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As Good as It Gets (1997) 7.7
Ratings:
7.7/10 from 160,731 users
Metascore: 67/100
Reviews: 439 user | 153 critic | 30 from Metacritic.com A single mother/waitress, a misanthropic author, and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship after the artist is in an accident. Director:James L. Brooks |
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Title: As Good as It Gets (1997)
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Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jack Nicholson | ... | ||
| Helen Hunt | ... | ||
| Greg Kinnear | ... | ||
| Cuba Gooding Jr. | ... | ||
| Skeet Ulrich | ... |
Vincent
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| Shirley Knight | ... |
Beverly
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| Yeardley Smith | ... |
Jackie
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| Lupe Ontiveros | ... |
Nora
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Jill the Dog | ... |
Verdell
(as Jill)
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Timer the Dog | ... |
Supporting Dog
(as Timer)
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Billy the Dog | ... |
Supporting Dog
(as Billy)
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Bibi Osterwald | ... |
Neighbor Woman
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Ross Bleckner | ... |
Carl
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| Bernadette Balagtas | ... | ||
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Jaffe Cohen | ... |
Partygoer
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Edit
Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
New York City. Melvin Udall, a cranky, bigoted, obsessive-compulsive writer, finds his life turned upside down when neighboring gay artist Simon is hospitalized and his dog is entrusted to Melvin. In addition, Carol, the only waitress who will tolerate him, must leave work to care for her sick son, making it impossible for Melvin to eat breakfast. Written by Jon Reeves <jreeves@imdb.com>
Taglines:
Brace yourself for Melvin. See more »Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated PG-13 on appeal for strong language, thematic elements, nudity and a beating | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
25 December 1997 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Old Friends See more »Box Office
Budget:
$50,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
£909,459 (UK) (13 March 1998)Gross:
$147,637,474 (USA) (19 June 1998)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Written & Performed by Judith Owen
Courtesy of Dram Records
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Udall's response to the question about how he writes women is an actual response given by author John Updike when asked the same question. See more »Goofs
When Carol pulls over Melvin's Saab convertible so she can get the full story from Simon the top is up when she pulls over. In the previous scene it was down. There is no way the top could go up at in that short amount of time, and not at the speed she was traveling at, without damaging it. Also, they pull over next to an iron gate with a stone base; although the base of the wall is as high as the car when it pulls over, the gate itself can be clearly seen at eye level during the interior car shots, as can a tree or what might be a stone divider in the gate that is not present as the car pulls over. See more »Crazy Credits
Just after the disclaimer of the American Humane Association (The animals used in this film were in no way mistreated...) there is a second disclaimer stating "The actors used in this film were in no way mistreated." See more »Soundtracks
"HAND ON MY HEART"Written & Performed by Judith Owen
Courtesy of Dram Records
See more »
Really, how to make something original, fresh and odd out of absolutely nothing except a few characters? Using characters, only characters and nothing except characters. That's the simple formula Brooks uses in all of his work, but, for me, he has never created so much charm, warmth and sensibility as he did in `As good as it gets'.
Characters write the screenplay in this movie, and everything that happens - happens because of what they are. They are nothing special – they are ordinary people we meet in the street every day and that have the same problems a lot of other people have. This movie presents the example of how much you can pull out of that. And if that is written as well as it is in this case, not even a happy ending can bother you. Because, in real life, shown here, what is the end?
Everything is good and warm in this movie, everything is fresh and vivacious, understandable and well performed. Jack Nicholson brings one of the best performances of his career, that terrific Helen Hunt finally got a chance to show how skilfully an actor can connect naturalism with the laws of the camera performance, and Greg Kinnear shows the most convincing emotions coming from a gay character I've ever seen.
The relationships between the characters are created in the way that you can't predict anything that's going to happen, eventhough you know in advance what could come out of their mouth and what kind of attitude they'll have in a certain situation.
You can simply feel the progressive collaboration that occurred between Brooks and the actors and the mutual understanding they developed, and it's not often that you see that kind of artistic superstructure shining on the screen so much as it does here.
I find `As good as it gets' complexed, vital, intelligent, emotionally deep and studied, fresh, original, amusing, cheerful, funny, and one of the best films of 1997.