No one had ever been inside his home and he made it very clear that. What scene should i use for a scene analysis essay. As good as it gets is a very tight story and performance by all the actors and there is not one moment, scene or actor wasted. There is an unusual friendship that develops between three. I need some ideas on a movie to write about and maybe what angle i should take in analyzing it. Brooks, and starring jack nicholson, helen hunt, and greg kinnear. Gets pretty sentimental, but movies like this are necessary to remind you that everyone has a good and bad side. People who talk in metaphors oughta shampoo my crotch. As good as it gets has two stories in itthe romance story and the neighbors story. Both partners need to change for the relationship to become healthier.
Successful but rude, bigoted, and obsessivecompulsive writer melvin udall nicholson finds himself in quite a jam when, on the one hand, a gay artist neighbor named simon kinnear is hospitalized after being assaulted and melvin gets saddled with the care of simons dog, virdell. For this presentation i have chosen to elaborate on three of them. With the superior attitude that wants no one to bother him. This film, cowritten with mark andrus, creates memorable people, but is not quite willing to follow them down unconventional paths. As good as it gets is a 1997 american romantic comedy film directed by james l. Featuring a relatively small cast, the crux of the story revolves around a reclusive novelist named melvin udall. The purpose of this report is to develop a psychological character analysis based on a character depicted in the movie, as good as it gets. He spends his days in the confinement of his own apartment, writing novels. Sadly, its hard to get the word out about behavior therapy for ocd. As good as it gets is a perfect christmas release, not because the story takes place during the yule season, but because many of the plot elements are straight. With most of the films presumptive audience too young to remember tv wonder woman lynda carter, gadot and jenkins have an unusually broad license to introduce the character to filmgoers, and. In the movie as good as it gets, melvins psychotherapist suggests that he take pills for his ocd, pills that will probably effect his serotonin levels.
Filming locations for as good as it gets 1997, with jack nicholson and helent hunt, in new york and california. The five key turning points of all successful movie scripts. Analysis of as good as it gets by deddeh arkue on prezi. Usually, however, as in as good as it gets, there are flaws on both sides. For every film analysis, students answered the following questions. It includes partial nudity, one violent sequence, scattered profanity and a string of outrageous slurs that are successfully played for laughs. In fact, just watching him do two hours of his irredeemable melvin by himself would be a treat.
It s almost painful, watching the screenplay stretch and. As good as it gets romance story analysis dramatica. I need some help with my application, i want to apply to my schools tv film production major and need to do a 500 word essay analyzing a scene on its lighting, camerawork, costume, editing, sound. Each morning he follows a routine, from sitting in the same seat at the restaurant, to demanding carol to be his wait.
Dec 07, 2014 2 thoughts on as good as it gets ren post author december 7, 2014 at 6. Whether its clarice starling trying to stop buffalo bill in silence of the lambs, captain miller saving private ryan, or. An analysis of the character melvin udall in as good as it. In the romance story melvin udall is the main character and carol connelly is his influence character. Seventeen years later the movie stands up well because of its timeless quality. It stars jack nicholson as an obsessivecompulsive novelist, helen hunt as a single mother with a chronically ill son, and greg kinnear as a gay artist. As good as it gets is a 1997 rom com from the mind of james l. Melvin jack nicholson in an academy awardwinning performance is a successful manhattan romance novelist who prefers to keep people at a distance.
As good as it gets is a 1997 romantic comedy starring jack nicholson as melvin udall, an obsessivecompulsive, mysophobic romance novelist. Character and scene analysis for melvin udall in as good as essayscharacter and scene analysis for melvin udall in as good as it gets melvin is the ever popular cranky, old man that is constantly seen in numerous movies, plays and books. The protagonist, melvin udall jack nicholson is a cranky, bigoted, intelligent, wealthy writer suffering from obsessivecompulsive disorder ocd. As good as it gets 1997 plot summary movie mistakes. An analysis of melvin udall in as good as it gets the protagonist in the film as good as it gets, melvin udall is a successful romantic novelist who suffers from obsessivecompulsive disorder. Though jack nicholsons character portrayal is fantastic, the manner in which he gets over his condition is definitely that of hollywood. One important film that depicts the common obsessive compulsive disorder is as good as it gets. Screenwriting tips from as good as it gets screenplay.
