 | |
List Price: $14.94 | | Label: Sony Pictures
Salesrank: 3056
Released: May 20, 1998 |
| Our Price: $4.00 |
| Used Price: $1.94 |
|
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
Acerbic and outwardly despicable pulp novelist Melvin Udall lives in a haze of obsessive-compulsive behavior patterns, avoiding cracks in the sidewalk and rigidly adhering to his regimen of daily breakfasts in the cafe where harried single mom Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt) is the only waitress he'll accept. But his ordered, hermetic world falls apart when his neighbor, a gay painter, needs a babysitter for his cherished dog--and only his long-time nemesis Melvin will do. Then, when the waitress's son's serious illness keeps her from work, Melvin realizes how much he needs her after all. Academy Award Nominations: 7, including Best Supporting Actor--Greg Kinnear, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score (Musical/Comedy), and Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. Academy Awards: Best Actor--Jack Nicholson and Best Actress--Helen Hunt.
Description of As Good As It Gets:
For all of its conventional plotting about an obsessive-compulsive curmudgeon (Jack Nicholson) who improves his personality at the urging of his gay neighbor (Greg Kinnear) and a waitress (Helen Hunt) who inspires his best behavior, this is one of the sharpest Hollywood comedies of the 1990s. Nicholson could play his role in his sleep (the Oscar he won should have gone to Robert Duvall for The Apostle), but his mischievous persona is precisely necessary to give heart to his seemingly heartless character, who is of all things a successful romance novelist. As a single mom with a chronically asthmatic young son, Hunt gives the film its conscience and integrity (along with plenty of wry humor), and she also won an Oscar for her wonderful performance. Greg Kinnear had to settle for an Oscar nomination (while cowriter-director James L. Brooks was inexplicably snubbed by Oscar that year), but his work was also singled out in the film's near-unanimous chorus of critical praise. It's questionable whether a romance between Hunt and the much older Nicholson is entirely believable, but this movie's smart enough--and charmingly funny enough--to make it seem endearingly possible. --Jeff Shannon
As Good As It Gets Reviews:
As Good As It Gets for Romantic Comedy 
2009-06-24 - Calling this fantastic film a romantic comedy is misleading because it is so much better than what we typically label as romantic comedy. Helen Hunt is fantastic as the nice waitress to Mr. Mean Jack Nicholson who gives a stellar performance as a sharp tongued obsessive compulsive unable to find any joy in life. Greg Kinnear and Cuba Gooding Jr. also do a great job in this film. This makes you examine what makes a good couple and how two total mismatches can come together. Power Path to Love
What a life, what a movie!
2009-05-29 - When things, most of the time challenges, happen that bring our vulnerability up front, we begin to re-exam the meaning of life and transform to, hopefully better human-beings.
The characters created in this movie are realistic and the plot is ideal and dreamy. Here we meet Melvin who suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder and has been forced/pushed to his lonely safety corner, Carol who is afraid to face herself and hidden in her son's demanding illness, and Simon the gay artist who seems to have a promising future until he got brutally mugged. With such great social difficulties, luckily Melvin is rich and he finds confidence in work. Carol the poor single mom waitress is blessed with a supportive mother and a good spirited son..... When all people meet, they bring each other new perspectives and dimensions to life. It makes me laugh and cry watching it and feel satisfied afterword.
Although we can't always expect comedy in life, but sometimes things do result in a way that in the end it will all make sense ~ thank you for reminding us by making this wonderful film.
IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS
2009-03-21 - I don't believe this is Nicholson's greatest performance ( and his career has been filled with so many phenominal portrayals after all... ), but it's definitely one of his funniest. Helen Hunt, and Greg Kinnear, on the other hand, are absolutely incredible, as Melvin's ( Nicholson's ) love interest, and a gay, artist neighbor respectively. Rarely has a romantic comedy been as insightful, moving, or intellectually satisfying as director, James L. Brooks' AS GOOD AS IT GETS ( which he co-wrote ). This is an utterly delectible film that should be in any Nicholson collection, or in any comedy collection.
Awful. 
2008-12-04 - As Good As It Gets starring Jack Nicholson is the worst movie ever to win an Oscar for best picture. I hate this movie in every way possible, Helen Hunt is horrible in this, can't believe she won an Oscar as well. Greg Kinnear is the only saving grace here and even Old Jack looks uninspired. This film is not funny or touching, just plain unbearable.
Hilarious
2008-11-18 - This is a great movie. It is a great romantic comedy with the main character, played by Jack Nicholson, has OCD. It is sad/dramatic at times but overall it is pretty amusing. I think the best actor in the entire movie is the dog. The dog is just amazing. I absolutely love this movie and have watched it over a dozen times. It never gets old.
