As Good As It Gets
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Movie Reviews of As Good As It Gets
Movie Review: Who's gonna walk Verdell?
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes, my major question actually is where do they teach to write movie scripts so well? Some Panama-City University? Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt and Greg Kinnear are simply fabulous. No doubt about that. Though I think there is no need to repeat this one thousand times here. Actually the whole cast is very very good. Congratulations to the casting director!
What some reviewers really missed about this great movie is that it describes very unhappy flouncing people striving to be happy. After all it is a very sad movie but the huge amount of wisecracks and simply shocking statements most of the time coming from Melvin Udall(Nicholson) make this film look utterly funny. The trick demonstrated to all of us in this movie is how unhappy (and sick!) person can make other unhappy people happy. But to do this one has to fall in love first and, secondly, a wad of sweaty money in his hand might also be of some help... To some extent the plot reminds me "Pretty woman", at least the basic idea. Rich businessman - prostitute, successfull writer (62 books!) - waitress. Well... to be exact the whole stuff comes from "Cinderella" times and probably even more ancient fairy tales. (The difference is, however, that the good fairy and the prince is the same person in the modern versions). But the level of understanding of human nature demonstrated by James L. Brooks is simply amazing and incomparable. It touches a lot of other subjects like relationships with parents and some other important life issues (like not quite satisfactory solved health care problems in the US - children should be protected by the government - not their parents because they cannot choose their parents due to obvious reasons, and they actually cannot choose their government either but... well... let met stop here...). But the most interesting thing for me about this movie is how people react when you say something to them (not necessarily shocking or negative). They pay too much attention to words! It's amazing aspect of human psychology often overused by politicians but in reality we all should try and even, I would say, ought to judge other people by their deeds. Not words. Horrors of human beings don't walk your dogs!
Maybe this is an overstatement (or just a hope) but I have a feeling looking at other reviews that certain part of general public is getting tired of Erasers, Predators and Total Recalls -from time to time you really need to watch something that touches your soul. If "As good as it gets" doesn't do this for you - too bad - you are probably hopeless or perhaps simply too young...
After watching this movie 10 times or so I've got a suspicion, well, at least it's not inconceivable, that perhaps years from now it may become fashionable to fall in love with waitresses (especially with those ones working in Manhattan) helping them with their family problems.
Actually I love this movie so much that I want to see a sequel! I want to see these actors together again "at lakes with boats and friends" eating noodle salad! That's what I want... Wouldn't it be very sweet? Huh? (Maybe James L. Brooks and co-authors could give this perhaps-an-unrealistic-though-who-knows thought a little consideration here?)
Movie Review: It Speaks for Itself
Summary: 5 Stars
Jack Nicholson has a certain character down pat, and has played that character with variations for the last decade. When Jack Nicholson plays obsessive-compulsive Melvin Udall, a reclusive writer with a routine so set that even the most minor deviation causes mental anguish, the results are continuously hilarious.To be funny Jack requires other good actors, and in this movie Jack gets Helen Hunt as waitress and love interest Carol Connelly, Greg Kinnear as alternate lifestyle artist Simon Bishop, Cuba Gooding as Greg's agent Frank Sachs, and a wonderful little dog named Verdell.
As you would expect Melvin holds rigid opinions about everyone and everything. Fortunately he rarely has to interface with anyone at length, so his unreserved comments about others rarely offend others to the point where they refuse to deal with him, or worse, hit him. However, two events conspire to force Melvin to change.
First, Simon is beat up by a group of men robbing his house. Someone has to take care of Verdell the dog, and Melvin is forced into taking care of Verdell by Cuba Gooding. At first Melvin is completely unable to tolerate the dog, but the dog slowly wins Melvin over, putting a small chink into Melvin's curmudgeon armor.
The second event that upsets Melvin's rigid life is that Carol misses a day of work. Melvin must be served by Carol or his breakfast routine just is not right. Melvin finds Carol at her house and discovers that she is being kept at home by her sick son. Not letting anything stand in his way, Melvin arranges for a doctor to take care of Carol's son. As Melvin gets to know Carol better, her opinion of him starts to matter, and Melvin finds that he is falling in love with Carol. I leave the rest of this story to the viewer.
It is easy to find fault with Jack Nicholson in this role because this role was his with little or no effort. However, it matters not that this role fits with Jack Nicholson's character so well that you would think Jack is just like his character in real life, what matters is that Jack is perfectly believable. The change that we see in Jack throughout this movie and the interactions with the various characters that brings about this change is the heart of this movie. That watching the change is humorous and makes you feel good is just that much more benefit.
This movie is the rare funny, feel good movie that makes you want to watch it again. Perhaps the theme is just a bit trite, but we all want to believe in the core good of all people. Watch this movie and enjoy the easy smile it puts on your face.
Movie Review: "Come on in, and try not to ruin everything by being you."
Summary: 5 Stars
AS GOOD AS IT GETS is......a beautiful character study.
...an Oscar-garnering comedy of 1997.
...one of the greatest comedies of not only the 90s, but perhaps of all time.
...sharp, witty, and satirical with praise-worthy performances from all cast members.
Jack Nicolson plays Melvin Udall, a middle-aged writer with obsessive-compulsive disorder and a heart of stone (or what you may first think). Melvin is bigoted, cranky, moody, and often times outright nasty. His morning routine consists of things done in methodical order, immaculate routines. One of these rituals includes his daily breakfast at the local diner, served by the one and only waitress who will tolerate him and his odd demands.
