, tiny. Specifically, THE EVENING STAR is for the 'GOLDEN GIRLS' and 'Geriatric SEX IN THE CITY' set who enjoy simplified emotional pandering for its drama.

As a sequel to TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, THE EVENING STAR follows Aurora along in life as her she has now parented her grandkids into adulthood, and they're all obnoxious turds or otherwise some sort of loser. She pines for a love-of-her-lifetime romance that hasn't happened yet, and in pursuing that, she beds a Bill Paxton with an Oedipus complex while aggravating a cougar-rivalry with her dead daughter's best friend. We also are…

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The Evening Star

Time out says, release details.

• Duration: 129 mins

Cast and crew

• Director: Robert Harling
• Screenwriter: Robert Harling
• Shirley MacLaine
• Jack Nicholson
• Ben Johnson
• Juliette Lewis
• Bill Paxton
• Miranda Richardson

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The Evening Star (1996)

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The continuing story of 'Terms of Endearment'.

Continuing the story of Aurora Greenway in her latter years. After the death of her daughter, Aurora struggled to keep her family together, but has one grandson in jail, a rebellious granddaughter, and another grandson living just above the poverty line.

Robert Harling

Director, Screenplay

Larry McMurtry

Top Billed Cast

Shirley MacLaine

Aurora Greenway

Bill Paxton

Jerry Bruckner

Juliette Lewis

Melanie Horton

Miranda Richardson

Patsy Carpenter

Ben Johnson

Arthur Cotton

George Newbern

Tommy Horton

Marion Ross

Rosie Dunlop

Mackenzie Astin

Teddy Horton

Full Cast & Crew

• Discussions 0

We don't have any reviews for The Evening Star.

• Most Popular

Status Released

Original Language English

Revenue $12,767,815.00

• based on novel or book
• grandparent grandchild relationship
• terminal illness
• family relationships

Content Score 

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The Evening Star Reviews

Almost plotlessly, like a slackly paced television soap, Star runs on and on, trying to twinkle.

Full Review | May 29, 2018

Any crying in response to this unexceptional sequel occurs strictly on a one-tear-at-a-time basis.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Sep 7, 2011

The Evening Star's main shortcoming is that it lacks Terms' firm center; there's no one mainstay relationship ... at the heart of the sequel, and it suffers.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 21, 2006

This adaptation of Larry McMurtry's novel irons out depth without tightening up a baggy shapeless narrative.

Full Review | Jan 26, 2006

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 6, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Feb 18, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 18, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 4, 2004

A moving, well-performed sequel

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 11, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 0/5 | May 23, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 0/5 | Apr 22, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | May 20, 2003

Ms. MacLaine cuts a tart, indefatigable figure who seems much tougher and more likable than anything she's given to say.

Full Review | May 20, 2003

One of the worst sequels ever

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Mar 24, 2003

A sequel no one wanted, done about as poorly as possible

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Jan 5, 2003

Explores the adventure of aging and the benefitsof life review.

Full Review | Aug 28, 2002

In the end, there's nothing to wait for, nothing to wish for and nothing to hold on to -- except the irrational hope that sooner or later they'll run out of film.

Full Review | Original Score: 0/4 | Jun 18, 2002

It's a sad end for such a memorable character. Aurora should have lived out her days with some dignity in the minds of moviegoers.

Full Review | Jan 22, 2002

Full Review | Original Score: 65/100 | Mar 21, 2001

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Feb 27, 2001

The Evening Star Review

14 Mar 1997

129 minutes

Evening Star, The

Trouper Shirley MacLaine reprises the role of Houston control freak Aurora Greenway that secured her Best Actress honours in 1983's multiple Oscar-winning, multiple hanky Terms Of Endearment. In this sequel, humour and heartache are again combined as we learn how the smothering Aurora has got on with rearing her dead daughter's three children and with her continued quest for the love of her life.