Through the exchange with his doctor peter verby, we learn that nick was violent with his grandmother, and. Questions for bowling for columbine,fahrenheit 911, sicko, super size me, andthank you for smoking. This role earned jack nicholson his 11th oscar nomination his first since a few good men 1993. Youve reached the hub for any and all dramatica analysis of as good as it gets. A misanthropic novelist nicholson gets drawn out of his shell by a gay artist kinnear and an acerbic, workingclass waitress hunt. Nick nikas the films codirector ben safdie sits uncomfortably in a courtordered therapy session. They visit simon when he returns to his apartment after his accident, but after that, they never make a reappearance. Melvin is not a man ever destined to find lasting happiness, and the movies happy ending feels like a blackout, seconds before more unhappiness begins. Plot summary for as good as it gets 1997, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. Brooks, whose films terms of endearment, broadcast news show original characters in unexpected lights.
The head rest would have to be removed to be able to remove the seat belt, not an easy task on their road trip. The five key turning points of all successful movie scripts by michael hauge. But as good as it gets is a compromise, a film that forces a smile onto material that doesnt wear one easily. All film stories portray a hero who faces seemingly insurmountable obstacles as he or she pursues a compelling objective. Nicholson and hunt both won oscars for these performances. As good as it gets analysis as good as it gets is a 1997 romantic comedy starring jack nicholson as melvin udall, an obsessivecompulsive, mysophobic romance novelist. Writing a film analysis essay is an assignment that is less likely to terrorize those who fear the idea of writing an essay, because it allows them to write about something most people enjoy. But his feelgood new film, the greatest showman, is where he truly gets to unleash his inner trouper, and. Differential diagnosis fear of contamination melvins compulsions in the film as good as it gets, melvin udall, played by jack nicholson, is a successful writer who has been diagnosed with obsessivecompulsive disorder. He is happy with his life, and spends most of his time inside his apartment, writing books. As good as it gets film essay topics, sample papers. The movie as good as it gets portrays a character, melvin udall, who suffers from obsessivecompulsive disorder. Hey guys, i hope this is ok to post here, not trying to get in trouble with the mods or anything. As good as it gets 1997 rotten tomatoes movie trailers.
Theres more than just a little scrooge in melvin udall jack nicholson, the most unpleasant man in manhattan. As good as it gets is a perfect christmas release, not because the story takes place during the yule season, but because many of the plot elements are straight out of charles dickens a christmas carol. Read this essay sample on as good as it gets essay. As good as it gets had several interpersonal relationships that evolved around the main character played by jack nicholson. He works at home as a bestselling novelist in new york city. Udall is a misanthropic romance writer who works at home as a bestselling novelist in new york city. However, this is not the only means to which ocd can be suppressed. Aside from a few quibbles, as good as it gets really stands out as one of the years best films. Though jack nicholsons character portrayal is fantastic, the manner in which he gets over his condition is definitely that of hollywood fantasy. Below is the online version of the story notes for as good as it gets. In the romance story shown below melvin udall is the main character and carol connelly is his influence character.
