The Evening Star (1996)

Director:

Robert Harling

Writers (WGA):

Larry McMurtry (novel)
Robert Harling (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 December 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A story about friends, family and other natural disasters.

Plot:

Continuing the story of Aurora Greenway in her latter years. After the death of her daughter, Aurora struggled to keep her family together...

Plot Keywords:

Death | Generation Gap | Grandchild | Lover | Loss Of Daughter

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Shirley MacLaine	...	Aurora Greenway
Bill Paxton	...	Jerry Bruckner
Juliette Lewis	...	Melanie Horton
Miranda Richardson	...	Patsy Carpenter
Ben Johnson	...	Arthur Cotton
Scott Wolf	...	Bruce
George Newbern	...	Tommy Horton
Marion Ross	...	Rosie Dunlop
Mackenzie Astin	...	Teddy Horton
Donald Moffat	...	Hector Scott
Jennifer Grant	...	Ellen
China Kantner	...	Jane
Jack Nicholson	...	Garrett Breedlove
Shawn Taylor Thompson	...	Bump
Jake Langerud	...	Henry

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 on appeal for some sexual situations and brief strong language.

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #34750) | Iceland:L | USA:R (original rating) | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | UK:15 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Taiwan:PG-12 | Finland:S | France:U | Netherlands:AL | Norway:7 | Spain:13 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

2349 Tangley Street, Houston, Texas, USA

Company:

Rysher Entertainment

Trivia:

The scene where the car breaks down, after Aurora, Rosie and Teddy had visited Tommy, was filmed on the coldest day that Houston had seen in 10 years, but the characters were to appear hot and sweating.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Tommy is about to leave from a visit with his grandmother, he covers the brownies she brought him with tissue paper. A second later, we see him doing the same exact thing with the same paper.

Quotes:

Melanie Horton: I have NO chance of being happy here.
Aurora Greenway: Why not?
Melanie Horton: You spray this house with happiness repellant!

Movie Connections:

References Planet of the Apes (1968)

Soundtrack:

I Ron't Know What Time It Was

The oscar-baiting sequel that wasn't meant to happen

Synopsis: The continuing adventures of Aurora Greenway and her tumultous family life, are further explored in this sequel to the 1983 classic. With her three grandchildren fully grown, they all have their own personal problems to face alongside Aurora.

The Review: Just not meant to happen. Contrived is what comes to mind when viewing this sequel with Bill Paxton, Scott Wolf, and Jack Nicholson among the famous actors making walk on appearances. Overlong and underwritten, the film misses the interest of the original, not to mention any inkling of James L. Brooks' involvement. There's no Danny DeVito, and no Jeff Daniels (which is very odd considering he was the father of the three but is omitted from the film). Nowhere near as good as the first.

Grade: C-