AS GOOD AS IT GETS
Coincidentally, the film's title befits this reviewer's opinion of the movie. For sheer entertainment, for witty dialog, for fine acting, it will be hard for any 1997 film to beat. Nicholson, in particular, gives the performance of a lifetime as the mean-spirited romance novelist, Melvin, who would rather insult you than ignore you. Not giving the slightest relationship to whom you are, he enjoys indiscriminately lashing out.
The first big laugh is when he tosses his next door neighbor's dog into the trash chute found on each floor of the apartment house. The neighbor, Simon Nye (Greg Kinnear) happens to be an artist enjoying much praise, which is reason number one (though no reason is needed) for Melvin to attack. Reason number two is that Simon is gay and Melvin uses that as an excuse (again, not needed) to vent his spleen on Simon.
The last of the film's triumvirate is Carol, (Helen Hunt) a single mother with an asthmatic child. She is the waitress in the local cafe where Melvin has his daily cholesterol-filled breakfast. Her small claim to fame is that she is the only one who fights back against Melvin's sarcasm.
Melvin, as it happens, is not merely just mean; he actually suffers from the medical problem of uncontrolled compulsive obsession. Everything and everything is magnified by this illness. Oddly enough, the more Melvin lashes out at her and the more she retaliates, a special relationship develops, each recognizing something good in the other. And so, while Melvin, Carol and Simon seem to share nothing in common, their lives intertwine in this very funny and touching not-to-be-missed film.
Smaller parts are handled nicely by Skeet Ulrich, Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Shirley Knight.
None of this, of course, would have been possible without Mark Andrus' excellent story and script, the latter in collaboration with James L. Brooks. Making intelligent, poignant adult dialog is not easy but Andrus and Brooks have really poured it on in large quantities so that it is a delight to listen to the actors say their lines.
One of this year's best films.
Directed by James l. Brooks.
4 Bytes
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Copyright 1997 Ben Hoffman
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