As Good as It Gets 7
“As Good As It Gets”
Abnormal Psychology
Lina Jones
November 14, 2007
The movie that I choose to watch was “As Good as it Gets” by James L. Brooks. The character that I will be discussing is Melvin Udall played by Jack Nicholson. Melvin Udall is a novelist from New York that is working on another one of his books. To his readers, Udall may seem to be a normal person however; he is struggling to do everything right in his life. He has the symptoms of a person dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder. This is exemplified by his obsession with developing a loving relationship. He has not found love of his own, and that is why he is so obsessed with eating at the same restaurant in the same seat with the same waitress because this is the only steady interaction he has with another person. When the waitress is not at work one day it causes Udall to realize that he has a problem and goes to visit his therapist but since he neglected to schedule an appointment he is turned away which causes more anxiety. With the anxiety of not having his usually scheduled meal at the restaurant, he finds out where the waitress lives to go talk to her and tell her how she messed up his day. When Udall arrives at the waitresses home, Udall find out that the reason Carol was not at work is because her son suffers from a sever case of asthma that causes him to be really sickly. Though Udall had at one point made rude comments about Carol’s son’s health he later pays for the young boy to be seen by a good doctor, which happens to be his publisher’s husband. The only stipulation is that Carol return to work in order for the medical bills to be paid. Paying the medical bills is a nice gesture to Carol and she thanks Udall but he feels that her thank you letter is unnecessary; because it was something he had to do for him to have his regular meal. In another part of the movie when some strangers assault Udall’s neighbor, Simon, Udall is asked by Simon’s art manager to take Simon to
Abnormal Psychology
Lina Jones
November 14, 2007
The movie that I choose to watch was “As Good as it Gets” by James L. Brooks. The character that I will be discussing is Melvin Udall played by Jack Nicholson. Melvin Udall is a novelist from New York that is working on another one of his books. To his readers, Udall may seem to be a normal person however; he is struggling to do everything right in his life. He has the symptoms of a person dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder. This is exemplified by his obsession with developing a loving relationship. He has not found love of his own, and that is why he is so obsessed with eating at the same restaurant in the same seat with the same waitress because this is the only steady interaction he has with another person. When the waitress is not at work one day it causes Udall to realize that he has a problem and goes to visit his therapist but since he neglected to schedule an appointment he is turned away which causes more anxiety. With the anxiety of not having his usually scheduled meal at the restaurant, he finds out where the waitress lives to go talk to her and tell her how she messed up his day. When Udall arrives at the waitresses home, Udall find out that the reason Carol was not at work is because her son suffers from a sever case of asthma that causes him to be really sickly. Though Udall had at one point made rude comments about Carol’s son’s health he later pays for the young boy to be seen by a good doctor, which happens to be his publisher’s husband. The only stipulation is that Carol return to work in order for the medical bills to be paid. Paying the medical bills is a nice gesture to Carol and she thanks Udall but he feels that her thank you letter is unnecessary; because it was something he had to do for him to have his regular meal. In another part of the movie when some strangers assault Udall’s neighbor, Simon, Udall is asked by Simon’s art manager to take Simon to