IMDb > As Good as It Gets (1997)
As Good as It Gets
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As Good as It Gets (1997) More at IMDbPro »

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As Good as It Gets -- A single mother/waitress, a misanthropic author, and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship

Overview

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7.8/10   131,062 votes »
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Up 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
James L. Brooks
Writers (WGA):
Mark Andrus (story)
Mark Andrus (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for As Good as It Gets on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
25 December 1997 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Comedy | Drama See more »
Tagline:
Brace yourself for Melvin. See more »
Plot:
A single mother/waitress, a misanthropic author, and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 29 wins & 30 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(304 articles)
Anthony Bourdain.s Novel Bone In The Throat Headed To Theaters; Dignity Film Finance Unveils Three New Titles From Its Theatrical Feature Film Development Slate
 (From WeAreMovieGeeks.com. 18 May 2012, 1:45 PM, PDT)
From Studs To Schlubs? The Evolution Of Male Rom-Com Leads
 (From Huffington Post. 27 April 2012, 12:55 PM, PDT)
Curio: Jacks of All Trades
 (From FilmExperience. 24 April 2012, 4:02 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Unusual movie See more (425 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Jack Nicholson ... Melvin Udall

Helen Hunt ... Carol Connelly

Greg Kinnear ... Simon Bishop

Cuba Gooding Jr. ... Frank Sachs

Skeet Ulrich ... Vincent Lopiano

Shirley Knight ... Beverly Connelly

Yeardley Smith ... Jackie Simpson

Lupe Ontiveros ... Nora Manning
Jill the Dog ... Verdell (as Jill)
Timer the Dog ... Supporting Dog (as Timer)
Billy the Dog ... Supporting Dog (as Billy)
Bibi Osterwald ... Neighbor Woman
Ross Bleckner ... Carl

Bernadette Balagtas ... Caterer
Jaffe Cohen ... Partygoer
Laurie Kilpatrick ... Partygoer

Alice Vaughn ... Partygoer

Brian Doyle-Murray ... Handyman John
Kristi Zea ... Mother at Table
Annie Maginnis Tippe ... Daughter at Table
Patricia Childress ... Cafe 24 Waitress

Rebekah Johnson ... Cafe 24 Waitress

Missi Pyle ... Cafe 24 Waitress

Leslie Stefanson ... Cafe 24 Waitress

Tara Subkoff ... Cafe 24 Waitress

Shane Black ... Cafe 24 Manager Brian

Peter Jacobson ... Man at Table

Lisa Edelstein ... Woman at Table
Stan Bly ... Cafe 24 Customer

Randall Batinkoff ... Carol's Date

Jesse James ... Spencer Connelly

Jamie Kennedy ... Street Hustler
Justin Herwick ... Street Hustler

Maya Rudolph ... Policewoman

John F. O'Donohue ... Detective Ray
David A. Kipper ... Hospital Doctor

Mary Elizabeth Still ... Nurse Receptionist
Chloe Brooks ... Child at Cafe 24
Cooper Brooks ... Child at Cafe 24
Sharon L. Alexander ... Female Passerby
Holly Denys ... Female Passerby

Lawrence Kasdan ... Dr. Green
Alison Rose ... Psychiatric Patient

Kathryn Morris ... Psychiatric Patient

Wood Harris ... Cafe 24 Busboy

Linda Gehringer ... Publisher

Julie Benz ... Receptionist

Harold Ramis ... Dr. Martin Bettes

Antonia Jones ... Terry, Dr. Bettes' Nurse

Kaitlin Hopkins ... Woman in Lobby
Jimmy Workman ... Sean from the Bakery
Danielle Spencer ... Veterinarian

Todd Solondz ... Man on Bus

Tom McGowan ... Maitre D'
Danielle Brisebois ... Singer

Matt Malloy ... Men's Store Salesman

Paul Greenberg ... Bar Waiter
Kirk Ringberg ... Food Waiter
Dave Hawthorne ... Bartender
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Alba Albanese ... New Yorker
Roger Ferreira ... Restaurant Patron

Amy Anzel ... Ballet Dancer (uncredited)

Alex Ballar ... Flower Store Customer (uncredited)
Joe Beachy ... Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Jason Thomas Campbell ... Valet (uncredited)

