"As Good As It Gets" 1997

“As Good As It Gets”

I like reading the trivia section on IMDB when I am writing about a movie. They will sometimes list who was offered the role first. When actors fill a role well, like Jack Nicholson does with Melvin Udall, it is hard to imagine someone else in it.

But Jack’s role was initially offered to John Travolta.

And Helen Hunt’s character of Carol was offered to Holly Hunter.

And Carol’s mother? Betty White. This of course was before Betty’s big comeback in the last few years.

Jack and Helen both won Oscars for their roles. I think Holly would have killed the role. She has that proud vulnerability thing down and would have been fantastic. John Travolta I’m not so sure about. Maybe Jack made the role more of his own, but I can’t really imagine anyone else. Of course John Travolta has the charm and charisma to pull it off. But the emotion? That I’m not too sure about.

Greg Kinnear’s character was offered to John Cusack, the secret love of my life. (Secret to him anyway.) It would have been interesting to see his take on the character as well. It is a departure from some other things he’s done. But I have no doubt he would have rocked it. He is often the only watchable part of some movies. Simon is played brilliantly by Greg Kinnear though. He does an wonderful job and was nominated for an Oscar as well.

I love the evolution of the characters in this movie. The three main characters, Melvin, Carol and Simon, , are each used to being self reliant. Their lives intersect in minor ways. If it weren’t for a violent attack on Simon, they would never have connected as they did.

Melvin is paralyzed by his obsessive compulsive disorder. Only his routine keeps him from falling apart. He insults people to keep them from trying to get any closer.

Receptionist: I can't resist! You usually move through here so quickly and I just have so many questions I want to ask you. You have no idea what your work means to me.
Melvin Udall: What does it mean to you?
Receptionist: [stands up] When somebody out there knows what it's like...
[place one hand on her forehead and the other over her heart]
Receptionist: ... to be in here.
Melvin Udall: Oh God, this is like a nightmare.
[Turns around and presses the elevator button multiple times]
Receptionist: Oh come on! Just a couple of questions. How hard is that?
[Scampers up to Melvin]
Receptionist: How do you write women so well?
Melvin Udall: I think of a man, and I take away reason and accountability.

Carol is trapped by her circumstances. A dead end job and a sickly son keep her living with her mother. She has been scrabbling to get by for so long it is hard for her to relax and enjoy herself.

Simon starts in the best place. He is an artist doing well enough to afford a really nice apartment and fabulous friends. Then one day he is painting a street hustler his agent brought in. When he leaves the studio, he catches the young man’s friends robbing him. Soon he ends up in the hospital and in trouble.

Melvin is suddenly in charge of Simon’s dog, Verdell.

I love that each of the characters save the other two in some way. They find that by letting down their defenses they become a family of sorts. Each of them connect and find a part of themselves that they’d forgotten.

Carol inspires Simon to draw when he thinks he’s lost his muse. She feels beautiful and desirable in a way that she’d forgotten. She makes Melvin want to be a better man. Melvin takes in Simon and takes on Carol. He doesn’t connect the emotional toll this physical gift takes on his personality until near the end when he realizes he is leaving his apartment and he forgot to lock the door.

Simon helps them both open up emotionally as they help him heal physically.

The evolution is so realistic. It makes sense where they end up.

It would have been a very different movie with Holly Hunter, John Travolta and John Cusack. I still would have gone to see it.