Visible crew/equipment: Early in the movie, Melvin walks for the first time to the restaurant in which Carol works. As Melvin turns the corner on the sidewalk and walks towards the camera, he is surrounded by extras playing people he must dodge. If you look in the center and right background, you will see New York spectators standing in the middle of the street, watching the movie being made. (00:10:20)
As Good As It Gets (1997)
Directed by: James L. Brooks
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Greg Kinnear, Helen Hunt, Skeet Ulrich
Revealing mistake: At the beginning of the movie, when Melvin catches Simon's dog, he holds it away from him, with his arms stretched. When the dog begins to pee, you can see that the urine is coming out from Melvin's glove. (00:01:30)
Continuity mistake: When Melvin and Carol enter the restaurant on their trip, a certain song is playing (I can't recall the song). Melvin leaves to buy a jacket, returns, and just after they are seated, you hear the female band leader say, "Here's a special song for...", and it's the same song they played 10 minutes ago. (01:34:00 - 01:38:15)
Trivia: In China this film was renamed 'Mr. Cat-Poop'.
Trivia: Betty White was originally cast to play Helen Hunt's mother, Beverly Connelly, but she objected and withdrew from the role because the beginning of the movie has Melvin Udall dumping Verdell down the garbage shoot. Betty White is a huge animal rights activist.
Trivia: Helen Hunt won a Oscar for her role in this movie. Earlier that year she won an Emmy for Mad About You making her the only actress in history to win both awards in the same year.
Secretary: How do you write women so well?
Melvin Udall: I think of a man, and I take away reason and accountability.
Melvin Udall: I've got a really great compliment for you, and it's true.
Carol Connelly: I'm so afraid you're about to say something awful.
Melvin Udall: Don't be pessimistic, it's not your style. Okay, here I go: Clearly, a mistake. I've got this, what - ailment? My doctor, a shrink that I used to go to all the time, he says that in fifty or sixty percent of the cases, a pill really helps. I *hate* pills, very dangerous thing, pills. Hate. I'm using the word "hate" here, about pills. Hate. My compliment is, that night when you came over and told me that you would never... All right, well, you were there, you know what you said. Well, my compliment to you is, the next morning, I started taking the pills.
Carol Connelly: I don't quite get how that's a compliment for me.
Melvin Udall: You make me want to be a better man.
Carol Connelly: ...That's maybe the best compliment of my life.
Melvin Udall: Well, maybe I overshot a little, because I was aiming at just enough to keep you from walking out.
Melvin Udall: Judging from your eyes, I'd say you were fifty.
Carol Connelly: Judging from your eyes, I'd say you were kind, so so much for eyes.
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Answer: It has everything to do with his mental illness. His OCD condition has kept him isolated with anti-social tendencies. He just finds it difficult to directly interact with people.
raywest