Bronwyn Cornelius ... Bartender (uncredited)

Dunya Djordjevic ... Art Dealer (uncredited)
Eddie L. Fauria ... NYC Transit Cop (uncredited)
James Gosnell ... Boyfriend (uncredited)
Eliza Harris ... Ballet Dancer (uncredited)

Maurice LaMarche ... Fred Bishop, Simon's Dad on Phone (voice) (uncredited)
Laura Mayes ... Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Nicole Salter ... Not Credited (uncredited)
Frank Slaten ... Miffed Partygoer (uncredited)

Oriana Nicole Tavoularis ... Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Justin Ward ... Diner (uncredited)
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Directed by
James L. Brooks 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Mark Andrus (story)

Mark Andrus (screenplay) and
James L. Brooks (screenplay)

Produced by
James L. Brooks .... producer
Bridget Johnson .... producer
Maria Kavanaugh .... associate producer
Laurence Mark .... executive producer
Richard Marks .... co-producer
Aldric La'auli Porter .... associate producer (as Aldric Porter)
Richard Sakai .... executive producer
John D. Schofield .... co-producer
Owen Wilson .... associate producer
Kristi Zea .... producer
Laura Ziskin .... executive producer
 
Original Music by
Hans Zimmer 
 
Cinematography by
John Bailey (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Richard Marks 
 
Casting by
Francine Maisler 
 
Production Design by
Bill Brzeski 
 
Art Direction by
Philip Toolin 
 
Set Decoration by
Clay A. Griffith 
 
Costume Design by
Molly Maginnis 
 
Makeup Department
Carrie Angland .... makeup artist
Linda Arnold .... hair stylist supervisor
Stacye P. Branche .... makeup artist: Mr. Gooding (as Stacye Branché)
Michèle Burke .... makeup supervisor (as Michele Burke)
Michael Germain .... makeup artist: Mr. Nicholson (as Perry Michael Germain)
Linda Grimes .... makeup artist: Mr. Nicholson, New York
Darrell Redleaf-Fielder .... hair stylist: Ms. Hunt (as Darrell Fielder)
Allen Weisinger .... makeup artist: New York
Joy Zapata .... hair stylist: Mr. Nicholson
Jeffrey S. Farley .... special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Tom Irvin .... makeup effects (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Amy Herman .... unit production manager: New York
Jake Jacobson .... unit production manager (as John Adam Jacobson)
John D. Schofield .... unit production manager
Denise Sirkot .... executive in charge of production: Gracie Films
Chantal Feghali .... post-production supervisor (uncredited)
Tamara Smith .... post-production supervisor (uncredited)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hans Berggren .... dga trainee
William M. Connor .... second assistant director
Shari Nicotero .... second second assistant director (as Shari Hanger)
Susan Perlman .... DGA trainee: New York
Aldric La'auli Porter .... first assistant director (as Aldric Porter)
 
