As Good as It Gets (1997)

Academy Awards, USA 1998

Won Oscar	Best Actor in a Leading Role Jack Nicholson
	Best Actress in a Leading Role Helen Hunt
Nominated Oscar	Best Picture James L. Brooks Bridget Johnson Kristi Zea
	Best Actor in a Supporting Role Greg Kinnear
	Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Mark Andrus (screenplay/story) James L. Brooks (screenplay)
	Best Film Editing Richard Marks
	Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score Hans Zimmer

TriStar Pictures
Directed by James L. Brooks
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Sony Movie Channel)

Writer, obsessive compulsive and obnoxious New Yorker Jack Nicholson has his daily routine interrupted when his favorite waitress, Helen Hunt, misses work to take her son to the hospital. In a spontaneous moment of generosity he pays to have a doctor diagnose the kid, forever changing their lives. Later, his gay neighbor is robbed and beaten, the resulting medical bills causing him to go broke. Smitten with the neighbor's dog, Jack agrees to drive the man to visit his parents and ask for money, taking Hunt along for the ride. The trip allows everyone to get to know each other, for better or worse. Against her better judgment Hunt falls for Nicholson, who practically blows it whenever he opens his mouth. In the end, of course, it all works out, but it's quite a journey. There are gratuitous cute dog shots and I'm not sure it would have worked out quite so well in real life, but Hunt and Nicholson bring these characters to life in two remarkable performances.