1997
Genre: Comedy
" Brace  yourself  for Melvin "
Cast  &  Crew
Director: James .L. Brooks
Produced:  James .L.  Brooks
Screenplay: Mark Andrus & James .L. Brooks
From a story by Mark Andrus
Cinematography:  John Bailey
Starring:
Jack Nicholson as Melvin Udall
Helen Hunt as Carol Connelly
Greg Kinnear as Simon Bishop
Cuba Gooding JNR  as  Frank Sachs
Skeet Ulrich as Vincent
Shirley Knight as Beverly
Yeardley Smith as Jackie
Nicholson on his work:

 "  If  there  is  a  constant  in  my  work  it  is  the  principle  of  affirmation. It's  the  little  guy  and  sometimes  he  may  be  moved  back  squeezed  down  by  the  system,   but he tries creep back up , move forward, affirm his life. That's where the vitality and sense of adventure has to come from, that affirmation  of  basic  human  values. It's not anti-anything; it's pro & positive. "
The  Plot
Running Time: 138 Minutes
In  New  York  City  there  lives  a  obssessive  compulsive  called Melvin Udall, his next door neighbour is an gay artist  by  the  name  of  Simon, who suffers the brunt of Udalls sly remarks and homophobic tendencies.  However the Waitress that serves Melvin his food is the only thing that makes  him feel  good  about himself. When his gay neighbour is viciously beaten and Melvin is forced to take in his dog, a brighter side to Melvin emerges. He also pays for his favourite waitresses  medical bill as she has a son that is severly asmathic.  On  account  of  this her absence, ruins his carefully planned routine for the day. When  his neighbour  Simon  finds out his finances are gone he has to return home to his estranged parents to ask for money.  Only his manager can't bring him so it is left to Melvin to bring him. This opens the door for him to invite Carol the waitress along so as he can get to know her.
Trivia
1. This  is  Nicholsons  third outing with director James .L. Brooks. The Previous outings being  Terms of Endearment  and  Broadcast News.
2. Nicholson won his third Oscar for his role in this film. It  was  his  11th  Nomination.  This  made it his second Best Actor Statue. His first since his 1976 win for One flew over the cuckoo's nest.
(L-R)  Greg Kinnear  &  Jack Nicholson
4. The  role  of  Melvin  Udall  was  offered  to  John  Travolta  originally.
5. Verdell  the  Dog  was  played  by  six  different  dogs.
6. Nicholson plays a author that is disturbed by other people in this film. In the  shining he plays an disturbed author also.
7. In Asia the title for the film was  Here comes Mr. Cat Poop.
8. This  was  Nicholsons second oscar win under the  direction  of  James .L. Brooks.  He  won  his  first one for playing  the part of Garrett Breedlove in 1983 Terms of Endearment.
9. The scene where the dog steps over the cracks in the pavement where done by laying an obstacle there and erasing it out in post-production.
10. Jack was paid $15, 000, 000.
11. Even  the  M&M's are sorted by  colour in Melvins apartment.
My Review
What  a  show. It's fantastic. It  is  one  of  the  films  that  Nicholson  will  be  remebered  for  with  my  generation  which  is  a  pity  because  he  has  better  than  this. 

  It's  amazing  the  script  writers  managed  to  make  something  out  of  nothing  which  this  film  really  this.  In  a  couple  of  years  tim  this  film  will  seem  dated  but  this  won't matter  too  much  as  it  is  the  eprformances  that  make  this  film.  Everyone  is  at  there  best.  It's  a  shame  that  Kinnear  missed  out  on  his  gong at  the  oscars  on  account  that  Helen  Hunt  didn't  deserve  her's.  She  really  is  irratating  as  the  over  protective  mother  but  fuck  it  who cares anyway.

This  film  is  a  fantastic  way  to  spend  a  couple  of  hours.
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