“As Good as it Gets” (1997) – Jack Nicholson’s Captivating Classic About Mental Illness

Director: James L. Brooks

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt and Greg Kinnear

‘A Captivating Classic’

OCD is a debilitating disease which is scarcely depicted accurately in movies. Hollywood has always struggled telling compelling stories of a commemorated mental condition that’s misunderstood. When depicting OCD in movies, filmmakers have the tendency of falling prey to false stereotypes. Whether it’s hand washing to cleanliness behaviour, movies often fail to capture a complex condition. As someone suffering from severe OCD, I’ve often found movies about the mental condition are rarely ever true to reality. Movies are rarely effective at capturing the hardships experienced by individuals that are obsessive. For these reasons, it’s become rare to see realistic depictions of obsessive compulsive disorder in the majority of movies.

In an industry that has rarely done a good job of portraying the mental illness, “As Good as it Gets” stands out. Released in 1997, James L. Brooks’ movie did an excellent job of depicting the grim realities of OCD. It was one of the first mainstream movies in Hollywood to address a condition that’s misunderstood. Boasting stunning production-design, sharp storytelling and phenomenal performances, it’s a powerful masterpiece about mental illness. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary performance from Jack Nicholson, who embodies a man afflicted with severe OCD. Ultimately, the movie delivers a strong message which would resonate with everyone facing mental health issues from an early age. A mesmerizing masterpiece about mental illness, there are many strong reasons why “As Good as it Gets” is worth watching.

Set in New York City, “As Good as it Gets” tells the story of a novelist that’s affected by severe OCD. Jack Nicholson embodies Melvin Udall, an author affected by OCD. Adopting a point of view on life that’s pessimistic, Melvin engages in obsessive behaviours that are eccentric. He has a routine of clearing his hands, checking doorknobs and irritating neighbours. However, Melvin’s life forever changes when he develops a friendship with his next door neighbour Carol (Helen Hunt). Carol is a single mother seeking to take care of a terminally ill son. Dealing with mental issues of her own, Carol inspires Melvin to find ways to cope with his OCD. As the pair of misfits form a lasting friendship, Melvin strives to overcome his mental hardship.

James L. Brooks is a newcomer to mental illnesses. Before he directed “As Good as it Gets”, Brooks had never made a movie about mental illness before. Brooks was known for his family drama “Terms of Endearment”. With “As Good as it Gets”, however, Brooks created his first film about OCD. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the lives of individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder but pulled it off successfully. Using strong cinematography, Brooks captures the journey of a man suffering from OCD in New York City. Brooks effectively uses point of view shots to capture the life of a man afflicted with sever OCD. Throughout the movie, Brooks uses point of view shots to capture hardships individuals with OCD go through. For instance, point of view shots elevate the opening scene. During this memorable scene, Melvin engages in his daily routine of cleaning his hands every day. One appreciates point-of-view shots that capture hardships people with OCD go through. Through gorgeous visuals, Brooks creates a drama that’s engaging.

Another extraordinary aspect of “As Good as it Gets” that deserves recognition is the production. For a film made in the 1990’s, it has aged incredibly. Brooks expertly uses the production of apartments to capture lives of individuals with OCD. Throughout the film, Melvin’s apartment becomes a powerful symbol of his mental condition. For instance, the apartment production elevates the doorknob lock scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Melvin can’t stop himself from locking his doorknob of his home several times repeatedly. One admires the apartment production capturing lives of individuals with a mental condition. Furthermore, the musical score is magnificent. Hans Zimmer’s music is key to the movie’s success. It gives the movie a good atmosphere capturing lives of individuals with OCD. Through strong production, Brooks captures a mental condition.

Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “As Good as it Gets’ is a film that’s engaging. The film is beautifully written, and expertly uses symbolism to capture the bonds between individuals with a mental health condition. Throughout the movie, the dog is a strong symbol of hope that brings together a pair of strangers with disabilities. At the start of the film, Melvin begins his life as an irritable man looking at the world from a negative point of view. However, Melvin’s life forever changes when he gains ownership of the dog. Shining a bright light in darkness, the dog contributes to his happiness giving him strength to overcome a mental illness. Through this symbolism, Brooks creates a powerful character with OCD audiences can easily relate to. Symbolism is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” suggested, symbolism elevates horror movies. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Through an engaging screenplay, Brooks captures the hardships experienced by individuals with OCD today.

One admires astonishing performances. In a star-studded cast, every actors gets a chance to shine.

Jack Nicholson delivers one of his best career performances as Melvin. Nicholson first achieved appreciation for playing patients in a mental institution. With “As Good as it Gets”, however, he took on his first mental illness role. It isn’t simple to embody the personality of an individual with OCD, but Nicholson succeeds tremendously. It’s a role giving the actor an opportunity to showcase his comedic timing. With mesmerizing expressions, Nicholson captures the angst, desperation and rigid thinking of an author with a severe case of OCD. It’s a superb performance from one of the greatest actors working in Hollywood today.

The supporting cast is spectacular and also worthy of appreciation. Helen Hunt is fantastic, bringing humanity towards a waitress enduring stress struggling to care for a terminally ill son under distress. Greg Kinnear is fantastic, capturing the larger-than-life personality of a queer painter with a painful burden to bear that struggles to achieve success in his career. Lastly, Cuba Gooding Jr. is worthy of acknowledgements. As an enthusiastic next-door neighbour, he brings hilarious comic relief towards the movie.

Finally, “As Good as it Gets” earns everyone’s appreciation for capturing a mental condition that’s misunderstood. Unlike most films about mental health, it’s one of those rare movies everyone would relate to. The movie discusses strong themes such as anxiety, mental health and trauma that would definitely resonate with everyone. It delivers a strong message resonating with everyone impacted by mental illness at an early age. For a film made in the 1990’s, the movie’s message remains relevant today. Therefore, “As Good as it Gets” is one of those rare movies about mental illness that everyone would adore.

Fans of Jack Nicholson will definitely appreciate “As Good as it Gets” and so will movie-goers seeking heartwarming entertainment. A mesmerizing masterpiece about mental illness, it contributes to a greater understanding of a mental illness that is worth discussing.

A powerful portrait of OCD leading the lives of seniors which are rarely as good as it gets to deteriorate, it’s a remarkable reminder about a misunderstood mental condition that could educate the public about the harsh realities posed by obsessive compulsive disorders causing lives of families to disintegrate proving the Cinema is a powerful art-form that can be used to shine light on mental illnesses associated with stigma that people rarely ever appreciate.

5/5 stars