Review: As Good As It Gets (1997)

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As Good As It Gets

Rating

Director

James L. Brooks

Screenplay

Mark Andrus, James L. Brooks

Length

2h 19m

Starring

Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr., Skeet Ulrich, Yeardley Smith, Lupe Ontiveros, Jill, Timer, Billy

MPAA Rating

PG-13

Basic Plot

Melvin has an obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Carol is a working mother whose child suffers from something that the Emergency Room Doctors can’t, or won’t, fix. Simon is a talented, gay artist who has to be in the right moment to paint it. What happens when the lives of these three people meet?

Review

“What if this is as good as it gets?” This line from the film so succinctly captures the film. What IF this film IS as good as it gets? If this is truen there’s a lot of hope left for the film industry. James L. Brooks’ comedy is funny, sad and everything you expect from a great comedy and a great motion picture. Beating out In & Out as the best comedy of the year, As Good As It Gets brings together a teriffic ensemble and a wonderful plot.

Jack Nicholson plays Melvin Udall obsessive-compulsive. Nicholson is no stranger to bizarre characters, so this character easily calls to his acting prowess. Jack captures Melvin so easily that it’s impossible to imagine any other actor in his place. This goes for every other member of the cast. Helen Hunt can cry like no one I’ve ever seen, her part is so perfect that it makes her character on Mad About You look naive and simple. Greg Kinnear is the true bright spot, his gay artist is so full of life and eventually pain that you can’t help but cheer and cry for him. He plays slightly to gay stereotypes but in a good way.

Cuba Gooding, Jr. plays his part effectively as does Shirley Knight. Of these smaller parts, however, Yeardley Smith’s is by far the best. She appears so briefly that one can’t help but wonder why they didn’t do more with her, but she does superbly with what she’s got.

James L. Brooks’ screenplay is fantastic, we are in their lives, it feels as if we are PART of their lives and watching it from right up close. This has to be one of the finest crafted comedies in years and I’m happy that I saw it when I did. I left the theater with a smile on my face and warmth in my heart. Here’s to more films like this in years to come!

Awards Prospects

Picture, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Director, Original Screenplay, Film Editing, Original Comedy/Musical Score. You name the category it could easily get the nomination, unless it’s a major technical nomination.