As Good As It Gets
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Movie Reviews of As Good As It Gets
Movie Review: A BEAUTIFUL MOVIE.
Summary: 5 Stars
It seems like year after year after year I am consistently disappointed with the films and actors chosen for Academy Award nominations. I usually don't even bother to watch the awards show because it's very rare that there is anyone I really want to win. 1998 was one of those rare exceptions...and it was because of this movie.There is something about Helen Hunt that fascinates me. Not only is she able to display believable emotions but more importantly she always comes across as someone whom the viewer truly, deeply cares about. I am not embarrassed to admit that I cried on more than one occasion during this film. It was at times heartbreaking to watch her character suffer through so many difficult situations.
"As Good As It Gets" features the talents of Helen Hunt, Jack Nicholson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Greg Kinnear and the underrated Shirley Knight. There is, of course, a plot to the film but it seems secondary to what this movie really is about...human interaction. Jack Nicholson plays Melvin, a completely neurotic person who won't step on cracks in the sidewalk and actually brings his own silverware to the only restaurant he'll eat at. Helen Hunt plays Carol, a waitress with whom Melvin becomes quite smitten with. Simon (Greg Kinnear) is a gay tenant in Melvin's building and Kevin (Cuba Gooding Jr.) is his lover.
Circumstances come about which send Melvin, Carol and Simon on a road trip to remember. I would usually go more into detail about the plot mechanics but they seem almost trivial in a movie of this caliber. The true enjoyment is watching some of the finest actors of our time doing what they do best. You really want to see these characters find true happiness. If you are one of the few people who have yet to see this film then please, please go out and rent it...or better yet, buy a copy. You'll be crying with Helen Hunt, laughing hysterically at Jack Nicholson's antics and will feel amazingly fulfilled when the beautiful ending rolls around. "As Good As It Gets" is a modern classic.
Movie Review: Pure greatness
Summary: 5 Stars
First and foremost, the best thing about this movie...Melvin Udall. Not Jack Nicholson, but Melvin Udall, the main character. Nicholson is brilliant, and his performance in this movie was no different, but the character of Melvin is pure genius and is clearly the biggest reason for the success of this movie. He has some of the best one-liners I've ever heard, but his character also has incredible depth, and can be analyzed over and over again. Very well-rounded, and just so I don't take anything away from Nicholson...very well-acted.Some liked Helen Hunt in this movie, some apparently didn't. I thought she did a great job. In As Good As It Gets, she masters the actor's art of making it seem like she wasn't acting at all. I have no objection at all for the fact that she won the Oscar; I found it well-deserved.
Greg Kinnear rounds out the "big 3" by putting in a great performance as well. Playing the gay neighbor of the main character isn't exactly an easy role to pull off; add to that the fact that he also has to undergo a subtle character transformation during this movie, and I think Kinnear deserves a lot of credit.
If there is one knock on this movie that I agree with, it's the complaint that the romance isn't believable. Melvin is an extremely likeable character, but as you will discover if you haven't seen this movie yet, most of his humor stems from his crass and tactless nature...aside from a couple of nice romantic lines, I personally was left scratching my head as to how Carol (Helen Hunt) could fall in love with this man.
Still, the positives of this movie far outweigh the negatives...it is hilarious as a comedy, and touching and thought-provoking as a drama. If you haven't seen it yet, see it immediately...if you have seen it and liked it, don't hesitate to buy it. Upon repeat viewings, it doesn't grow stale; this movie contains too many facets and subtleties to ever reach that level, in my view.
Movie Review: A rarity
Summary: 5 Stars
"As Good As It Gets" is a rarity among today's movies, a truly witty and poignant romantic comedy with an unusual protagonist. That protagonist is Melvin, played with relish by Jack Nicholson. Melvin is a highly successful novelist who is also an abrasive misanthrope suffering from severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. (Not your typical hero for sure!)
