So I’m trying to watch every single Best Picture winner in the history of, like, EVER. This is a part of my tale…

There is nothing more manly than watching a rousing game of dudes slapping other dudes’ asses. Actually, that sounds pretty gay (not that there’s anything wrong with that!), so instead I chose to spend my Monday watching only the manliest film ever written and recorded to film: Terms of Endearment. (Best Picture – 1983 HOLLA!)

I knew nearly nothing about this movie before jumping in, so I spent the first 20 minutes or so wondering what the hell I was even doing. Is the Film Quest even possible? Are there other fucking wackjobs Oscar fans out there like me who have attempted this feat? Can anyone else claim to have completed the Epic Film Quest? It’s not possible that people have seen every single Best Picture nominee, is there!? That would be crazy. But then again – I’m crazy for even attempting this. 83-ish films, x 2 hours a film = 166 hours. And let’s be serious – most of these movies are over two hours. Some are three or four, even! What have I gotten myself into!?

Shit.

Feelings of panic have been setting in every time I start a new movie on the winners list, but lets face it – there’s no rush, right? I just need to keep babystepping it to the finish line.

Terms really has an astounding cast. I wasn’t too familiar with Shirley MacLaine before this, so experiences like this are always good for my general film knowledge. Jack Nicholson is the shit, but we clearly knew that already. Rounded out by Jeff Daniels and Debra Winger, Terms of Endearment really cuts deep into the many layers of many different kinds of relationships – mother/daughter, mother/son, husband/wife, friendships and affairs – and portrays each with depth and realism. Very well done. The mother/daughter chemistry between MacLaine and Winger was especially memorable and extremely deserving of the movie’s 9,345 acting nods (No, really. It was nominated for everrrryyyythingggg).

The ending was an emotional rollercoaster, one that cut too close to home and depressed the shit out of me. Bah! Damn you, Terms of Endearment. How dare you make me feel! I love you, and I hate you.

OK, I take it back. I love you way more than football. I also must be the only asshole blogging about Terms of Endearment in the year 2011.

Terms was my 28th Best Picture winner! Baby steps. Right?.