Opening in 1988, Aurora is depressed by the tribulations of her grandchildren, one of whom is in prison, while the youngest, Melanie (Lewis), is wrapped up in a scumbag boyfriend and hates her. Aurora enters therapy with counsellor Jerry (Paxton) and embarks on an affair with him, inflicting on us the utterly grotesque spectacle of MacLaine getting it on with the boyish Paxton. Ick!

If you can survive that ordeal, this patchy affair does have some funny and fine scenes of love, hate, neurosis and reconciliation among family and friends. What really makes it is a batch of great support, including the last appearance of the late Ben Johnson, a delicious turn from Miranda Richardson, and a superb performance from Marion Ross (remember Richie's mom in Happy Days?) as Aurora's long-suffering maid and confidante, Rosie. And two hours in, Jack Nicholson finally ambles on as ex-astronaut Garrett Breedlove for a reflective reunion with Aurora that briefly lifts the film to its predecessor's level and fills us with regret that he didn't come sooner. For even as an old bag, MacLaine's spunky Aurora is an irritating package of vanity and self-absorption - although she is splendid in a crisis, and the plot certainly teems with them - making her a wearing solo in the spotlight.

Writer Harling (Steel Magnolias, The First Wives Club) makes his directorial debut without having learned how to end a movie. This one has a great ending that isn't after all, and lurches on through a series of tear-jerking addenda that dispatch the audience as exhausted and weepy as the characters who are still standing.

The Evening Star (1996)

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Terms of endearment collection.

Terms of Endearment is a 1983 American family comedy-drama film directed, written, and produced by James L. Brooks, adapted from Larry McMurtry's 1975 novel of the same name. It stars Debra Winger, Shirley MacLaine, Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Jeff Daniels, and John Lithgow. The film covers 30 years of the relationship between Aurora Greenway (MacLaine) and her daughter Emma (Winger). Terms of Endearment received critical acclaim and was a major commercial success, grossing $164.2 million worldwide, becoming the 2nd highest grossing film of 1983 worldwide. The film received a leading eleven nominations at the 56th Academy Awards, and won five (more than any other film nominated that year): Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (for MacLaine), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor (for Nicholson). A sequel to the film, The Evening Star (1996), in which MacLaine and Nicholson reprised their roles, was a critical and commercial failure.

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The Evening Star

Review by: Matt Bennett

Plot: What’s it about?

The Evening Star is a continuing story of the much-loved saga about that began with the 1983 Best Picture Oscar winner Terms of Endearment. Another chapter takes place, and yes, life still spins around Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine) like a cyclone. The generations have grown, and Aurora could use another drink. As with Terms of Endearment, one situation occurs after another with Aurora: from her granddaughter, Melanie Horton (Julie Andrews) wanting to leave with Mr. Wrong (Scott Wolfe); Patsy Carpenter(Miranda Richardson) still finding ways to meddle with her; Rosie Dunlop (Marion Ross), her long time housekeeper, wanting to ditch domestic work and face matrimony; Jerry Bruckner (Bill Paxton), her shrink, wanting to cross the boundary of client relationships; as well as close ones even passing away. Aurora is back, and she is delightfully feisty as ever!

It’s all Aurora can do to raise her grandchildren, maintain her friends, seek counseling, and keep her sanity. Melanie, Aurora’s granddaughter, insists on staying with Bruce (Mr. Wrong) much to Aurora’s dislike. Melanie, the youngest of the grandchildren, is caught sleeping with Bruce in Aurora’s house, moves out, and eventually ends up in LA. Meanwhile, Rosie wants to give up cleaning Aurora’s house after 40 years and pursue a marriage for the first time in her life, next door! Imagine!! As one episode after another continues, Aurora is sure that she doesn’t need any professional help but finds herself in the house of a licensed Counselor. Well, one visit couldn’t hurt with a much younger man, could it? You’ll have to see it for yourself if she goes back for more. On the other side of the wall is her grandson who has been up to nothing but trouble, in prison! Aurora saw him often, but there is no respect for the elderly on his part. Outside of the family, Patsy has been an enemy of Aurora’s for quite some time, but what part does she have in all of this? She was asked by Mrs. Horton, before she died, to help raise the children. Maybe she is part of the family after all. Aurora, a very take charge – in control person, is obviously thrilled that a much younger, wealthier woman feels the need to be a significant part in their lives. “Enemies are good for one thing,” Aurora stated,” making a person stronger.” This is a story about friends, family, and other natural disasters.

