Film making at its best.

Rating: 10/10 (20 June 1999)

I have never been a fan of Jack Nicholson -- but this movie made me re-think his abilities as an actor.
Of course, he does what he does best -- play a psycho (The Shining, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) but this is a different kind of psycho -- one with a very human side.
Mr. Nicholson plays someone with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) as if he were a victim of this illness for his entire life.
From the moment early in the film when he walked into his apartment and counted the number of times he turned the lock on his front door (5) to the number of times he turned the lights on and off in his bathroom (also 5) I knew what his illness was.
Helen Hunt as Carol Connelly has just enough edge to her character that you realize she is not perfect either. In her own way she has OCD also -- regarding her son and HIS illness.
There are lots of cameos by well known actors in very small roles: Shirley Knight, Brian Doyle-Murray, Lawrence Kasdan, Harold Ramis, Danielle Brisebois and the ALWAYS entertaining but ever under-utilized Yeardley Smith (I KNOW it is her voice that keeps her from getting the major roles -- but I wish someone would really recognize her talents and give her a major role).
I have always been a big fan of James L. Brooks, from his early work as creator of "Room 222" and "The Tracy Ullman Show" to Producer of Jerry Maguire, The War of the Roses, Big, Broadcast News, Terms of Endearment and Executive Producer of "The Critic," "The Simpsons," "The Tracey Ullman Show," "Taxi," "Rhoda," and last but definitely NOT least "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." His writing and directing skills (particularly in this film) amaze and astound me; he is truly a gifted artist.
It is too bad this came out the same year as Titanic -- it is a MUCH better film and really deserved the Oscar for best picture of 1998.