As one would expect, Melvin is a recluse and resistant to any changes in his life until he is forced to interact with a down-on-his-luck gay neighbor, Simon, portrayed by Greg Kinnear, and Simon's perky little pet pooch, Verdell. Melvin also becomes reluctantly involved with the pretty and patient waitress Carol, played by Helen Hunt, who serves him breakfast every day at a local cafe. Other than Carol, none of the other cafe's employees will deal with the impossible Melvin.
When Carol abruptly quits her job, Melvin tracks her down and offers her financial incentives to return to her post. Melvin increasingly finds himself drawn into Carol's personal life, and he eventually falls for the plucky single mom.
"As Good As It Gets" is a quirky update of the fable "Beauty and the Beast". Gifted writer-director James L. Brooks has assembled a superb cast to re-tell this classic tale. Besides the pitch perfect lead performances by Nicholson, Hunt, and Kinnear, there are sparkling supporting performances by Cuba Gooding Jr., Shirley Knight and others.
Too many of today's so-called comedies are mindless, uninspired concoctions profuse with sophomoric vulgarities and sexual obscenities. "As Good As It Gets" reminds us that there are still a few determined filmmakers willing to bring qualities such as intelligence, inventiveness, sophistication, and charm back to the silver screen. It is a shame that there are not more artists like these to inspire and entertain much-deprived audiences.
Movie Review: It really is. As good as it gets, I mean.
Summary: 5 Stars
As Good As It Gets is one of those movies that almost defies categorization. It is sometimes called a romantic comedy and it certainly has its share of both laughs and romance. It is also a disturbing drama focusing on an obsessive compulsive (Jack Nicholson) and his attempt to improve his lot in life. But whatever you choose to call it, this is one excellent film. The script features dialog that is so well done it should be mandatory to study it in film schools across the country. The cast is outstanding from top to bottom. All the actors involve give performances that are at least equal to and probably better than anything else they've ever done. I would suspect that they all recognized how exceptional the script was and wanted to do it justice.
The story is fairly involved but focuses primarily on Jack Nicholson and his neighbor (Greg Kinnear). While Nicholson starts off highly antagonistic toward Kinnear, this begins to change after the latter is viciously beaten and injured. Nicholson also pursues a romance with Helen Hunt's character. All of this may seem straightforward but Nicholson portrays one of the rudest, most unlikable men ever to play leading man... yet somehow infuses him with enough humanity that we can't help but root for him. He may be mean and selfish but he's trying to be less mean and selfish and that counts for a lot as the story moves forward. I won't give any more of the plot away but suffice to say that it is fascinating to watch all of this unfold on screen.
As Good As It Gets is much more demanding of its audience than a typical film. But it rewards those who watch with laughter and a great deal of food for thought. It's highly entertaining and I recommend it to one and all. It is, dare I say... as good as it gets.
Movie Review: Gotta see feel good comedy
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is one of my favorites, which is why I added it to my collection. Because I like it so much, I would like the reader to know what a fun ride to expect.Jack Nicholson is an aging, obsessive-compulsive man who is basically content to tolerate the world around him long enough so that he can write his romance novels and die. He hopes the rest of the world will lead the way, though. One thoughtless comment to a woman whom is the closest thing he has to a friend causes him to make a few subtle changes in his life that lead to bigger changes.
As his character slowly grows up, the audience gets to enjoy his interactions with all the people you would think a man like this would spend his entire life running from as they slowly become his family.
It's possibly a fair statement to say that the theme of this movie is that wounded people can help to heal each other in ways no healthy person ever could but the point of the movie is simply to follow the main character as he learns how to love, something he constantly writes about but knows nothing of.
The script is filled with emotion and will take you from lauging out loud to crying in whimpers (hopefully not REALLY crying, but the point is made).
The comedy in this film is hilarious. There is pretty much every type of comedy represented, but a great deal of it stems from sarcasm.
Cuba Gooding Jr.'s performance is my favorite here because he's just so hard to figure out. His motivations are obvious, but his character's attitudes change frequently, which I imagine is likely for a dealer who has to deal with multiple artists and a crazy man such as Mr. Nicholson.
DVD extras are skimpy but do include a commentary with Jack and Helen among others. But it's a romantic comedy, what else is required?