What a movie! At first, I wasn’t sure what to think about the continuing story, but I have nothing but great things to say about it. As many of you know, Terms of Endearment was very sad, but The Evening Star is full of laughter much from the 1983 Best Actress Award Winner, Shirley MacLaine. She was brilliant with one liners after another. This film, I think, will remind a lot of families about the challenges we all go through. The great comedy doesn’t come from the situations that surround Aurora (they are actually quite serious). It comes from the combination of relating her situations to the ones that once surrounded us, in which all we can do is laugh, and not to forget, how Aurora played with the cards that were dealt to her. It was also great to see the spark that was added late in the film with the appearance of Jack Nicholson playing the part, Garrett, who once had a large part in Aurora’s life. If you followed the story since 1983, and own it, it would be a shame if you didn’t add this final chapter to your heart warming collection. I’m definitely going to watch it again!

Video: How does it look?

For a title formatted on dvd, it didn’t impress me. Although the disc is obviously better than VHS, it had quite a few moments where dirt was very evident. The picture wasn’t bad, but it definitely could have been a lot better. Luckily, this isn’t Dinosaur where the story would have to be breath taking because of the large focus on the picture. You’re attention will be on the story, not the picture. Therefore, I didn’t get all worked up about it, nor should you. None the less, you would expect better quality on the DVD.

Audio: How does it sound?

The audio was much better. Once again, this isn’t Dinosaur or T2, but Paramount utilized the 5.1 channel some and had a few scenes where the surround gave the story a more life realizing situations. Most of the movie is about Aurora’s comments and disturbances and not large amounts of bass through rumbling or Airplanes flying through your living room, but the surround sound does add a lot. Much more than if it were in mono.

Supplements: What are the extras?

I was disappointed in the special features that came with this dvd. It was in widescreen format, which I definitely prefer, but other than being able to switch from several scenes, a theatrical trailer, and a commentary – that was it.

The commentary, by Robert Harling (Director), was a nice feature because it did explain why the characters surrounding Aurora behaved the way they did in certain roles as well as what was going through Aurora’s mind herself. It was a typical commentary all the way through the movie, but it does add some more humor watching this movie through the commentary also. The trailer was as good as any of them, but I thought for sure there would be some scenes from the earlier stories or maybe even some interviews from past actors. At the least, comments from Shirley MacLaine. For such a heart warming story, I thought there would have been a little more to look forward to in the special feature selection. It’s not the case for this title.

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• Video Codec: MPEG-2
• Audio: Dolby Digital
• Theatrical Trailer
• Audio Commentary
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The Evening Star

• After the death of her daughter, Aurora struggled to keep her family together, but she has a grandson in jail, a rebellious granddaughter and another grandson living almost on the poverty line.
• Continuing the story of Aurora Greenway in her latter years. After the death of her daughter, Aurora struggled to keep her family together, but has one grandson in jail, a rebellious granddaughter, and another grandson living just above the poverty line. — R. John Berggren <[email protected]>
• She's back-and as delightfully feisty as ever! The generations grow, but life still spins around Aurora like a cyclone: her rebellious granddaughter wants to run off with Mr. Wrong; a snooty rival has come up with new ways to meddle in Aurora's life; her longtime spinster housekeeper is ready to ditch domestic work for the domestic bliss of matrimony; her great-grandson is like a poison pill; and her shrink is more than eager to cross the line separating client relationships and romantic entanglement. Welcome back Aurora. We've missed you. — Anonymous
• Determined to keep the promise she made to her late daughter, Aurora Greenway does her best to raise three grandchildren with constant opposition from Emma's best friend Patsy. She visits eldest grandson Tommy in prison, who awaits the possibility of parole, and struggles to break through the hate he harbors since the death of his mother. She also watches younger grandson Teddy struggle to make a living and provide for his budding family. Aurora focuses her hope for a better future towards her youngest Melanie who becomes a rebellious college student whose taste in men is unacceptable by her standards. Aurora comes to terms with the sacrifices she's made for others and ultimately embraces the thought of finding her own happiness. She begins to chronicle her life in an effort to recollect and organize the events that shaped who she is. Through exploring love, experiencing loss, and endearing efforts to bring her family back together, she changes over the years. With help of an old friend, she lays a loved one to rest and finally allows herself to age gracefully into her twilight years. The Evening Star is a touching continuation of a story that shines brightly along with Terms of Endearment. — Keith M. Johnson

