The “stunning” Helen Hunt won the Academy Award for Best Actress for “As Good as It Gets”

“Goddess of Blessing” saves two men

Carol tames this extremely stubborn Melvin with her overwhelming maternal love. Nicholson was 60 at the time of filming, while Hunt was 34. She easily overcomes the 26-year age difference between them, like a mother and son, and guides him to become a "real man." She makes Melvin take the medicine he hated, and gets him to say, "You make me want to be a better man." That's just awesome!

She not only saves Melvin, but also the gay painter Simon (Greg Kinnear). In 1997, when the film was released, the term "LGBTQ" was not yet mainstream, and it was a much more difficult time for sexual minorities to live than it is now. Furthermore, Simon was attacked by a robber and suffered serious injuries that left him near death, leaving him mentally and physically broken. In order to help him regain his creative drive, Helen Hunt literally strips off her clothes and becomes a nude model. She is a "goddess of blessing" who brings happiness to those around her, and a "muse" who stimulates the creativity of artists.

"As Good as It Gets" (c) Photofest / Getty Images

Carol was originally set to be 44 years old. Uma Thurman was initially cast as Carol, but was turned down by the producers because she was too young. Melanie Griffith wanted the role, but had to give up because she was pregnant with Antonio Banderas' child. Courtney Love also refused the offer. In the end, Helen Hunt got the role. We should be grateful for this stroke of luck. She went on to win the Academy Award for Best Actress alongside Jack Nicholson, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

The original title of "As Good As It Gets" is "As Good As It Gets". The film was originally planned to be titled "Old Friends", but it was scrapped (by the way, it was Hans As Good as It Gets, the composer, who suggested changing the title). Other titles considered were "Rock Bottom" and "The Bright Side of Life", and the film ended up with this title. This title has both the meanings of "excellent" and "just okay".

But everyone who has seen this movie knows that Helen Hunt is absolutely "amazing."

Text: Rui Takeshima

A pop culture writer who wants to be kicked by Hit Girl. Host of the web magazine " POP MASTER ".

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(c) Photofest / Getty Images