As Good as It Gets is a 1997 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by James L. Brooks. It stars Jack Nicholson as a misanthropic and obsessive-compulsive novelist, Helen Hunt as a single mother with a chronically ill son, and Greg Kinnear as a gay artist. The screenplay was written by Mark Andrus and Brooks. The paintings were created for the film by New York artist Billy Sullivan.
Nicholson and Hunt won the Academy Award for Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively, making As Good As It Gets the most recent film to win both of the lead acting awards, and the first since 1991's The Silence of the Lambs. It is ranked 140th on Empire magazine's "The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time" list.
Premise[]
When bigoted, obsessive-compulsive, romance writer Melvin's gay neighbor, Simon Bishop, is brutally assaulted and hospitalized, Melvin is forced to take care of Simon's dog, Verdell. Melvin falls in love with Carol Connelly, the only waitress who tolerates him, and the three form an unlikely friendship.
Cast[]
- Jack Nicholson as Melvin Udall
- Helen Hunt as Carol Connelly
- Greg Kinnear as Simon Bishop
- Cuba Gooding Jr. as Frank Sachs
- Skeet Ulrich as Vincent Lopiano
- Shirley Knight as Beverly Connelly
- Jesse James as Spencer "Spence" Connelly
- Yeardley Smith as Jackie Simpson
- Lupe Ontiveros as Nora Manning
- Bibi Osterwald as Neighbor Woman
- Harold Ramis as Dr. Martin Bettes
- Lawrence Kasdan as Dr. Green
- Julie Benz as Receptionist
- Shane Black as Brian, Cafe 24 manager
- Leslie Stefanson as Cafe 24 Waitress
- Tom McGowan as Maitre'd
- Brian Doyle-Murray as Handyman
- Jamie Kennedy as Street Hustler
- Missi Pyle as Cafe 24 Waitress
- Wood Harris as Cafe 24 Busboy
- Maya Rudolph as Policewoman
- Todd Solondz as Man on Bus