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As Good as It Gets is a 1997 film which tells the story of an obsessive-compulsive, cantankerous, and homophobic writer named Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) who, because of his anxiety disorder, lives in a world that has shrunk to about the size of his apartment and the books he writes. Nevertheless, and despite himself, he befriends his regular waitress (Helen Hunt), a single mother, and his gay neighbor (Greg Kinnear). Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (518x755, 71 KB)original movie poster source:[1] This image is of a movie poster, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher of the movie or the studio which produced the movie in question. ...
James L. Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is a three-time Academy Award, nineteen-time Emmy and Golden Globe-winning American producer, writer, and film director. ...
Laura Ziskin is an American film producer. ...
James L. Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is a three-time Academy Award, nineteen-time Emmy and Golden Globe-winning American producer, writer, and film director. ...
Nicholson as Wilbur Force in The Little Shop of Horrors (1960). ...
Helen Elizabeth Hunt (born June 15, 1963) is an Emmy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning American actress, perhaps most widely known for her role in the television sitcom Mad About You. ...
Greg Kinnear (born June 17, 1963) is an Academy Award nominated American actor and television personality, who rocketed to stardom as the first host of E!s Talk Soup. ...
Cuba Gooding, Jr. ...
Shirley Enola Knight, also known by her married name of Shirley Knight Hopkins, was born on July 5, 1936, to a wealthy family in Goessel, Kansas. ...
Bryan Ray Skeet Ulrich (born January 20, 1970) is an American actor who starred in the CBS drama Jericho. ...
Hans Florian Zimmer (born September 12, 1957) is an Academy Award, Grammy, and Golden Globe award-winning film score composer from Germany. ...
John Bailey (cinematographer) (born 10 August 1942 in Moberly, Montana) is an award-winning American cinematographer and film director. ...
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is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
For the band, see 1997 (band). ...
The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...
For the band, see 1997 (band). ...
This article cites its sources but does not provide page references. ...
Homophobia is a term used to describe: A culturally determined phobia manifesting as fear, revulsion, or contempt for homosexuality. ...
A writer is anyone who creates a written work, although the word more usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, or those who have written in many different forms. ...
Nicholson as Wilbur Force in The Little Shop of Horrors (1960). ...
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A waiter is a person who waits on tables, often at a restaurant. ...
Helen Elizabeth Hunt (born June 15, 1963) is an Emmy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning American actress, perhaps most widely known for her role in the television sitcom Mad About You. ...
A single parent is a parent with one or more children, who is neither married, nor living together with his or her partners. ...
Greg Kinnear (born June 17, 1963) is an Academy Award nominated American actor and television personality, who rocketed to stardom as the first host of E!s Talk Soup. ...
Primary cast
Nicholson as Wilbur Force in The Little Shop of Horrors (1960). ...
Helen Elizabeth Hunt (born June 15, 1963) is an Emmy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning American actress, perhaps most widely known for her role in the television sitcom Mad About You. ...
Greg Kinnear (born June 17, 1963) is an Academy Award nominated American actor and television personality, who rocketed to stardom as the first host of E!s Talk Soup. ...
Cuba Gooding Jr. ...
Shirley Enola Knight, also known by her married name of Shirley Knight Hopkins, was born on July 5, 1936, to a wealthy family in Goessel, Kansas. ...
Bryan Ray Skeet Ulrich (born January 20, 1970) is an American actor who starred in the CBS drama Jericho. ...
Martha Maria Yeardley Smith (; born July 3, 1964) is an American actress and voice actor who is best known for providing the voice of Lisa Simpson on the animated television series The Simpsons. ...
Lupe Ontiveros (born September 17, 1942) is an American film and television actress. ...
Matilde De Cagny, born in Paris, France, is an animal trainer. ...
Danielle Spencer, DVM (born June 24, 1965) was an American actress and former child star best known for her role as the sarcastic adolescent Dee Thomas on the 1970s American sitcom Whats Happening!!, which ran from 1976 to 1979. ...
Plot The film opens with Melvin Udall, a famous author who lives in an expensive apartment block in New York. His homosexual neighbour Simon (Greg Kinnear) steps out into the hall and asks if he has seen his dog Verdell (shortly before Melvin is questioned, we witness him shoving the little dog down the garbage chute in an act of revenge, as the dog was urinating in the stairwell). Simon is soon hospitalized after he is robbed and assaulted by acquaintances of a male model whom Simon was painting. Simon's agent and friend Frank (Cuba Gooding Jr.), having nobody else to turn to, ends up demanding that Udall take care of Simon's dog while he is in hospital. This serves as a severe strain on Melvin, a recluse who suffers from OCD and is able to cope only by leading a life of strict regularity, combined with an extremely rude, sarcastic, defensive personality that keeps others away. Ironically though, Melvin is a successful romance novel writer by profession. Although Melvin's life is intolerably complicated by having to deal with the dog and its homosexual owner, he is drawn more and more out of his shell and into their lives, almost powerless under the influence of the amazing intelligence and sweetness of Verdell. Greg Kinnear (born June 17, 1963) is an Academy Award nominated American actor and television personality, who rocketed to stardom as the first host of E!s Talk Soup. ...
