The Best character-driven dramady in years . . .

Rating: 9/10 (16 April 2003)

SPOILERS "AS GOOD AS IT GETS" is the best character-driven dramady in years. In this film, we see not only one, but three 3-dimensional characters, brilliantly played out by Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, and Greg Kinnear.
Most viewers agree the actors are brilliant in this movie, but some seem to be doubtful about James L. Brooks' direction and screenplay, which is funny since the actors' performances are linked with the director's direction in substantial degree. Nicholson and Hunt thanked Brooks' direction in their Oscar Award speeches.
As to the screenplay, there seem to have a few viewers who didn't get Helen Hunt's character (Carol) -- how she could possibly love Nicholson's obnoxious character (Melvin), and why she changes her mind so often. It's unfortunate those viewers neglect some setups and subplots in the film that clearly explain them -- In the beginning, Carol is only nice to Melvin as she treats everybody so.
She is, however, trying to find a man to help support her family; this is shown in the scene where her date leaves her after her ill son's vomit spoils his mood -- as he leaves, he says to her: "I'm sorry, but that's too much reality for a Friday night." At a time when Carol is most stressed out by her son's illness, Melvin is the only one who offers help, out of a simple need -- he just needs Carol back to the restaurant to wait on him, since he and all other waitresses don't get along. Melvin's help, however, means world to Carol, although at first she still tells Melvin that if he's trying to sleep with her (by helping her son), he can just forget about it. Knowing Melvin has special feeling for her, Carol has a big inner conflict, as shown in the scene in which she tries to write a "thank you" note for him, and fusses over the word CONSCIENCE as CON - SCIENCE. -- Subconsciously, she feels that she may be exploiting him (treating him better in return for his help). On the flip side, Melvin may be exploiting her (helping her son in order to get closer to her).
Throughout the film, Carol has been irritated or angered by Melvin's obnoxious foul mouth several times, but every time she returns home, she would change her mind and gives Melvin another chance. Some people didn't get this, but it's quite simple and logical -- every time she returns home and sees her son, she thinks of Melvin as THE person who offers help in time of needs. To her, there is that positive traits in Melvin that she can appreciate.
As to Melvin's character, he lives in his own very stiff world, and would only deal with the few people he likes (in this film, that's only Carol). His foul mouth is his way to shut out the people he doesn't want to spend time with -- and that's almost everybody, since he feels safe living only in his own world, and paranoid on things and people outside of his apartment. This is shown in his compulsive behaviors of washing hands excessively and locking the door repetitively. However, once he spends time with others ( forced or otherwise), he CAN learn to get along with and appreciate them. In this film, it's the dog and Simon.
Again, he is not a bad person, just a man who wants to be left alone. His foul mouth is his defense mechanism, which roots so deep that he can't even control it around the only person he likes.
In short, this is one of the most brilliant scripts with intriguing characters and a brilliant story. "AS GOOD AS IT GETS" is the best character-driven dramatic comedy in years. . . 9 out of 10 . .