Art Department
Rochelle S. Allen .... art department assistant
Philip Canfield .... lead man: New York (as Phil Canfield)
Teresa Carriker-Thayer .... art director: New York
Martin Charles .... graphic designer
Gary Deaton .... construction coordinator (as Gary L. Deaton)
Robert Griffon Jr. .... property master: New York (as Bobby Griffon)
Bart C. Hubenthal .... set dresser
Jacqueline Jacobson Scarfo .... set decorator: New York (as Jacqueline Jacobson)
Todd Jacques .... set dresser
Scott G. Jones .... set dresser
Jeff Machala .... assistant property master (as Jeffrey Machala)
John Maskovich .... set dresser (as John D. Maskovich)
Masako Masuda .... assistant art director
John Hammer Maxwell .... set dresser (as John H. Maxwell)
John Naehrlich .... lead man
Gary Rizzo .... set dresser
Brana Rosenfeld .... assistant set decorator
Ivy Shapiro .... art consultant
Billy Sullivan .... artwork: Simon
Mark Wade .... property master
Salvador Anaya .... plasterer (uncredited)
Conny Boettger .... art department coordinator (uncredited)
William Boyd .... general foreman (uncredited)
Chris Buchinsky .... storyboard artist (uncredited)
Thomas Cooper .... propmaker (uncredited)
Cosmas A. Demetriou .... set designer (uncredited)
Jann K. Engel .... set designer (uncredited)
Janice Irwin .... art department coordinator: New York City (uncredited)
Robert E. Knight .... paint foreman (uncredited)
Mark Kudra .... set dresser (uncredited)
Brick Mason .... storyboard artist (uncredited)
Tony Miller .... lead plaster foreman (uncredited)
Rosalie Russino .... scenic artist (uncredited)
Louis Zamora .... labor foreman (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Ron Bartlett .... sound re-recording mixer
George Campos .... apprentice sound editor
Matt Colleran .... sound recordist
Don Coufal .... boom operator
Dennis Drummond .... supervising sound editor
Kim Drummond .... dialogue editor (as Kim Haves)
Patrick Drummond .... sound effects editor
Richard Duarte .... foley mixer
Kira Edmunds .... assistant sound editor
Christopher Flick .... foley editor
David Giammarco .... supervising sound editor
Jeff Gomillion .... adr mixer (as Jeff Gomillian)
Galen Goodpaster .... first assistant sound editor
Gary Holland .... cable person
Spike Allison Hooper .... adr assistant
Chris Jenkins .... sound re-recording mixer
Darren King .... dialogue editor
Kathleen King .... boom operator: New York
Jonathan Klein .... foley editor
Nicholas Vincent Korda .... adr editor
Andy Malcolm .... foley artist (as Andy Malcom)
Cindy Marty .... sound effects editor
Rob Nokes .... sound editorial technical support: Sound Dogs
Thomas J. O'Connell .... adr mixer
Rudy Pi .... sound recordist
Bruno Roussel .... assistant sound engineer
Joe Schiff .... adr assistant
Mark Smith .... sound re-recording mixer
Renee Tondelli .... adr supervisor (as Renée Tondelli)
Jerome R. Vitucci .... sound mixer: New York (as Jerome Vitucci)
Bill Ward .... assistant sound editor
Jeff Wexler .... sound mixer
Mark Yardas .... dialogue editor
Nigel Bunyan .... apprentice sound editor (uncredited)
Benjamin Cheah .... sound effects recordist (uncredited)
Kevin Globerman .... second engineer (uncredited)
Gregg Silk .... second engineer (uncredited)
John Soukup .... sound transfer (uncredited)
Claudine Ward .... apprentice sound editor (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Bill Doane .... special effects coordinator (as William B. Doane)
Al Griswold .... special effects coordinator: New York (as Albert Griswold)
Harold McConnell Jr. .... special effects technician
 
Visual Effects by
Megan Brown .... visual effects texture animator: SPI
Suzy Brown .... visual effects texture animator: SPI
Mark Dornfeld .... digital visual effects: Buena Vista Imaging
Lisa Kahatriya .... visual effects rotoscope artist: SPI
John Ly .... visual effects technical assistant: SPI
Tim McGovern .... visual effects supervisor: SPI
George Merkert .... visual effects producer: SPI
Hal Miles .... visual effects rotoscope artist: SPI
Felix Ojeda .... visual effects compositor: SPI
Megan Omi .... visual effects compositor: SPI
Todd Pilger .... visual effects technical designer: SPI
Laurence Treweek .... lead technical visual effects supervisor: SPI
Guy Wiedmann .... visual effects editor: SPI
Brian Allan .... optical camera (uncredited)
Anthony Harris .... timing coordinator: SPI (uncredited)
Bernice Kenton .... visual effects vendor producer (uncredited)
Dean Lyon .... compositing supervisor (uncredited)
Paul Taglianetti .... digital effects producer: Caliban Filmworks (uncredited)
 
