As Good as It Gets

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As Good as It Gets

Original film poster
Directed by James L. Brooks
Produced by Laura Ziskin
Written by Mark Andrus (story)
Mark Andrus & James L. Brooks (screenwriters)
Starring Jack Nicholson
Helen Hunt
Greg Kinnear
Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Shirley Knight
Skeet Ulrich
Music by Hans Zimmer
Cinematography John Bailey
Editing by Richard Marks
Distributed by TriStar Pictures
Release date(s) December 19, 1997
Running time 139 min.
Language English
IMDb profile

As Good as It Gets is a 1997 film from TriStar Pictures that tells the story of an obsessive-compulsive, misanthropic, and bigoted romantic novelist called Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson).

Contents

[edit] Plot

Melvin Udall is a paperback romance novelist, with 62 books to his credit. While successful, he also has a reputation for his brash and abrasive personality, often borne out of symptoms commonly associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder. He insists on sitting at the same table at the same restaurant each day, much to the chagrin of Carol (Helen Hunt), who is often forced into waiting on him. He orders the same unhealthy heavy meal for breakfast, and uses plastic flatware in the restaurant. In spite of this, he is tolerated by management (who are aware of his disorder) as long as he's not disruptive. Other idiosyncrasies include stepping over sidewalk cracks, and turning the key five times in his home's doorlock before actually locking it.

Melvin works from home, and often berates his homosexual neighbor Simon Bishop, a painter who is often seen with his little dog Verdell. Melvin's privacy and peace are sacrosanct to him, and Simon and Verdell are often the targets of his anger. One day Melvin throws Verdell down a garbage chute while Simon is showing his paintings in his apartment. When Simon shows up at Melvin's apartment and asks if he's seen the dog, Melvin cattily tells him to not bother him and even if he smells the distinct aroma of a decaying human body, to never knock on his door again...even going so far as to take cheap shots at Simon's sexual orientation.

One day, Simon is robbed in his apartment by the friends of Vincent, a male model, who has been posing for him for about two weeks. As Simon walks in on the two men who are trying to rob him, he is beaten severely about the face and head and left for dead in the apartment. Simon survives, but without health insurance, faces $66,000 in medical bills. Suddenly broke, he is forced to lay off his housekeeper and also faces the loss of his apartment.

While Simon is recovering, his agent Frank (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) orders Melvin to look after Verdell, aware of his past mistreatment of Simon. When Melvin shows reluctance, Frank dares him to say no to him, playing on Melvin's weaknesses. His hand forced, Melvin takes the dog in.

Melvin takes Verdell with him to breakfast the following day, and as they're walking home, Melvin notices that Verdell, like him, is stepping over the sidewalk cracks. Amused at the thought of Verdell accepting him for who he really is, Melvin bonds with the dog, feeding him bacon, which becomes a favorite with Verdell.

One day, Melvin goes out to breakfast, finding out that Carol is not at work. Distressed, he creates a scene at the restaurant that finally gets him banned. After he shows up at her apartment, Melvin learns that Carol needed to take her son to the hospital for treatment of an asthma attack. Because his disorder demands a structured routine in order for him to maintain his sanity, Melvin arranges for his publisher's husband, Dr. Bettes, to help Carol with her son Spencer's asthma after Dr. Bettes shows up at her apartment unannounced. Impressed with Dr. Bettes' knowledge of Spencer's condition, Carol does not have the money to cover the treatment. She is in for a shock when Bettes tells her that Melvin has requested that he alone will be billed for his treatment.

Carol is moved by the uncharacteristic kindness, and expresses her thoughts in a letter, but also tells Melvin that if he expects anything sexual from her, that he's in for a disappointment. She tries to give him the letter, but he refuses to accept it. He tells her that he is helping her so that she will come back to work and wait on him. Though his explanation sounds nonsensical, Carol sees the sincerity in his words and how important her routine is to him, forming a bond between her and Melvin as well.

Meanwhile, Simon is coping with the loss of his livelihood, as he is still emotionally traumatized by his ordeal, and thus no longer has the inspiration to paint. He decides to swallow some of his pride and ask his estranged parents, who live just south of Baltimore, for money to fend off his creditors. To make the trip, Frank offers the use of his car. Because Simon is still not physically able to drive, Melvin and Carol agree to drive Simon to his parents in Baltimore. Melvin introduces them by saying "Carol the waitress, Simon the fag."

During the drive, Simon and Carol quickly bond. Carol inspires Simon to put the past behind him and look towards the future. She and Melvin also learn of the reason behind the strained relationship between Simon and his parents. Simon's mother agreed to pose nude for him for a painting (knowing he was gay before even he did), and his father walked in on them, causing his father to react in a violent manner. One day, Simon's father gave him a wad of money and told him to never come back. His mother, in an attempt to keep peace, supported her husband's decision.

Carol and Melvin go on a date, which ends in disaster, largely due to Melvin's unlikeable personality. Melvin spends the rest of his evening in a bar, while Carol comes home to take a bath. Afterwards, Simon sees her preparing for a bath with a towel wrapped around her. He immediately grabs a pad of paper and sketches Carol, unknown to her. Carol turns around and sees him, and asks him to stop. Simon stops, but wins Carol over by describing her features in detail and explaining the most inane, but nevertheless flattering aspects of her beauty (like her clear skin and long neck). Touched, Carol allows Simon to resume his sketches.

"You're the reason cavemen chiseled on walls," Simon tells Carol. Moved by the non-sexual remarks about her beauty, the pair sleep together, not having sex but instead simply holding each other, giving her the intimate yet innocent touch that Carol has been craving for some time. Meanwhile, Simon gets a call from his mother, who had heard his message on the answering machine, but didn't pick up. Simon tells his mother that he's doing fine and working again, with Carol as his new muse. He assures his mother that he'll be all right, and money is never mentioned.

They return to Manhattan, and Simon is touched to realize that Melvin has taken him in after learning that Simon's apartment has been sublet, allowing Simon a real opportunity to get back on his feet. However, Melvin's bond with Verdell has left its mark, as Verdell now goes to Melvin instead of Simon.

Carol and Melvin resume their attempts at a relationship, with Carol resignedly telling Melvin it won't work because "all you do is make me feel bad about myself." In unfamiliar territory, Melvin struggles to compliment Carol, by telling her that he has not had to take his antidepressants because she makes him feel better about himself. He goes on to say that she represents everything that is good and right in the world, the balance he needs to deal with his disorder, and life in general. After this, the pair kisses.

The movie ends with Carol and Melvin walking into a bakery to buy warm rolls...and Melvin's foot finally landing on a crack in a cobblestone walkway.

[edit] Primary cast

[edit] Reception

[edit] Awards won

[edit] Award nominations

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
Preceded by
Evita		 Golden Globe: Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
1997		 Succeeded by
Shakespeare in Love
v • d • e
Films directed by James L. Brooks
Terms of Endearment (1983) • Broadcast News (1987) • I'll Do Anything (1994) • As Good as It Gets (1997) • Spanglish (2004)