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The Evening Star (1996)

Directed by robert harling.

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Description by Wikipedia

The Evening Star is a 1996 American comedy-drama film and a sequel to Academy Award for Best Picture-winning Terms of Endearment, starring Shirley MacLaine, who reprises the role of Aurora Greenway she won an Oscar for playing in the original film. The script is by Larry McMurtry, based on his novel, and Robert Harling, who also served as director.

The story takes place about fifteen years after the original, following the characters from 1988 to 1993. It focuses on Aurora's relationship with her three grandchildren, her late daughter Emma's best friend Patsy and her longtime housekeeper Rosie. Along the way Aurora enters into a relationship with a younger man, while watching the world around her change as old friends pass on and her grandchildren make lives of their own.

Miranda Richardson co-stars as a Houston divorcee and Aurora's rival, Patsy Carpenter. Juliette Lewis plays Aurora's rebellious granddaughter, Melanie Horton, with Marion Ross as Aurora's housekeeper (Golden Globe nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category) and Bill Paxton as Aurora's psychiatrist and lover.

The movie was Ben Johnson's last, in a career that spanned over 60 years. The film is dedicated to him.

Jack Nicholson returns in an extended cameo appearance, playing the role he played in Terms of Endearment, retired astronaut Garrett Breedlove.

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Unlike Terms of Endearment, the film was not a box-office success, grossing only $12,767,815 (unadjusted) and received poor reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes it holds a 25% rating from 28 reviews. Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade "A-" on scale of A to F.

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Ojibway-dubbed Star Wars film brings 'a new hope' for endangered language, say cast members

'this shows that these languages deserve to exist in these digital spaces … and should be shared'.

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The world premiere of an Ojibway-language version of Star Wars: A New Hope was screened in Winnipeg on Thursday evening, bringing rave reviews and also a galaxy of optimism for First Nations languages.

"The biggest joy out of the whole thing is for my community to see the movie and hear our language in such an epic scale," Dennis Chartrand, a member of Minegoziibe Anishinabe in Manitoba, also known as Pine Creek First Nation, said ahead of the showing at the Centennial Concert Hall.

"For Lucasfilms to take on such a project with us … provides us with a new hope that our language can be supported and flourish and have opportunities. That's what I'm really feeling."

Chartrand donned a smile and beaded fedora for the big event, setting aside the Darth Vader mask the voice actor wore as one of the most recognized villains in pop culture.

"Generally I'm kind of a nice person, I like to think, but but doing that was a lot of fun," he said about playing the Sith Lord.

The role resonated in terms of the film's parallels between the evil Galactic Empire and the experiences of Indigenous people in North America, he noted.

"We faced a lot of impacts through colonial colonialism, all kinds of things. And still today, there's still so many struggles that that still need to be reconciled," Chartrand said.

Helping open doors, and silver screens, to languages that became endangered under early colonialism, when people were punished for speaking them is "a way of healing some of those things that didn't have a chance to heal," he added. 

"It really feels like they're sitting with me. Even though you can't see them, they're in the Force," he said, referencing the mystical energy which plays a key role in the Star Wars franchise. "So the Force is has always been with me."

