Friday Film Noir
As Good As It Gets (1997) is a wonderful comedy-drama directed by James L. Brooks and written by Mark Andrus. The story follows Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson), a misanthropic, obsessive-compulsive novelist whose rigid routines keep him cut off from most people. His life is disrupted when his neighbor Simon (Greg Kinnear), a painter, is assaulted, and Melvin reluctantly finds himself responsible for Simon’s dog. At the same time, the only waitress who can tolerate him, Carol (Helen Hunt), faces mounting pressure as she struggles to care for her chronically ill son. Their problems push the three of them into an uneasy orbit, leading Melvin into situations he has spent years avoiding. Together they embark on a trip that forces their reluctant group into closer contact than any of them expected.
Shot in Los Angeles with select exterior work in New York City, the film's original production budget was cut by Columbia Pictures after Jack Nicholson demanded a $20 million salary plus a percentage of the gross. But everyone was eventually able to work out a deal. Nicholson later offered to step aside from the role, telling director James L. Brooks he wasn’t sure he was the right fit before ultimately committing to the character. Nicholson and Brooks then spent rehearsals shaping Melvin’s balance of harshness and restraint to keep him grounded rather than exaggerated. Helen Hunt developed Carol’s character through conversations with parents of chronically ill children, giving her performance a quiet depth. Verdell, the Brussels Griffon who became the film’s unlikely mascot, trained extensively, often stealing scenes from his co-stars. The film earned seven Oscar nominations and won two: Best Actor for Jack Nicholson and Best Actress for Helen Hunt.
1997 • PG-13 • 2h 18m
