EDITORIAL REVIEWS:
Acerbic and outwardly despicable pulp novelist Melvin Udall lives in a haze of obsessive-compulsive behavior patterns, avoiding cracks in the sidewalk and rigidly adhering to his regimen of daily breakfasts in the cafe where harried single mom Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt) is the only waitress he'll accept. But his ordered, hermetic world falls apart when his neighbor, a gay painter, needs a babysitter for his cherished dog--and only his long-time nemesis Melvin will do. Then, when the waitress's son's serious illness keeps her from work, Melvin realizes how much he needs her after all. Academy Award Nominations: 7, including Best Supporting Actor--Greg Kinnear, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score (Musical/Comedy), and Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. Academy Awards: Best Actor--Jack Nicholson and Best Actress--Helen Hunt. () "...Hugely entertaining....Nicholson is in top form -- nobody is better at lacing laughs with malice..." Rolling Stone (01/22/1998) "...Nicholson is an endlessly watchable performer..." Sight and Sound (03/01/1998) "...The full octane Jack is back....Hunt delivers one of the year's most appealing performances..." -- 3 1/2 out of 4 stars USA Today (12/23/1997) "...It's fun to watch [Nicholson] play an SOB..." Entertainment Weekly (03/27/1998) Jack Nicholson dedicated the Best Actor Oscar he won for AS GOOD AS IT GETS to his good friend J.T. Walsh, who had just died. () "...It shows off Mr. Brooks's gift for the right-on zinger and his sweet, rueful way of enjoying his characters' stubborn tics....As winning as it is barbed..." New York Times (12/23/1997) "...Brooks delivers the goods audiences since his TERMS OF ENDEARMENT and BROADCAST NEWS have come to expect: laughs and tears, fine writing, rich acting, social commentary, and a smile on the face as one exits the theatre..." Box Office (02/01/1998) "...In his edgiest performance in years, Nicholson creates a thoroughly unpleasant character....[A] smart, spiky romance..." Premiere (01/01/1998) "...There's something about Jack Nicholson that makes you want to grin....[The film] creates memorable people..." Chicago Sun-Times (12/23/1997)
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION NOTES:
Director: James L. Brooks
Producer: Kristi Zea, Bridget Johnson
Screenwriter: Mark Andrus, James L. Brooks Story: Mark Andrus
AWARDS:
1997 - Academy Awards Best Actress:Helen Hunt Best Actor:Jack Nicholson
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