The Evening Star
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.
The film earned $12.8M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Evening Star (1996) exhibits precise story structure, characteristic of Robert Harling's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 9 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Aurora Greenway
Garrett Breedlove
Jerry Bruckner
Patsy Carpenter
Tommy Horton
Melanie Horton
Main Cast & Characters
Aurora Greenway
Played by Shirley MacLaine
An aging widow navigating loneliness and complex relationships with her grandchildren and new romantic interests.
Garrett Breedlove
Played by Jack Nicholson
Aurora's former astronaut lover who returns seeking reconciliation.
Jerry Bruckner
Played by Bill Paxton
A younger therapist who becomes romantically involved with Aurora.
Patsy Carpenter
Played by Miranda Richardson
Aurora's best friend and confidante who provides support and wisdom.
Tommy Horton
Played by George Newbern
Aurora's troubled grandson struggling with behavioral issues and family dynamics.
Melanie Horton
Played by Juliette Lewis
Aurora's granddaughter dealing with adolescence and family challenges.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Aurora Greenway is an aging, controlling widow living alone in her Houston mansion, maintaining her sharp wit and imperious manner while surrounded by her grandchildren and long-suffering housekeeper Rosie.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Tommy is arrested and sent to prison, forcing Aurora to confront the fact that her grandchildren are grown and facing serious adult problems beyond her control.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 32 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Aurora decides to fully commit to her relationship with Jerry, choosing to risk vulnerability and emotional connection rather than remain isolated in her protective shell of control., moving from reaction to action.
At 65 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Jerry suddenly dies, devastating Aurora. This false defeat strips away her newfound happiness and forces her to confront grief, mortality, and the painful reality that love means inevitable loss., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 97 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Aurora suffers a heart attack and faces her own mortality, the ultimate loss of control. She realizes she may die before making peace with her grandchildren and without learning the lessons life has been trying to teach her., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 103 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Aurora realizes that loving people means accepting them as they are and letting them live their own lives, even if it means watching them make mistakes. She synthesizes Jerry's lesson of acceptance with her own strength., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Evening Star's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Evening Star against these established plot points, we can identify how Robert Harling utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Evening Star within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and She's the One.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Aurora Greenway is an aging, controlling widow living alone in her Houston mansion, maintaining her sharp wit and imperious manner while surrounded by her grandchildren and long-suffering housekeeper Rosie.
Theme
Rosie tells Aurora, "You can't control everything and everyone forever," establishing the theme of letting go and accepting that life moves forward despite our attempts to hold on.
Worldbuilding
Aurora navigates her life as a grandmother managing her deceased daughter Emma's three children: rebellious Melanie, troubled Tommy, and young Teddy. She meddles in their lives while dealing with her own loneliness and the passage of time.
Disruption
Tommy is arrested and sent to prison, forcing Aurora to confront the fact that her grandchildren are grown and facing serious adult problems beyond her control.
Resistance
Aurora struggles with how to help Tommy while dealing with Melanie's troubled marriage and pregnancy. She begins a romance with therapist Jerry Bruckner, debating whether she can open her heart again after years of being closed off.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Aurora decides to fully commit to her relationship with Jerry, choosing to risk vulnerability and emotional connection rather than remain isolated in her protective shell of control.
Mirror World
Aurora's deepening relationship with Jerry represents a thematic counterpoint to her controlling nature. He offers unconditional acceptance and teaches her that true love means letting people be who they are.
Premise
Aurora explores this new chapter of her life: experiencing love again with Jerry, attempting to guide her grandchildren through their crises, and slowly learning that she cannot fix everything with willpower and sharp remarks.
Midpoint
Jerry suddenly dies, devastating Aurora. This false defeat strips away her newfound happiness and forces her to confront grief, mortality, and the painful reality that love means inevitable loss.
Opposition
Aurora spirals into grief and isolation while her grandchildren's problems intensify. Melanie's marriage falls apart, Tommy struggles in prison, and Aurora faces her own health issues. Everything she tried to control is slipping away.
Collapse
Aurora suffers a heart attack and faces her own mortality, the ultimate loss of control. She realizes she may die before making peace with her grandchildren and without learning the lessons life has been trying to teach her.
Crisis
In her hospital bed, Aurora reflects on her life, her losses, and her failures to connect. She confronts the dark truth that her need for control has pushed away the people she loves most.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Aurora realizes that loving people means accepting them as they are and letting them live their own lives, even if it means watching them make mistakes. She synthesizes Jerry's lesson of acceptance with her own strength.
Synthesis
Aurora reconnects with her grandchildren from a place of love rather than control. She supports them without trying to fix them, makes peace with Melanie, accepts Tommy's choices, and embraces her role as grandmother rather than puppet master.
Transformation
Aurora sits peacefully with her grandchildren, no longer dictating terms but simply present with them. Her transformation from controlling matriarch to accepting grandmother is complete, mirroring the opening but showing a woman who has learned to let go.