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© DR -AS GOOD AS IT GETS de James.L.Brooks (1997) p11
12/04/2013 05:44
Skeet Ulrich
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La critique de Reelviews/Movies reviews (fin)
The real surprise is Greg Kinnear, who turns in a more solidly dramatic performance than we had a right to suspect based on his past record. In Sabrina, Kinnear displayed a feckless charm, but here he's required to dig deeper.Simon, an already-emotionally-wounded individual, has suffered a massive betrayal that has robbed him of the will to live, and Kinnear manages to capture the essence of this individual and bring it to life on screen. The supporting cast includes veteran actress Shirley Knight as Carol's mother, Skeet Ulrich as one of Simon's models, and a scene-stealing dog.
Ultimately, it's the quirks and details of As Good as It Gets' script (by Brooks and co-writer Mark Andrus), rather than the broad strokes, which make the film enjoyable. Essentially, this is a formulaic, connect-the-dots tale which offers few, if any surprises. Fifteen minutes into the movie, you'll be able to guess exactly how it will all work out.(Smart ass hey ?) As a result, the chief pleasure for the next two hours is watching the characters grow and interact as they traverse the familiar path. As Good as It Gets may not quite live up to its title, but it doesn't fall unacceptably short of the mark.
James Berardinelli
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© DR -AS GOOD AS IT GETS de James.L.Brooks (1997) p12
12/04/2013 08:58
Cuba Gooding Jr : Frank Sachs / Yeardley Smith : Jackie Simpson
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© DR -AS GOOD AS IT GETS de James.L.Brooks (1997) p13
12/04/2013 09:03
How to create something out of nothing? Ask Mark Andrus and Jim L. Brooks
Author: matanovi (matanovi@yahoo.com) from Zagreb, Croatia
19 April 2000
Really, how to make something original, fresh and odd out of absolutely nothing except a few characters? Using characters, only characters and nothing except characters. That's the simple formula Brooks uses in all of his work, but, for me, he has never created so much charm, warmth and sensibility as he did in `As good as it gets'.
Characters write the screenplay in this movie, and everything that happens - happens because of what they are. They are nothing special – they are ordinary people we meet in the street every day and that have the same problems a lot of other people have. This movie presents the example of how much you can pull out of that. And if that is written as well as it is in this case, not even a happy ending can bother you. Because, in real life, shown here, what is the end?
Everything is good and warm in this movie, everything is fresh and vivacious, understandable and well performed. Jack Nicholson brings one of the best performances of his career, that terrific Helen Hunt finally got a chance to show how skilfully an actor can connect naturalism with the laws of the camera performance, and Greg Kinnear shows the most convincing emotions coming from a gay character I've ever seen.
The relationships between the characters are created in the way that you can't predict anything that's going to happen, eventhough you know in advance what could come out of their mouth and what kind of attitude they'll have in a certain situation.
You can simply feel the progressive collaboration that occurred between Brooks and the actors and the mutual understanding they developed, and it's not often that you see that kind of artistic superstructure shining on the screen so much as it does here.I find `As good as it gets' complexed, vital, intelligent, emotionally deep and studied, fresh, original, amusing, cheerful, funny, and one of the best films of 1997.
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© DR -AS GOOD AS IT GETS de James.L.Brooks (1997) p14
12/04/2013 09:08
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© DR -AS GOOD AS IT GETS de James.L.Brooks (1997) p15
12/04/2013 09:13
This comedy is as good as it gets!
Author: Ian Harrison from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
14 February 1999
Comedies (especially romantic comedies) can only be judged by how much they make you laugh and if they make you feel good inside. As Good As It Gets does it for me every time. I'm not just saying this on account of being a "Jack fan." The characters are so beautifully drawn, you forget it's just Jamie from "Mad About You" (Helen Hunt) and the man with the eyebrows (Nicholson). This movie deserved all of its Oscars, and then some. The role of an obsessive-compulsive is an easy one to parody and mock to death, but Jack does it with style, humour, emotion, and that usual Nicholson flair. Hunt has never been better as a waitress with a major anxiety to do something for herself for a change. Greg Kinnear is also very good as a gay artist that ends up having to turn to the irascible Jack for help after he is scarred and left destitute following a break-in.
This is such a special comedy, fresh from the pen of James L. Brooks, the man behind the wonderful Terms of Endearment (another wonderful Nicholson performance) and Broadcast News. As Good As It Gets made me feel so good, even though I couldn't really relate to the characters' situations. The humor is pure Jack, set to the script with perfect ease. The emotions evoked by the actors are also authentic and heart-felt, as if they love what they are acting out. Movies like this come few and far between, and that is the reason why I appreciate this film so very much. As Good As It Gets was one of the best films of 1997. Rating: Four stars.
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