Reflections
On a rainy afternoon
"I might be the only person on the face of the earth that knows you're the greatest woman on earth. I might be the only one who appreciates how amazing you are in every single thing that you do and in every single thought that you have, and how you say what you mean, and how you almost always mean something that's all about being straight and good. I think most people miss that about you, and I watch them, wondering how they can watch you bring their food, and clear their tables and never get that they just met the greatest woman alive. And the fact that I get it makes me feel good, about me."
On a nostalgic rainy afternoon, while lazily clicking the buttons on the TV remote control, I bumped into Jack Nicholson saying those lines to Helen Hunt. Being an ardent fan of romantic comedies I have not come across such original lines very often. I made up my mind to catch the movie from the beginning and that night, I did.
Directed by James L. Brooks, this $50 million-plus romantic comedy, As Good As it Gets, absolutely lives up to its title.
The plot revolves around a neurotic, acid-tongued novelist Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson), who lives alone, working on his 62nd book. Obsessed with ritual, simple tasks like locking the door or washing hands seem like an ordeal to him. In the first few minutes Nicholson successfully portrays Udall as the kind of person we would never want to associate with. Udall takes pride in his ability to offend. Each time he opens his mouth, something vicious comes out.
One of his neighbours is a talented contemporary artist Simon Nye (Greg Kinnear) whose gay lifestyle Udall vehemently detests. Once when Simon knocked on his door to ask why he had chucked his poodle Verdell down the trash chute, Melvin lashed out at him:
"Never, interrupt me, okay? Not if there's a fire, not even if you hear the sound of a thud from my home and one week later there's a smell coming from there that can only be a decaying human body and you have to hold a hanky to your face because the stench is so thick that you think you're going to faint. Even then, don't come knocking….. Not on this door. Not for ANY reason."
Only Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt), a waitress at his favourite restaurant, seems to tolerate his sarcastic tirades and does not comment when he brings along his own utensils. A single mother struggling to raise her chronically ill son, Connelly misses a day at work only to find the eccentric novelist at her doorstep coaxing her to accompany him to the restaurant so that she can serve him breakfast!
The movie takes on a different turn when Melvin is cornered by Simon's friend Frank (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and forced to take care of the dog when Simon is hospitalised after a brutal mugging. The little creature helps bring out virtues in Udall's character that we never thought he possessed. We see a warmer, kinder Melvin (though at times the old Melvin rears up his ugly head).
When he sets up unsolicited medical care for Connelly's son, she finds it hard to believe that a misanthrope such as Udall would bestow such generosity on her. In return she writes a lengthy thank-you note for him, which he stubbornly refuses to accept or even read.
Eventually, Melvin is cornered into driving Simon to Baltimore, who in turn corners Connelly into accompanying him. These three sad and lonely New Yorkers discover their fates intertwined. On the surface, they might appear to be poles apart but actually they are more alike than they know.
The movie has some of the most memorable one-liners and a story I think we can all relate to. Nicholson's performance as the incorrigible Melvin is a treat. Priceless performance by the talented supporting cast made the movie memorable.
An honest story about recognisable human beings, As Good As It Gets goes out on a limb to say that there are no such things are normal people. None of us are perfect and have that touch of quirkiness in us. Some might even be lunatics like Udall! But we should not lose heart because when we least expect it, someone might just step up and hold our hand to guide us along this incredible journey called life.
"There is a pleasure in being mad which none but madmen know." ~ Dryden
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