Cuba Gooding Jr. ...
For other things named OCD, see OCD (disambiguation). ...
Melvin and Carol at the restaurant. Simon returns from the hospital to his apartment to convalesce, but Melvin is distraught at the thought of giving up the dog which he had hated so intensely at first, but ended up bonding with. But Melvin is saved when Simon needs more time to regain full mobility and independence. Melvin begrudgingly agrees to watch the dog for a while longer, even while being internally thrilled at not losing his new companion. Because Melvin is such an idiot when it comes to social interaction, even when he attempts to be helpful to Simon, Simon takes it as hazing. Furthermore, as his most recent art show was an utter failure, Simon sinks into [depression] as the medical bills pile up and all but his two friends - Frank and Jackie - desert him. To make matters worse, Verdell appears to prefer Melvin's company to Simon's. Eventually Simon sinks even deeper into depression as he continues trying to avoid facing the reality of his situation. His few remaining friends stage an [intervention (counseling)|intervention], forcing him to confront having to give up his dreams, sell most of everything he owns and most devastatingly, to ask his parents for money. He has been estranged from his parents for a long time, ever since his father threw him out after discovering that Simon used to paint his mother in the nude at her will. Melvin is stressed by the sudden disruption to his life and the many accommodations he is forced to make for Verdell. Eventually, Melvin does attempt to give Verdell back to Simon, but the dog has grown to love Melvin and doesn't want to go back to Simon. Melvin tries to spare Simon's feelings by claiming the dog only likes Melvin because of the treats Melvin feeds him, but Simon can see that even his dog has abandoned him and sinks even further into depression. Image File history File links Lcasgoodaig3. ...
Image File history File links Lcasgoodaig3. ...
Melvin is further challenged when his regular waitress Carol (Helen Hunt) from the restaurant he eats breakfast at daily has left her job to take care of her chronically ill son Spencer. Melvin visits his publisher and convinces her to have her husband (who is a doctor) make a house call and take care of the boy at Melvin's expense. His motivation is initially to get his waitress back so that he can return to his strict daily routine, but we come to see that he is also actively working to become a part of Carol's life. Helen Elizabeth Hunt (born June 15, 1963) is an Emmy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning American actress, perhaps most widely known for her role in the television sitcom Mad About You. ...
Frank convinces Melvin to drive Simon to see his parents in Baltimore. Uncomfortable at the thought of spending several days alone with Simon, Melvin convinces Carol to go along as well, by insisting that accepting his help with her son obliges her to come along. On the trip, Melvin feels threatened by Simon because of how well he instantly clicks with Carol. Being in competition with Simon for Carol's attention, combined with the stress of attempting to control his own emotions and social interactions with grace (which he has little) proves too much and he completely alienates Carol. Despite trying to keep him at arms length, Carol had been finding herself starting to fall for him. The best example of this is when Carol threatens to leave because Melvin insults her dress. Melvin gets her to stay by conceding he took pills (and he hates pills) to help with his OCD because she made him want to be a better man. Carol - surprised by the flattery of his remarks - admits it was the best compliment she has ever received. However, Melvin ruins the moment by explaining part of the reason for inviting her was to see if a gay man would be attracted to her. Simon never ends up reconnecting with his parents (but does speak with his mother over the phone), but ends up having a breakthrough with his art by painting Carol in the nude. He had not been able to continue his work, since the trauma from the assault was still present in his mind.
When the trio return from the trip, Carol is still deeply hurt by Melvin, and tells him that she would prefer never to see him again. By this time though, the three have been inexorably drawn into each other's lives; rather than see Simon turned onto the street, Melvin moves him into a spare room in his apartment with his possessions. Simon tries to get Carol to give Melvin another chance, but she refuses. Eventually, Melvin becomes more and more miserable until Simon convinces him (feeling perhaps that Carol really does care for him and that they would be good together) that he must go and see her no matter what. Simon's attitude surprises Melvin - as he thought Simon's sexual orientation would have made him "sharp and sensitive", instead of just sharp. Upon his arrival at an inopportune time of the night and mostly because of her underlying but obvious attraction for him (even though she is fighting it), he gets her to listen to him. He makes a good case for himself using his charm and eloquence. He is even able to show his determination to make things work with her by intentionally stepping on the cracks in the sidewalk instead of avoiding them which was previously impossible for him because of his OCD. The film ends with them walking into an uncertain but potentially bright future as they walk into a bakery that had just opened early that morning.
Trivia - Holly Hunter was first approached for the role of "Carol Connelly", she accepted the part but later refused it because she didn't like the age difference between the character and Nicolson.
