James L. Brooks

Terms of Endearment

The story of a mother and daughter and their relationship over a thirty-year time span.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: PG
Release Date: 29-DEC-2004
Media Type: DVD

Larry McMurtry's novel becomes a somewhat lumpy film as directed by James L. Brooks (As Good As It Gets). Nevertheless, it is entirely winning, with Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger playing a combative mother and daughter who see each other through various ups and downs in love and loss, and most especially through a terminal illness endured by Winger's character. Jack Nicholson deservedly won an Oscar for his supporting role as a free-spirited astronaut who backs away from a romance with MacLaine and then returns in the clutch. As he always does, Brooks keeps things from getting too soapy with his intense concentration on the soulful evolution of his characters. --Tom Keogh

As Good As It Gets

For all of its conventional plotting about an obsessive-compulsive curmudgeon (Jack Nicholson) who improves his personality at the urging of his gay neighbor (Greg Kinnear) and a waitress (Helen Hunt) who inspires his best behavior, this is one of the sharpest Hollywood comedies of the 1990s. Nicholson could play his role in his sleep (the Oscar he won should have gone to Robert Duvall for The Apostle), but his mischievous persona is precisely necessary to give heart to his seemingly heartless character, who is of all things a successful romance novelist. As a single mom with a chronically asthmatic young son, Hunt gives the film its conscience and integrity (along with plenty of wry humor), and she also won an Oscar for her wonderful performance. Greg Kinnear had to settle for an Oscar nomination (while cowriter-director James L. Brooks was inexplicably snubbed by Oscar that year), but his work was also singled out in the film's near-unanimous chorus of critical praise. It's questionable whether a romance between Hunt and the much older Nicholson is entirely believable, but this movie's smart enough--and charmingly funny enough--to make it seem endearingly possible. --Jeff Shannon

Jack Nicholson Helen Hunt Greg Kinnear and Cuba Gooding Jr. star in James L. Brooks hit comedy As Good As It Gets. Nicholson gives a show-stopping performance as Melvin Udall an obsessive-compulsive novelist with Manhattans meanest mouth. But when his neighbor Simon is hospitalized Melvin is forced to baby-sit Simons dog. And that unexpected act of kindness-along with waitress Carol Connelly--helps put Melvin back in the human race. "Magically written directed and acted As Good As it gets is the best and funniest romantic comedy of the year."System Requirements:Starring: Jack Nicholson Helen Hunt Greg Kinnear Cuba Gooding Jr. and Skeet Ulrich Director: James L. Brooks Copyright: 1997 Columbia/Tri-Star Produced by Bridget Johnson Kristi Zea; written by Mark Andrus; DVD released on 05/19/1998; running time of 138 minutes; Closed Captioned. English 2-channel or 5.1 (Dolby Digital) Additional Language: French Subtitles: English Spanish and French Scene Selections Presented in Widescreen 1.85:1 Theatrical Aspect Ratio and Full Screen Format Commentary Track with Producer & Director James L. Brooks as well as actors Jack Nicholson Helen Hunt and Greg KinnearFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: PG-13 UPC: 043396217096 Manufacturer No: 21709

Broadcast News

Holly Hunter plays a network news producer who, much to her chagrin, finds herself falling for pretty-boy anchorman William Hurt. He is all glamour without substance and represents a hated shift from hard news toward packaged "infotainment," which Hunter despises. Completing the triangle is Albert Brooks, who provides contrast as the gifted reporter with almost no presence on camera. He carries a torch for Hunter; she sees merely a friend. Written and directed by James L. Brooks, this shows remarkable insight into the people who make television. On the surface it is about that love triangle. If you look a little deeper, however, you will see that this behind-the-scenes comedy is a very revealing look at obsessive behavior and the heightened emotions that accompany adrenaline addiction. It is for good reason this was nominated for seven Academy Awards (though it did not win any). There are scenes in this movie you cannot shake, such as Hunter's scheduled mini-breakdowns, or Brooks's furious "flop sweat" during his tryout as a national anchor. Watch for an uncredited Jack Nicholson as a senior newscaster. --Rochelle O'Gorman

In James L. Brooks' quirky, romantic comedy, three ambitious workaholics are set loose in a network TV newsroom where their professional and personal lives become hopelessly cross-wired. Tom (William Hurt) is the modern anchorman, smooth, handsome and a bit dumb. Jane (Holly Hunter) is his driven, brilliant producer, determined to turn Tom into a real newsman. And Aaron (Albert Brooks) is a seasoned, totally uncharismatic reporter who can't stand Tom's instant success on-camera or with Jane. It all adds up to one explosively funny romantic triangle.