Stunts
BJ Davis .... stunt coordinator: second unit, New York (as B.J. Davis)
Ken Fritz .... stunt coordinator
Bryce Gregory .... stunts
Gene LeBell .... stunts
Phil O'Dell .... stunts
Denise Lynne Roberts .... stunts
Felipe Savahge .... stunts
Walter Scott .... stunt coordinator
Chester E. Tripp III .... stunt double: Greg Kinnear (as Chester Tripp)
Pete Turner .... stunts
Julia Davis .... assistant stunt coordinator (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Greg Addison .... chief lighting technician: New York
James Bartolomeo .... second assistant camera: New York
David Burnett .... assistant chief lighting technician (as David R. Burnett)
Chuck Cohen .... director of photography: second unit
Xiomara Comrie .... second assistant camera: "a" camera, second unit
Mike Connors .... dolly grip (as Michael Connors)
Steve Craft .... second assistant camera: "b" camera
Eric Vincent Cruse .... grip
John Dolan .... key grip: New York
Mike Gerzevitz .... electrician
Scott Graves .... gaffer
Mark Gutterud .... assistant camera: dog unit
Jeff Hand .... first assistant "b" camera: New York
David Katz .... video assist operator
Michael M. Krevitt .... key grip
Gábor Kövér .... camera operator: "b" camera, New York (as Gabor Kover)
Michael Martinez .... second assistant camera
Mike Moyer .... chief lighting technician
Ralph Nelson .... still photographer
David Norris .... camera operator: Wescam camera
Jeff Pelton .... camera loader
Paul Plannette .... first assistant camera: "b" camera
Al Rodgers .... second assistant "b" camera: New York
Michael Stone .... camera operator
Donald E. Thorin Jr. .... first assistant camera
Demmie Todd .... still photographer: New York
Rick Tschudin .... camera operator: "b" camera
Richard Turner .... camera operator: "b" camera
Thomas D. Wazney .... best boy grip
John Baer .... still photographer: New York re-shoots (uncredited)
Mike Bonnaud .... lamp operator (uncredited)
Oscar Gomez .... best boy rigging grip (uncredited)
Bob Leitelt .... key grip: additional photography (uncredited)
Kevin McKenna .... video assist operator (uncredited)
Douglas Pellegrino .... first assistant camera (uncredited)
Chris Rosen .... electrician (uncredited)
Ralph Scherer .... key grip: second unit (uncredited)
Sam Urdank .... still photographer: additional photography, Los Angeles (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Kathryn Eisenstein .... casting associate (as Katherine Eisenstein)
Karen E. Etcoff .... extras casting: New York
Barbara Harris .... adr voice casting
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Daniel J. Adkins .... costume supervisor: New York
Donna D. Casey .... assistant costume designer
James Lapidus .... costumer (as James Henry Lapidus)
Philip Maldonado .... costumer
Elaine Ramires .... wardrobe supervisor
Heidi Shulman .... costume supervisor: New York
Mary Elizabeth Still .... costumer
Debbie Travis .... costumer: Mr. Nicholson (as Deborah Travis)
 
Editorial Department
John Bickford .... color timer: dailies
Gena Bleier .... assistant editor
Laura Congleton .... assistant editor (as Laura H. Congleton)
John Scott Cook .... assistant editor
Jeffrey Ford .... first assistant editor (as Jeff Ford)
Dale E. Grahn .... color timer
Heather Hughes .... assistant editor
Lori C. Ingle .... associate editor
Dale Jones .... avid technician
Marisa Morabito .... editorial production assistant
Theresa Repola Mohammed .... negative cutter
Eric Rigney .... avid technician
Hilary Schroeder .... assistant editor
Tony Solomons .... assistant editor
Sarah Thiessen .... assistant editor (as Sarah K. Thiessen)
 
