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As Good As It Gets

As Good As It Gets explores the life of Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson), a misanthropic author whose manners are sometimes rude and in bad taste and is obsessive compulsive. We follow him through his insulting rants as he tries to charm the single mother waitress Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt) and his quirky interactions with Simon Bishop (Greg Kinnear), his neighbor who’s a gay artist. The friendship and bonds that form between the trio are unlikely given their personalities and different backgrounds.

This was nominated up the ying yang in 1997 for Oscars, as it earned Jack his third win and Helen Hunt her first Oscar; all very deserved. The acting in this romantic comedy is stunning as everyone brings something to the table to make each scene fall in a range of dramatic to comedic all in the freefall of romance in the air. The script is witty and sensational as the story just captivates us in the lives of these unlikely heroes.

Jack Nicholson is his usual jerky rude self who isn’t shy to insult you in your face. But that’s what we love about Jack, as one of the most popular actors in history. Helen Hunt is firm in her role as a struggling mother with a sick child just trying to survive and seek the best possible care for her son. She is strong and determined and has the fortitude to go toe to toe with Jack. The same goes for Greg Kinnear who to say the least suffers an onslaught of abuse throughout where he must overcome these hardships to prosper and better his life.

Set in New York City, the film seems real. It’s a lively atmosphere and setting that doesn’t feel empty like some city depictions where there are no background characters. Here, there’s activity and commotion just like the busy city to bring a sense of realism and sweep us off our feet bringing us to a halt and making us genuinely care about the people in this film. As Good As It Gets is one of the best romantic comedies, not just in recent memory, but ever. It’s smart and touches the audience bringing us a sense of joy as we watch the many paths these characters venture on.

Written by: John Berkowitz

Reviewers Rating: 9
Reader's Rating: 8.00
Reader's Votes: 2

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