A single motherwaitress, a misanthropic author, and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship. Jun 25, 2018 writing a film analysis essay is an assignment that is less likely to terrorize those who fear the idea of writing an essay, because it allows them to write about something most people enjoy. As good as it gets movie reflection essaysas good as it gets was a great movie when it comes to showing how relationships develop. As carol gets in the saab to go to maryland, the drivers seat belt is caught in the head rest, causing carol to have to duck underneath. Through the exchange with his doctor peter verby, we learn that nick was violent with his grandmother, and that hes mentally handicapped enough to not fully. Brooks and jack nicholson, doing what they do best, combine smart dialogue and flawless acting to squeeze fresh entertainment value out of the. But his feelgood new film, the greatest showman, is where he truly gets to unleash his inner trouper, and he barely stops singing, dancing and flicking. As good as it gets is a movie about people, and the cast is great about portraying them. If you revisit as good as it gets now, you can see how much has changed in hollywood. The story centers around peoples expressions more than most movies. In the neighbors story shown below melvin plays influence character to simon bishops main character.
Film analysis questions used for psy 280 psychology in film course. Character and scene analysis for melvin udall in as good. I need some help with my application, i want to apply to my schools tvfilm production major and need to do a 500 word essay analyzing a scene on its lighting, camerawork, costume, editing, sound. He slowly realizes he is falling in love with a waitress, named carol connelly, played by helen hunt, who works at the diner melvin goes to every morning for breakfast. As good as it gets stars jack nicholson and helen hunt. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question. In the 1997 film as good as it gets, jack nicholson gives an academy awardwinning performance as melvin udall. Questions for bowling for columbine,fahrenheit 911, sicko. In the movie jack nicholson is a mean old man that does not like anyone but finds the need to start having someone in his life after he watches his neighbors dog. As good as it gets has two stories in it the romance story and the neighbors story. The portrayal of obsessivecompulsive disorder in as good as it. Melvin udall is a bitter, lonely man who suffers from obsessivecompulsive disorder. And, like scrooge, the unwilling sinner is on the road to redemption. Sadly, it s hard to get the word out about behavior therapy for ocd.
Good time opens with one of its only relatively sedate scenes although even it is filmed in such a way that it feels tense. I always find the cinematic interpretations of mental illness to be interesting in their minor or major inaccuracies. Film analysis enables us to recognize how the filmmakers have their magic on us, how all the constituent elements of the film have combined to create that magic. Melvin udall is an obsessivecompulsive writer of romantic fiction whos rude to everyone he meets, including his gay neighbor simon, but when he has to look after simons dog, he begins to soften and, if still not completely over his problems, finds he can conduct a relationship with the only waitress at the local diner wholl serve him. Plot summary melvin udall is a dysfunctional, acidtongued romance novelist, who suffers from an obsessivecompulsive disorder which paired with his misanthropy, alienates nearly everyone with whom he interacts. From the onset of the film, melvin displays ritualistic behavior that aligns. In the neighbors story melvin plays influence character to simon bishops main character. I am writing an evaluation of a movie for my college freshmen english class. Some of us have great stories, pretty stories that take place at lakes, with boats.
As good as it gets is rated pg parents strongly cautioned. As good as it gets is the story of an obsessive writer, a singlemom waitress, a gay artist and an artdealer friend. It has many components of this psychological disorder that can be studied and evaluated on a deeper level. Theres something about jack nicholson that makes you want to grin.
Maybe its the anticipation that youll see him get away with something. Apr 22, 2011 as good as it gets is a 1997 romantic comedy starring jack nicholson as melvin udall, an obsessivecompulsive, mysophobic romance novelist. The film stars jack nicholson as a misanthropic and obsessivecompulsive novelist, helen hunt as a single mother with a chronically ill son, and greg kinnear as a gay artist. Though writing a successful hollywood movie is certainly not easy, the stories for mainstream hollywood films are all built on only three basic components. In the 1992 screenplay draft of as good as it gets, several of simons friends make appearances in the beginning of the moviebut become ghosts by the films end. Few mental health reporters understand the field well enough to do. The entire movie takes place in new york city, except for a brief trip near the end to near baltimore, maryland. Rather than rob us of the pleasures of watching films, this approach affords us the even greater pleasure of deep engagement. Award notes as good as it gets 1997 was nominated for a total of seven oscars, including best picture. Jack nicholson is a selfcentered, insulting, narcissistic guy who thinks that the world revolves around him.