As Good As It Gets
Cast
Jack Nicholson as Melvin Udall
Helen Hunt as Carol Connelly
Greg Kinnear as Simon Bishop
Cuba Gooding Jr. as Frank Sachs
Shirley Knight as Beverly Connelly
Directed by
James L. Brooks
Rater #2 has description and review
Rater #1
Has Not Seen Movie
Rater #2
10/10. Nominated for seven Academy Awards and winner of two, As Good As It
Gets is really as good as it gets. It has biting and sarcastic humor,
sincere and poignant drama, and plausible romance (let me tell you, I
bought Helen Hunt falling in love with Jack Nicholson more than her
and Woody Allen in The Curse of the Jade Scorpion.) Directed by The
Simpsons producer James L. Brooks, it really makes you laugh.
Nicholson is Melvin Udall, a curmudgeon in his 60s who is also
obsessive-compulsive. He has to lock his door, he flips the light
switch five times, he can't touch anyone else, he can't step on
cracks, and he repeatedly uses new bars of soap. His gay neighbor
Simon (Greg Kinnear) is a painter who loves his little dog Verdell.
Every morning, Melvin goes to his favorite restaurant, where only
Carol Connely (Helen Hunt) is able to put up with him.
While having somebody pose for a painting, Simon gets beaten and
needs someone to look after Verdell. The only person left is Melvin.
Of course, he can't show it, but he soon falls in love with the dog.
When her son's illness causes Carol to miss work, Melvin doesn't know
what to do. Soon they all bond and, as the song says, they "look on
the bright side of life."
Upbeat music (which should have won the Oscar) makes this movie even
greater. It's impossible not to tap along. Although not playing
during all of the serious scenes, it really is great music that makes
you feel good, which is what this movie is: a feel-good movie. Sure
it gets heavy-handed at times, but it IS a comma (comedy-drama). As I
mentioned before, it's biting, sarcastic, and hilarious. You can't go
much without laughing at something Melvin says to either Simon or
Carol and their equally wise wisecracks back. Also, I could tell
that, at times, Nicholson was improvising, and that made the movie
even funnier.
Another Oscar that As Good As It Gets got screwed out of was best
original script. It really had touching moments thrown in with the
superb characterization and humor. You could sincerely feel good
about any one of the characters, even Melvin. Nicholson, in this
role, reminded me of his later role in About Schmidt. While I'm on
the topic of acting, let me say Nicholson was amazing. He tried to
keep his tough-guy person still with him, but he let go that he loves
doing commas. He was excellent, proving that, once again, he's not
finished with us yet! Hunt also deserved her Oscar, with crying that
puts, well, actual crying to shame. Kinnear was also great, and so
was everyone else, especially Cuba Gooding Jr.
I would highly suggest seeing As Good As It Gets before long, because
it is a great movie!
Rater #3
Has Not Seen Movie.
Rater #4
Has Not Seen Movie.
Rater #5
Has Not Seen Movie.
Rated PG-13 on appeal for strong language, thematic elements, nudity and a beating.
Running time: 139 minutes
Back Home