Her name is Carol Connelly and she's a single mother to an asthmatic young son. Hospital bills, as well as life's other expenses, have skyrocketed. Carol is having difficulty making ends meet and struggles on a daily basis. She temporarily leaves work to take care of her child.
Therefore, Melvin can't eat his breakfast.
Greg Kinnear plays Simon Bishop, Melvin's out-and-proud gay neighbor. When he's brutally beaten and left for dead, his trusty little pup is left in Melvin's care, despite the fact that the two men despise each other. Melvin's new babysitting job, along with Carol's absence from the diner, means that life is changing - and for the worst, he believes. Melvin's ordered, hermetic world is falling apart due to these conflicts.
These three entirely different people form a friendship and are soon able to see "the sunny side" of life, so to speak, due to the weaving and intersecting of their lives with each other's.
AS GOOD AS IT GETS is an enlightening comedy that the majority of critics agreed with. It is not a typical screwball comedy; it is instead a thought-provoking, earnest look at the lives of 3 people who at first seem to face normal hardships and tribulations. But, as this film progresses, we find that the characters, played by each of the actors with such grace and such astounding skill, are anything but ordinary. This fine film deserved every bit of praise it received from the critics and audiences alike. I've watched it countless times and it never grows tedious or boring, even when I memorize the dialogue.
AS GOOD AS IT GETS is one of those scarce treasures that finds the perfect and ideally comfortable balance between seriousness and humor. The realness of Melvin, Simon, and Carol is something almost undeniable. What can I say? I love it.
Movie Review: "You Make Me Wanna Be A Better Man"
Summary: 5 Stars
Looking back on the 1997 Academy Awards, it still makes me sick that "Titanic" won best picture. That was box office hype at its worst, as the film only won because it was this gargantuan box office hit. Had this film flopped, then there's no doubt in my mind that either "Good Will Hunting" or this brilliant comedy would have won Best Picture. Far better than that film that should have sank like the ship it was named for, "As Good As It Gets" is wihtout a doubt one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Of course, since it was written by comedy mastermind James L. Brooks ("Terms Of Endearment", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", "The Simpsons"), you can't expect anything less than a comedic work of art (though "Spanglish" was little underwhelming).
Jack Nicholson quite possibly the finest performance of his career as novelist Melvin Udall, a rude (to put it mildly), middle aged man with an extreme case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder who's going through a serious writer's block/mid-life crisis. He is the most unlikable man in New York City, with no compssion for animals, women or his homosexual neighbor (a perfectly cast Greg Kinear) and his art dealer friend Frank (Cuba Gooding, Jr.). He bring hiw own silverwear to his favorite restaurant in town, where he must be served by his favorite waitress, Carol (Helen Hunt), who even he treats rudely. However, something changes. When his neighbor is beaten up by vicious thugs, Melvin is forced to watch his beloved dog. Though uneasy at first, Melvin and the dog become great friends. In fact, when his real owner comes home, the dog prefers to stay with Melvin (the scene where Kinear impersonates Nicholson is priceless). Melvin is starting to develope feelings for Carol as well. The problem is, she's too busy caring for her son to take notice - plus she doesn't like him anyway. As the film unfolds, a trip upstate ties everything together, as all the characters become better people - including Melvin.
This film is one of the true films in cinema that can be considered perfect. The writing is on the money, the directing is excellent and all the performances were top notch (Nicholson and Hunt deserved their Oscars, and Kinear and Gooding were great as well). The audio comentary was good (it was nice to hear the somewhat reclusive Nicholson offer his intake), and the film is a true must have movie.
Movie Review: Clever and Humorous Personality Study
Summary: 5 Stars
When Hollywood gets it right, they get it really right. Such is the case with this movie, which combines excellent talent with a winning script. This movie is a character study as is the Jack Nicholson film "About Schmidt," but the latter was too serious and had too much art to be a fraction as entertaining as "As Good As It Gets."Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) is an obsessive-compulsive writer who lives a nearly reclusive life in his apartment. In addition to being obsessive-compulsive, he is also a bigot and his acerbic personality wins him no friends and many people who would rather not see him. Jack Nicholson was perfect for this role, bringing elements of characters we've seen him play in films that range from "The Shining" to "The Witches of Eastwick."
Several additional characters are introduced to fully explain Melvin's personality and how his personality changes throughout the course of the movie. Simon Bishop (Greg Kinnear) is a homosexual artist with significant psychological baggage of his own. Simon has a small dog that is used to exploit a crack in Marvin's personality. Simon also ultimately is the recipient of one of two compliments from Marvin that show how much Marvin changes in the course of the film. Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt) is the only waitress that will serve Marvin at the restaurant that he goes to every day. Carol has a son who has asthma and allergies and is constantly sick. Carol has little money and her entire life is focused on her son. Frank Sachs (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) is standout as Simon's agent and friend. There are dozens of other roles that support these characters with a wondrous complexity that generates the pathos, beauty and ultimately good feelings at the end of the movie.
(...)It's easy to pick out the flaws with this movie. However, pass the flaws by to look at the beauty of the characters and how they interact and evolve in the course of the movie. These actors are very good at their art and the astute viewer will fall in love with them and be left at the end of the movie feeling as though they have had a wonderful experience, without the director ever having had to result to maudlin sentiment to manipulate the viewer's feelings. This heavily awarded movie is well worth having in a library of classics and worth watching again and again.