Music Department
Nico Abondolo .... musician: bass
Philip Ayling .... musician: oboe
Sandy DeCrescent .... music contractor (as Sandy De Crescent)
Brian Dembow .... musician: viola
Chris Douridas .... song consultant
Steve Erdody .... musician: cello solo
Bruce Fowler .... orchestrator (as Bruce L. Fowler)
Walt Fowler .... orchestrator
Harry Gregson-Williams .... conductor
Zigmund Gron .... music editor
Jo Ann Kane .... music preparation (as Jo Anne Kane)
Jim Kanter .... musician: clarinet
Katie Kirkpatrick .... musician: harp
Armen Ksajikian .... musician: cello solo
Michael Lang .... musician: Melvin's solo piano (as Mike Lang)
Claude Letessier .... consultant: musical score
Brian L. McCarty .... music coordinator
Ladd McIntosh .... orchestrator
Alan Meyerson .... score mixer
Alan Meyerson .... score recordist
Yvonne S. Moriarty .... orchestrator (as Suzette Moriarty)
Ralph Morrison .... musician: violin
Rupert Nadeau .... assistant music editor
Jeffrey Pollack .... music supervisor
Lucas Richman .... conductor
David Riddles .... musician: bassoon
Ronald Sanelli .... musician: bassoon
Adam Milo Smalley .... music editor (as Adam Smalley)
Marc Streitenfeld .... technical score advisor
James Walker .... musician: flute
Hans Zimmer .... music arranger
Marc Caruso .... assistant music editor (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Vince del Castillo .... transportation captain (as Vincent Del Castillo)
Scotty Goudreau .... driver
Pat King .... transportation co-captain: New York
Richard McLaughlin .... transportation co-captain
Edward O'Donnell .... transportation captain: New York (as Eddie O'Donnell)
Mike Storc .... transportation (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Patricia Adlesic .... assistant location manager: New York
Chad Ahrendt .... production assistant
Petra Alexandria .... assistant: Mr. Mark
Tamsin Anstey .... assistant accountant
Declan Baldwin .... location manager: New York
Nathan Barr .... assistant: Mr. Zimmer
Raymond W. Beal .... animal trainer
Stacey Berns .... assistant: Ms. Hunt
Crista Birgy .... second assistant accountant
Brian Black .... production assistant
Bruce A. Block .... special consultant (as Bruce Block)
Mike Bodkin .... intern
Arthur L. Brody .... psychiatric consultant (as Dr. Arthur L. Brody)
Judith M. Brown .... studio teacher
Justin Caine Burnett .... assistant: Mr. Zimmer
Al Cerullo .... helicopter pilot: New York
S. Todd Christensen .... assistant location manager (as Todd Christensen)
Ralph Coleman .... location manager
Faith Conroy .... script supervisor: second unit
Deirdre Cook .... production coordinator: New York
Kathleen Corgan .... location scout
Bronwyn Cornelius .... assistant: Mr. Schofield
George Davis .... production secretary (as George A. Davis)
Matilda de Cagny .... animal trainer (as Mathilde DeCagny)
Billy the Dog .... supporting dog: Verdell double (as Billy)
Timer the Dog .... supporting dog: Verdell double (as Timer)
Stephen Douglas .... additional artwork
Susie Fallon .... assistant locations: New York
Alex Fernández .... production assistant: New York
Pablo Ferro .... title designer: main title sequence
Paul D. Fischer .... production assistant
Giela Fredman .... assistant accountant
Stefan Gegen .... location assistant
Susanna Horng .... production secretary: New York
Karen R. Jones .... unit publicist
David A. Kipper .... medical consultant (as Dr. David A. Kipper)
Diane Krakower .... assistant: Mr. Nicholson
Tom Lackey .... location scout
Karen Maidment .... psychiatric consultant
Eric Mansur .... assistant: Laurence Mark
Andy Mensing .... production assistant: New York
Eric Mention .... production assistant
Scott R. Meyers .... production assistant (as Scott Meyers)
Scott R. Meyers .... production assistant: New York
Chris Miller .... technical consultant
Debbie Modrow .... assistant: Mr. Kinnear
Matthew Moriarty .... production assistant
Brendan Murphy .... assistant: Mr. Brooks
Moanike'ala Nakamoto .... assistant: Mr. Zimmer
Felicia Nalivansky .... assistant: Mr. Sakai
John Nava .... additional artwork
Chris Palzis .... production assistant
Kristen Ploucha .... production assistant
Ray Quiroz .... script supervisor (as Raymond Quiroz)
Mike Revell .... production accountant: New York (as Michael J. Revell)
Vernon Rodriquez .... parking assistant
Marge Rowland .... production accountant (as Marguerite Rowland)
Jason Rubenstein .... production assistant: New York
Sanjaya Saxena .... psychiatric consultant (as Dr. Sanjaya Saxena)
Miriam Schapiro .... assistant production coordinator: New York
Roger Schumacher .... head animal trainer
Joan Semmel .... additional artwork
Jodi Shapera .... assistant accountant
John Shaw .... production assistant: New York
Richard Shebairo .... artwork provider
Debbie-Lynn Siegel .... payroll accountant
Ted Sroka .... production assistant
Shawn Suttles .... assistant: Mr. Gooding
Michael Tubre .... production assistant
Derek Wade .... assistant production office coordinator (as Derek M. Wade)
Chad Woelki .... production assistant
Yvonne Yaconelli .... production office coordinator
David Yang .... assistant: Ms. Johnson
Neil Clark .... technical advisor (uncredited)
Stefan Gesek .... location assistant (uncredited)
Jack E. Herman .... extras set coordinator (uncredited)
Christopher Lee .... key assistant location manager (uncredited)
John Michael Sudol .... production assistant (uncredited)
Michael Parks .... location manager: preparation (uncredited)
 