- The film features several cameos from writer/directors such as Shane Black of Lethal Weapon, as Helen Hunt's fed up boss, Harold Ramis (Caddyshack) as a caring doctor, Todd Solondz (Welcome to the Dollhouse) as a bus passenger and Lawrence Kasdan (The Big Chill, The Return of the Jedi) as Jack Nicholson's stubborn psychiatrist.
- Skeet Ulrich was offered the role of Simon but was said to have declined. Ulrich later played the role of Vincent, the gay hustler whose picture Simon paints. To develop his character, Ulrich had Vincent fixated on Brad Pitt. According to Ulrich, Pitt approved for him to do so and simply instructed not to make him look foolish.
- The cable TV series Cinema Secrets revealed that Verdell's trick of gingerly stepping over cracks in the sidewalk was actually achieved through special effects: small glass barriers were placed in the cracks, which the dog stepped over, then the barriers were digitally removed later.
- The doctor's office is actually a classroom from the local school.
- The children running down the street to catch Melvin's taxi were from the third grade class of the local Catholic school (Holy Name of Jesus- Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn)
- In the film, Yeardley Smith plays Jackie Simpson. In The Simpsons, she is the voice of Lisa Simpson. In addition, director James L. Brooks has been long involved in the production and direction of most episodes of The Simpsons.
Holly Hunter (born March 20, 1958 in Conyers, Georgia) is an Academy Award-winning American actress. ...
A sort of spotlight that accentuates a single person and maybe a few props in the scene. ...
Shane Black (born December 16, 1961) is an American actor, screenwriter and film director. ...
This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
Helen Elizabeth Hunt (born June 15, 1963) is an Emmy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning American actress, perhaps most widely known for her role in the television sitcom Mad About You. ...
Harold Ramis (born November 21, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor, director, and writer. ...
Caddyshack is a 1980 U.S. comedy film directed by Harold Ramis and written by Brian Doyle-Murray, Ramis and Douglas Kenney. ...
Todd Solondz (born October 15, 1959) is an American writer/director known for his controversial films. ...
Welcome to the Dollhouse is a 1995 comedy /drama independent film written and directed by Todd Solondz. ...
Lawrence Kasdan (born 14 January 1949, Miami, Florida) is an American movie producer, director and screenwriter. ...
The Big Chill can refer to: The Big Chill (music festival) The Big Chill (movie) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi is a 1983 science fiction film directed by Richard Marquand. ...
Nicholson as Wilbur Force in The Little Shop of Horrors (1960). ...
Bryan Ray Skeet Ulrich (born January 20, 1970) is an American actor who starred in the CBS drama Jericho. ...
William Bradley Brad Pitt(born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and film producer. ...
Martha Maria Yeardley Smith (; born July 3, 1964) is an American actress and voice actor who is best known for providing the voice of Lisa Simpson on the animated television series The Simpsons. ...
Simpsons redirects here. ...
Lisa Marie Simpson is a character in the animated television series The Simpsons, voiced by Yeardley Smith; Lisa is the only character Smith voices on a regular basis. ...
James L. Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is a three-time Academy Award, nineteen-time Emmy and Golden Globe-winning American producer, writer, and film director. ...
Awards won Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy has been awarded annually since 1952 by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. ...
The Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role is one of the awards given to actors working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ...
Nicholson as Wilbur Force in The Little Shop of Horrors (1960). ...
The Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy was first awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association as a separate category in 1951. ...
The Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role is one of the awards given to actresses working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ...
Helen Elizabeth Hunt (born June 15, 1963) is an Emmy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning American actress, perhaps most widely known for her role in the television sitcom Mad About You. ...
The Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy was first awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association as a separate category in 1950. ...
Award nominations // The Academy Award for Best Motion Picture is one of the Academy Awards, awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which are voted on by others within the industry. ...
The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is one of the awards given to male actors working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ...
Greg Kinnear (born June 17, 1963) is an Academy Award nominated American actor and television personality, who rocketed to stardom as the first host of E!s Talk Soup. ...
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture was first awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in 1944 for a performance in a motion picture released in the previous year. ...
Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture has been awarded annually since 1944 by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. ...
James L. Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is a three-time Academy Award, nineteen-time Emmy and Golden Globe-winning American producer, writer, and film director. ...
The Academy Award for Film Editing was first given for films issued in 1934. ...
This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
The Academy Award for Original Music Score is presented to the best substantial body of music in the form of dramatic underscoring written specifically for the film by the submitting composer. ...
Hans Florian Zimmer (born September 12, 1957) is an Academy Award, Grammy, and Golden Globe award-winning film score composer from Germany. ...
// The Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay is the Academy Award for the best script not based upon previously published material. ...
James L. Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is a three-time Academy Award, nineteen-time Emmy and Golden Globe-winning American producer, writer, and film director. ...
The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ...
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