• 'This is going to be huge,' Manitoba actress says as premiere of Ojibwe-dubbed Star Wars film nears

The project was the result of a collaboration between the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council, the University of Manitoba, Disney/Lucasfilm and APTN.

Producers chose Ojibway — also known as Anishinaabemowin — because it's the most spoken Indigenous language in Manitoba, Ontario and Minnesota, with about 320,000 speakers across Canada and the United States.

The dubbing was done over 10 days in Winnipeg, with the final mix completed at Skywalker Sound in California.

A limited release of the film is set to begin Saturday in select markets and then it is slated to debut on Disney+ and APTN.

Originally released in 1977 as just Star Wars , the iconic film introduces many characters well-known today, including Vader, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca. It was a blockbuster hit that led to 10 more films in the franchise.

It's the second time the original Star Wars  has been officially translated into an Indigenous language, with the first being Navajo in 2013.

"You can find a lot of English or a lot of the major languages that are spoken. You can find those online. But you can't find a lot of endangered languages online or in a lot of digital spaces," said Ajuawak Kapashesit, who provided the voice of Han Solo.

"So something like this shows that these languages deserve to exist in these digital spaces … and should be shared."

Kapashesit, who was born in Moose Factory in Ontario and also grew up in the White Earth Nation in Minnesota, pored over the Star Wars movies while growing up and saw the original one more than a dozen times.

He felt he knew his character intimately, having portrayed him "every day in the backyard."

"But nothing like this had ever crossed my mind as a possibility. So it's a dream come true," he said. "I hope there's more opportunities like this … for Indigenous people who want to work and practice their languages."

• Ojibway translation of 1st Star Wars movie on the horizon, with auditions in Winnipeg next year
• Algoma University professor to appear in Anishinaabemowin version of classic Star Wars movie

Theresa Eischen, a member of Little Grand Rapids First Nation — a small, remote, fly-in community in northeast Manitoba — had to stop talking and fight away tears as she spoke about just how important the translated film means to her.

She called it a revitalization and preservation of her culture and language.

"My mom's Anishinaabe … and my grandmother, she never spoke a word of English. I never heard her speak English. So I wanted to learn, probably when I was about five years old, I wanted to learn the language," she said.

"My mom spoke the language to me a lot and I started picking it up [from] and my cousins and my extended family. So that's why I get emotional. I'm thinking about my community right now because they're all my teachers.

"This is a full-circle moment."

The voice of Princess Leia, Eischen is also a teacher now. She instructs grades 1-4 at the school in Little Grand Rapids and hopes her performance will inspire her students.

"A new hope, it's a whole meaning there — the hope that people will continue to speak our languages."

Family who helped dub Star Wars into Ojibwe talks about the project's significance

Star Wars fan Noah Robinson, who took in the premiere, said at one point the viewing became emotional.

"The little Ojibway kid in me wanted to be able to sit there with my grandmother and have her translate, rather than me reading the subtitles, which would would have been so cool," he said.

"But just having this occasion, having this be such a grand thing for the Ojibway language, it means the world to a lot of different communities. It meant a lot to me."

Muriel Houle, whose family comes from the Manitoba First Nation communities of Long Plain and Sandy Bay, has been taking Ojibway language lessons for three years and was moved by how much she understood.

"I felt overwhelmed just hearing. I was blown away," she said, adding she hopes the cast and crew set their sights on voicing another film in the franchise.

"I'd love to hear these guys again.I can't wait for my siblings to watch this."

Corrections

• A previous version of this story stated Theresa Eischen was a teacher in Grand Rapids, Man. In fact, she teaches in Little Grand Rapids, Man. Aug 14, 2024 1:21 PM CT

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darren Bernhardt spent the first dozen years of his journalism career in newspapers, at the Regina Leader-Post then the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. He has been with CBC Manitoba since 2009 and specializes in offbeat and local history stories. He is the author of award-nominated and bestselling The Lesser Known: A History of Oddities from the Heart of the Continent.

With files from Karen Pauls and The Canadian Press

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