Spanglish

Anyone familiar with writer/director James L. Brooks (Broadcast News, As Good As It Gets) knows the man has a real feel for interesting women and a disarming way with a one-liner. The main women in Spanglish are Deborah Clasky (Téa Leoni), a moneyed SoCal mom, and non-English speaking Flor Moreno (Paz Vega), the beautiful Latina whom Deborah hires as a housekeeper. The one-liners, some of them amusing, are everywhere. Brooks provides an intriguing set-up for the two women to butt heads--Deborah's pudgy daughter Bernice (Sarah Steele) needs the affection at which Flor excels, while Flor's clever, bi-lingual daughter Cristina (Shelbie Bruce) is enamored of the financial advantages Deborah can provide--then proceeds to make Deborah so hatefully ignorant you can't imagine why her neuroses are the main thrust of the film. And Deborah's celebrated chef husband John (Adam Sandler, way over his head) is such a perfect parent he doesn't seem human--what happened to the Brooks who had Terms of Endearment mom Debra Winger turn to her scowling little boy and grunt "Don't make me hit you in the street"? Cloris Leachman has a nifty supporting role as Deborah's boozy, ex-jazz singer mother, but it's only one offbeat chord in an earnest film that hits all the wrong notes. --Steve Wiecking

John Clasky (Adam Sandler) is a devoted dad whose skills as a chef have afforded his family (T a Leoni Cloris Leachman) a very upscale life including a summer home in Malibu and a breathtaking new housekeeper Flor (Paz Vega) who has recently immigrated to L.A. from Mexico and is trying to find a better life for her remarkable daughter Cristina (Shelbie Bruce) who is rapidly embracing the American way of life. When Flor and Cristina move in with the Claskys for the summer Flor has to fight for her daughter's soul as she discovers that life in a new country is perilous...especially when you're being embraced by an affluent eccentric American family!System Requirements:Running Time: 131 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: PG-13 UPC: 043396048522 Manufacturer No: 04852

I'll Do Anything

Originally conceived and shot as a musical, James L. Brooks's (Broadcast News) comedy of life in Hollywood remains a perceptive and very funny film. A loose Nick Nolte stars as Matt Hobbs, a struggling actor who must find work to support his spoiled 6-year-old daughter (cutie pie Whittni Wright) when his estranged wife (Tracey Ullman) dumps her. Brooks creates wonderful characters in this insightful look at how the movie business has changed--from strong talent (represented by Hobbs) to image and test screenings. Hobbs's angel--professionally and privately--is embodied by a ditsy production assistant (Joely Richardson) to an egoistical producer (Albert Brooks, hilarious as always). Ironically, the movie's songs by Prince were excised when they did not test well. What's left lacks the heights the songs might have provided (especially in the finale), but with Brooks's talent for giving even minor characters juicy dialogue, I'll Do Anything is a light comedy worth seeking out. --Doug Thomas

An irresistible romantic comedy from the Oscar®- winning creator (1984 Best Director Terms of Endearment) of Broadcast News starring Nick Nolte (Affliction The Prince of Tides) as a talented unemployed actor who unexpectedly gains custody of his six-year-old daughter.System Requirements:Running Time: 116 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: PG-13 UPC: 043396078956 Manufacturer No: 07895

Something's Gotta Give / As Good as It Gets

AS GOOD AS IT GETS: Jack Nicholson Helen Hunt Greg Kinnear and Cuba Gooding Jr. star in James L. Brooks' hit comedy AS GOOD AS IT GETS. Nicholson gives a show-stopping performance as Melvin Udall an obsessive-compulsive novelist with Manhattan's meanest mouth. But when his neighbor Simon is hospitalized Melvin is forced to babysit Simon's dog. And that unexpected act of kindness along with waitress Carol Connelly helps put Melvin back in the human race.SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE (FEATURE): Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson) is a perennial playboy with a libido much younger than his years. During what was to have been a romantic weekend with his latest infatuation Marin (Amanda Peet) at her mother's Hamptons beach house Harry develops chest pains. He winds up being nursed by Marin's reluctant mother Erica Barry (Diane Keaton) a successful divorced New York playwright. In the process Harry develops more heart pangs -- the romantic kind -- for Erica an age-appropriate woman whom he finds beguiling. However some habits die hard. When Harry hesitates his charming thirtysomething doctor (Keanu Reeves) steps in and starts to pursue Erica. And Harry who has always had the world on a string finds his life unraveling.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY UPC: 043396081741 Manufacturer No: 08174

Double Feature - Spanglish / 50 First Dates

Anger Management/As Good as It Gets

Terms of Endearment

Spanglish/50 First Dates