As Good As It Gets
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Movie Reviews of As Good As It Gets
Movie Review: Jack's Back
Summary: 5 Stars
Jack Nicholoson gives a tour de force performance as Melvin Udall, a successful novelist who has obsessive compulsion disorder. Some of Melvin's quirks include washing his hands and throwing away a whole bar of soap after one use (we see his medicine cabinet is packed with bars of soap), he can't step on cracks in the sidewalk or on any floors, uses his own utensils in a restaurant and has to sit in the same booth and order the same meal. He is also the most insensitive, inconsiderate jerk you could ever meet. He insults everyone he meets and uses stereotypical comments. He has a crush on Carol (Helen Hunt), the only waitress in the restaurant that will put up with him. Carol has problems of her own as her son is constantly sick due to the fact he is allergic to just about everything. Melvin also has to "put up" with Simon (Greg Kinnear) his neighbor. Simon is a gay artist and Melvin mercilessly rides him about his sexual orientation and despises his dog, who urinates all over the floor in the hallway. Simon is beaten up badly and robbed by some thugs and Melvin is drawn into his life as Simon recuperates. Eventually, Melvin, Carol & Simon take a trip from New York to Baltimore so Simon can visit his parents. The movie gets a little sappy at the end, but the movie is so well acted, you can forgive director James L. Brooks for this. Mr. Nicholson is at his curmudgeonly best. He burns up the screen overtime he appears and gives the most comically performance of his career. Ms. Hunt is both sweet and tough as she keeps pace most of the time with Mr. Nicholson. Mr. Kinnear gives a breakout performance in his role. Mr. Nicholson won his third Oscar for the role and Ms. Hunt took home her first.Movie Review: Always look on the bright side of your life.
Summary: 5 Stars
Melvin is a famous author, writer of over sixty books. He lives at an apartment in new york city. There's only one thing that stands in his way of being a nice guy: Himself. He's an obessive-compulsive, superstitious, dog-hating, wise-talking, mean-spirited, germaphobic, angry, cranky, vindictive, clean freak, taunter, politcally incorrect, psycho, nut, ego maniac who just can't get over himself. He eats at the same resturant every day where his favorite waitress will come and put up with him. There is also is neigbhor who gets mocked and made fun of by melvin almost everyday. Until the day when his neighbhor gets beaten up and his waitress is at home taking care of her sick boy. Now he's got nobody to make fun of and no one that'll take his crap. His whole glorious world of being miserable is falling apart.
Not only does he have to help his neighbor but he also has to hire a doctor to get the waitress's boy fixed up. And all the while trying to be mean about it which is, of course, impossible. Or so we think. After all . . .it's Melvin . . .a guy that locks his doors five times and that will wash his hands with scolding hot water and twenty bars of soap.
Now, he's out to make things right . . .or at least make it halfway there. The waitress, played by helen hunt, is extremely grateful but extremly confused by melvin. Could there be love in store for melvin?
Filled with heartwarming moments, funny snappy dialogue, comedic moments, and good old jack nicholson atittude.
This is one story that answers the all time question:
"What if this is as good as it gets?"
Well, as a movie buff, I sure hope so.
Enjoy!
Movie Review: 3D, engaging, never insults the audience's intelligence
Summary: 5 Stars
The film has a typical Hollywood prozac ending. Aside from that, this movie is flawless.
It's a romance at its heart, yes. But it's got at least 2 more subplots that are deeply moving, and not romance. If you're a lonely guy, a frustrated less-than-rich woman, or a gay, this movie has something to reward you. If you're none of these types, you'll still deeply enjoy the comedy and pathos.
It's quintissential Jack Nicholson, and enjoyable for that. All the remaining actors, however, pushed faaar outside their normal roles, and turned in terrific, effortless-looking performances. Who would believe Greg Kinnear and Cuba Gooding Jr. as foofy, feminine gays ? Yet, they're deeply dignified, heartbreakingly engaging and believable. Helen Hunt ...can you believe her as a tired, frumpy lower-class woman without romance or sparkle ? Yet... there she is, doing well in that role, despite her obvious assets. We see her as this frumpy waitress with a trainload of real-world problems, yet we also see her as a diamond in the rough, and able to finally escape her situation.
Even the robber in this movie is someone we eventually empathize with, and the actor turned in a startlingly sensitive & warm portrayal that was refreshingly 3D.
You'll feel the angst and dignity in each and every character in this film, and cheer for them.
Set design also follows this pattern of 3D devoted realism.
Dialogue, not just Nicholson's one-liners, will stay with you for weeks.
I'm generally not a happy guy, and not at all given to strong praise like this. But... take it from me, this film's a keeper, down to the smallest detail.
Movie Review: Best of Everything
Summary: 5 Stars
I was not expecting to like this film. The cast was a group of actors that weren't on my A list and I have never been impressed by James L Brooks' movies (loved his television work but not his films). I was pleasantly surprised.
Jack Nicholson plays Melvin Udell, a compulsive obsessive writer. Everything in is live is constant from how he locks his door to having the same table at his corner restaurant. This is a typical quirky Nicholson role but the difference is that this character grows throughout the film.
Helen Hunt plays Carol Connelly, the only waitress that Melvin will allow to wait on him. Everything in her live is chaos from her job to her chronically ill son. This is a tour de force performance. She gets to show the gamut of emotion during this film.
Greg Kinnear plays Nicholson's neighbor Simon Bishop. Melvin shows no restraint in his distaste of Simon's lifestyle. This is Kinnear's breakout performance.
When Simon is beaten up, Melvin is forced into his life. Melvin forces his way into
Carol's life when her son condition worsens. In the end, Melvin uses Simon's need to visit his parents to get Carol to come on the road trip. This road trip is the best part of the film. Each character is forced to grow a little and has some of the best one liners.
The only problem with this film is to accurately classify it. It starts out as a social comedy but develops into a romantic comedy. Whatever it is you should enjoy it.
BEST LINE: "You make me want to be a better man" and "What if this is as good as it gets".
DVD EXTRAS: Commentary by Brooks, Nicholson, Hunt and Kinnear
Movie Review: The reality, once more overpasses the fiction!
Summary: 5 Stars
A selfish and uninspired writer finds in the cynicism his own shield, helmet and weapon to face the world. Around him there is a living world, limited according his vision: his neighbor with his emotional world and his beloved dog; on the other hand a responsible mother who works hard in a Deli with a profound pain.
Inside this normal selfishness, the daily encounter with this single but very worried woman will become a real breakthrough in his values code. The world is too much wider and complex than he really thinks, its particular universe trying to eviscerate the mysteries of the human soul through the creation of his characters finds him out of context in this case.
Through a smart script that includes a set of funny vignettes, the power of love will gradually loom and dictate finally the expected bliss. Jack Nicholson once more is towering with this role; unbearable, neurotic and troublemaker character. Helen Hunt `s performance is impeccable; she will experiment a wide specter of emotions, blending sympathy, sympathy and pain. Cuban Gooding Jr is magnificent too in his brief but well reminded appearance, radiant, freshness and spontaneous humor. And the breathtaking revelation of Greg Kinnear in his very difficult role, making to date his best achievement on the screen.
And for this lovable pet, a sonorous applause, one of the best dog performances ever made.
An emblematic author film with a low budget concerning to special effects or car chases, but provided with a great doses of talent by all the team. Dazzling direction and memorable artistic direction.
A recent classic.