Thanks
Julie Ansell .... special thanks
Michael Besman .... special thanks
Ted Bessell .... dedicatee
Diane Brooks .... dedicatee
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 on appeal for strong language, thematic elements, nudity and a beating (re-rating on appeal)
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
139 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital
Certification:
Philippines:PG-13 | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG13 (re-rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Austria:6 | Belgium:KT | Brazil:Livre | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:6 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIA | Iceland:L | Italy:T | Mexico:B | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #35079) (re-rating on appeal) | USA:R (original rating)
Filming Locations:
1 Windsor Place, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USASee more »
Company:
TriStar PicturesSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Title of this movie was translated as "Mr. Cat Poop" in Hong Kong. Apparently it came from the name "Melvin" which is pronounced very similarly to the Cantonese colloquial word for cat poop.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: When Simon is in the hotel in Baltimore, he rips his cast between the thumb and index finger. Upon the return to New York, when Carol is exiting the car, the cast is clearly and repeatedly seen to be intact.See more »
Quotes:
Frank Sachs:If there's a mental health organization that raises money for people like you, be sure to let me know.
Melvin Udall:Last word freak.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Who Do You Think You Are?: Helen Hunt (#3.6)" (2012)See more »
Soundtrack:
MY ONLYSee more »

FAQ

What is that song Vincent plays in Simon's studio?
What is the song Melvin plays in his car marked 'To Use As Icebreaker'?
What Breed of Dog is Verdell?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
44 out of 73 people found the following review useful.
Unusual movie, 17 February 2000
Author: krumski from Cincinnati, Ohio

This movie is bizarre because, while judged overall its story is shmaltzy and unbelievable, nevertheless each individual scene plays absolutely convincingly and feels very real. It's weird. I don't know if it's just the greatness of the actors overcoming an under-thought out script, or whether it's just the script concentrated solely on crafting great scenes one after the other, but not so much in coming up with a convincing through-line. Whatever. All I know is that this is one of the most entertaining pictures I've ever seen, extremely funny and quite emotionally affecting in places. Somehow, it just doesn't matter - I like it anyway.

The performances are uniformly excellent. Nicholson shows real range here - sure, he gets to be the sarcastic curmudgeon we've all come to expect, but his character also has moments of fear, repression and vulnerability which he brings off equally well. My problem with this character (and the "problem" only exists as I think about him afterward, not while I'm actually watching the movie) is in his conception: he seems to be whatever the writers want him to be at that moment, with no particular consistency from scene to scene so when he supposedly "changes" at the end, we're left to think, "Change? This guy's been changing through the entire movie!" And also, the fact that his character is a romance novelist is never really explained or examined in any way.

And yet, Nicholson's performance makes it not matter quite so much.

Helen Hunt is a revelation in this movie - she nails every scene she's in, whether she's forced to be witty, embarrassed, angry, defiant, emotionally overwhelmed, whatever. She keeps Jack on his toes, and they work off each other brilliantly. Also, I never thought I'd find myself saying this, but Greg Kinnear was great as Simon, the gay neighbor. (It was also nice to see director Harold Ramis - the third Ghostbuster, after all - in front of the camera again, if only briefly, in a small part as a doctor.)

What more can I say? Good comedy, good love story, great acting. None of it, in the end, is very convincing, but if you just focus on the individual moments and not on the grand design - a task made easy by the wonderful writing and playing - it's very easy to like As Good As It Gets.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for As Good as It Gets (1997)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Don't get sick in the States glenn-299
Are there other GOOD movies about an eccentric writer? jj0908
This is THE BEST romantic movie of ALL TIMES!!! EVER!!! psicoalias
Verdell! movie_starlet1294
Could There Have Been LESS Chemistry? arnomation
YYYYMMMMCCCCCAAAA parkerposeyfan007
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