Film Review: AS GOOD AS IT GETS (1997)

Director: James L. Brooks
Writers: Mark Andrus (story/screenplay), James L. Brooks (screenplay)
Running time: 139 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance
UK Release date: 13^th March 1997

Watched on Terrestrial PVR Wednesday 24^th July 2013.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE UNINTENTIONAL SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Scooping Oscars for both leading roles, I guess this one was bound to end up on ‘The List’ despite being a Romantic Comedy; a genre not often visited by this amateur critic. I have to say though, I’m finding them not quite as bad as I had feared (there may be more in the future – be warned). I found this one witty, charming and over all a decent watch; although there was one minor niggles. More of that later, after this very brief summary.

Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) is a writer of romantic fiction but knows very little about women. He’s very misanthropic, that is to say; antisocial, unfriendly, morose, surly (take your pick). On top of that he has OCD and finds it hard to function in the outside world; stepping on cracks in the pavement is a definite no-no. He likes routine and every day he goes to a certain diner where he likes to sit in a certain seat and have the same waitress, Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt), serve him. His world is turned upside down when his gay neighbour, Simon Bishop (Greg Kinnear) is beaten up and Melvin is forced to look after his dog by Simon’s friend, art dealer, Frank Sachs (Cuba Gooding Jr.). For some reason the dog brings out a softer side of Melvin and he begins doing things that are way out of character. He arranges a doctor for Carol’s sick son, Spencer (Jesse James) and even helps Simon out when he returns from hospital. But will a road trip with Carol and Simon bring Melvin and Carol closer together? Or will his straight-talking mess things up again?

Very well scripted with some really great one-liners; mostly delivered by Jack Nicholson; although there is one point where Greg Kinnear does a rather good impression. Both Jack and Helen Hunt put in great performances that were worthy of praise. My main niggle is that it is way too long; it could have easily been shortened by at least 20 minutes and that would have maybe given it a little more punch. Not that I was bored you understand, far from it, I just felt it would have benefited from being a little shorter. Enough of that; it’s a very well made film with some excellent performances and a touching, well written, script. Well worth a look.

SteelMonster’s verdict: RECOMMENDED

My score: 7.7/10.

IMDb Score: 7.7/10 (based on 165,708 votes when this review was written).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119822/

MetaScore: 67/100: (Based on 30 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 86/100 (based on 76 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 81/100 (based on 375,290 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/as_good_as_it_gets/

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LINKS:
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Trailer:

Film Review: CAST AWAY (2000)

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Writer: William Broyles Jr.
Running time: 138 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Adventure/Drama
UK Release date: 12^th January 2001

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 6^th October 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

A film I have (surprisingly) only seen once before; I decided to give it another look as I was feeling a little nostalgic. It’s remarkable how time passes and you forget just how long ago certain films made an appearance. I was flabbergasted to see that this one came out in the year 2000; I could have sworn it was more recent than that! But then I guess it just proves I’ve been a tad busy since! But on with the film; it has three distinct acts that neatly divide this rather harrowing and at the same time, very touching, story. Here’s a very brief summary before I give you my thoughts.

Chuck Noland is a trouble-shooter for Fed-Ex, one of the largest distribution networks in the world. His job is to go out to depots all over the world and sort out any issues in order to keep the packages moving to their destinations. His girlfriend; Kelly Frears also has quite a high-powered job which keeps the pair of them apart for long periods of time; but they still manage to hold their relationship together. One Christmas eve Chuck is pulled away from Kelley on a trip; they have made plans to meet up for New Year’s Eve but Chuck will never make it. His plane goes down in the Pacific Ocean some 500 miles off course. He is the only survivor to be washed up on the shores of a desert island. We follow his desperate attempts to survive; including one attempt at DIY dentistry that really should not be tried at home! In an effort to keep some semblance of normality (& to stop going mad), he invents a character, Wilson, who is represented by a volleyball. After many trials and tribulations and after a long period of time the pair of them make their bid for freedom… I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Desert Island Division) will be trying out some of the DIY dentistry on me.

Beautifully made with some great locations (particularly the island) and some nice camera effects. A very understated but effective score by Alan Silvestri underpins the on-screen action. The highlight was a truly excellent performance from Tom Hanks as Chuck Noland; the film lives or dies on this central role and Hanks really delivers here! I had forgotten just how good an actor he was! He is ably supported by Helen Hunt who, as Kelley Frears, particularly in the latter scenes also puts on a great performance. I must also mention Nick Searcy as Noland’s friend Stan; he had quite a tricky role and pulled it off pretty well. Finally an honourable mention for Wilson the Volleyball who went uncredited and played himself to a tee!

I found this a totally absorbing film; one of those that make the time pass much more quickly than you expect. You very quickly get involved in the story and you find that you actually care about this man stranded on this island. You really want him to survive and get back to the woman he loves; and you feel his pain when things don’t go quite right. It’s quite emotional and can be quite harrowing in places. Some people don’t like the ending but I really did; it leaves the audience to decide just what he’ll do next… Loved this one.

SteelMonster’s verdict: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

My score: 9.2/10

IMDb Score: 7.6/10 (based on 193,996 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0162222/

MetaScore: 73/100: (Based on 32 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 90/100 (based on 154 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 80/100 ‘Liked it’ (based on 664,414 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cast_away/

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FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Chuck Noland: We live and we die by time. And we must not commit the sin of losing our track on time.

Chuck Noland: That's a search area of 500,000 square miles. That's twice the size of Texas. They may never find us.

Chuck Noland: Aha. Look what I've created. I have made FIRE.

Chuck Noland: Gotta love crab. In the nick of time too. I couldn't take much more of those coconuts. Coconut milk is a natural laxative. That's something Gilligan never told us.

Chuck Noland: [to Wilson] We might just make it. Did that thought ever cross your brain? Well, regardless, I would rather take my chance out there on the ocean than to stay here and die on this shithole island, spending the rest of my life talking...
[suddenly yelling]
Chuck Noland: ...TO A GODDAMN VOLLEYBALL!

Chuck Noland: Don't worry Wilson; I'll do all the paddling. You just hang on.

Kelly Frears: You said you'd be right back.
Chuck Noland: I'm so sorry.
Kelly Frears: Me too.

Kelly Frears: I always knew you were alive, I knew it. Everybody said that I had to let you go. I love you. You're the love of my life.
Chuck Noland: I love you too, Kelly. More than you'll ever know.

Chuck Noland: [to Kelly] You need to go home

LINKS:
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Trailer: