IndexIntroduction to the FilmImpact on Critics, Audiences, and Public ReceptionFilm AnalysisArt DirectionNarrationDSM-5 Criteria AnalysisReflectionSince mental illness is so prevalent today, The most impactful whistleblower of mental illness, the media, must be evaluated and analyzed for accuracy. Careless characterization of the mentally ill can further contribute to the stigma surrounding mental illness, preventing those in need of help from seeking treatment and creating unfounded fear and social discomfort. To this end, the depiction of a mental disorder in the 1997 film As Good As It Gets is examined to determine whether the main character, Melvin Udall, meets the criteria for obsessive-compulsive or related disorder and whether the film depicts a person struggling with mental illness in an accurate and true light. The film's representation is also evaluated to determine whether the film stigmatizes or further combats the stigma of mental illness. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Mental illness is a topic of growing interest to almost everyone, including medical professionals, pharmaceutical companies, various forms of news and media, and, of course, people suffering from a mental disorder. The lifetime prevalence of any mental illness is 50% and the one-year prevalence is 25% (Sue, Sue, Sue, Sue, 2013). Therefore, in any given year, approximately 25% of adults have a diagnosable mental disorder, and 50% of adults will meet the criteria for a mental illness in their lifetime. It is very likely that an individual has or will come into contact with a mental illness in some form, for example through relationships with individuals who meet the criteria for a mental disorder, information from news or film media, through some other form. However, the pervasiveness of mental illnesses is not in keeping with the stigma and perception of it. Only 57% of American adults and 25% of American adults who show symptoms of mental illness view others as “caring and understanding” toward those described as having a mental disorder (“Stigma of Mental Illness,” 2011) . Approximately 75% of Americans and Europeans do not seek treatment for symptoms of mental illness, and the stigma associated with mental illness is the primary deterrent (Krans, 2014). Researchers investigated those responsible for stigmatized forms of mental illness and found that the public gets most of its information about mental disorders from the media. In fact, one study concluded that portrayals of mental illness in the media are so influential that they can invalidate one's personal experiences of mental illness (Alexander, 2009, 31). Because of the media's powerful ability to shape and create the stigma of mental illness, depictions of mental disorders, such as those in films and films, must be analyzed and evaluated to determine their accuracy in depicting humans with mental health conditions which can influence the perception of these diseases. with mental disorders by the public. Introduction to the Film As Good As It Gets is an example of the media's portrayal of mental illness. This film was released on December 25, 1997 and was directed by James L. Brooks. Mark Andrus was responsible for the story and worked with Brooks to develop the screenplay. Jack Nicholson plays Melvin Udall, Helen Hunt plays Carol Connelly and Greg Kinnear plays Simon Bishop. This film has thirty-seven nominations and won forty-one awards, including two Oscars and three Golden Globes (As Good As ItGets). Melvin Udall is a rude and bigoted author who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder. This film depicts the relationships Udall has with Simon Bishop, a homosexual artist and Udall's neighbor, and Carol Connelly, the only waitress who tolerated Udall at his favorite restaurant. The film chronicles Udall's changes from a mean, abusive man to a kind, helpful neighbor as he struggles to care for Verdell, Bishop's dog after Bishop is attacked in his home and has to be hospitalized, and how he helps to pay for Carol's son's medical treatment after Carol quits her job to care for him for Spencer. As Good As It Gets depicts the relationship that develops between three individuals that does not conform to society's typical definition of friendship, and how a mental illness affects a person and their relationships with others. Impact on critics, audiences and public reception As Good As It Gets has 7.8 out of 10 stars on the Internet Movie Database and 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com. Since this film was released in 1997, when films did not always present mental illness in a favorable light, this film was seen as almost the first of its kind. The first two reviews on the Rotten Tomatoes website don't mention mental illness or obsessive-compulsive disorder at all, instead describing this film as a comedy (while still rating it 7.8 stars out of 10). One very enthusiastic reviewer comments on Jack Nicholson's acting, describing him as "simply phenomenal" and describing himself as "mesmerized by Jack's intricate facial expressions and inflections" (As Good As It Gets). Since most reviews date from the time the film was released, when neutral or positive portrayals of mental illness were rare and individuals with mental disorders were not considered to have functional relationships or the ability to change, this film was seen like a turning point. . However, due to the public's growing knowledge of mental disorders and some of their defining characteristics, I believe that critics today would harshly review the film in its association of obsessive-compulsive disorder only with an unpleasant and unlovable man. Film Analysis The Editing of As Good As Near the beginning of the film, scenes depicting Melvin Udall as an insensitive and unpleasant man are paired. The audience's first impression of Udall is the disgusted look the elderly grandmother makes when she sees Udall, who is off-screen. The audience's first glimpse of Udall himself is violent: he opens the elevator door and verbally abuses a small dog, which he then pushes down the garbage chute. This initial portrayal of Udall is strongly negative. He is depicted as unlikable by two characters that viewers identify with and sympathize with: a sweet grandmother and a cute little dog. The film's montage also stages a conflict between Simon Bishop and Melvin Udall. Simon, whose dog Udall has just kicked down the garbage chute, asks Udall if he has seen Verdell. Udall lies to Bishop, making him appear untrustworthy and duplicitous to the audience. Later, after Verdell is returned to Bishop, Udall so continually and abruptly interrupts Simon's attempts to confront him that Frank Sachs, Bishop's art dealer, has to be physically restrained from attacking Udall. The editing of this film consistently depicts Melvin Udall as the social outcast throughout the film by combining scenes that highlight Udall's lack of sociability. Two scenes in which Udall makes homophobic and racist comments are presented early in the film; this characterization of Udall's negative stereotypes and unsuccessful social interactions isstrengthened throughout the film, in scenes where none of the waitresses wish to serve Udall, Udall finally being kicked out of the restaurant and the restaurant erupts in applause, and the insensitive comments Udall makes regarding Carol's son's death. Since Udall is the only character in the film to display these socially undesirable traits, when audiences discover that he suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, Udall's personality is attributed to mental illness. As Good As It Gets presents Melvin Udall, and the mental illness he represents, in such a strong and unfavorable light, that viewers may not be able to get past their first impression of a person. He suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, it doesn't matter how much can change.Art DirectionAlthough Melvin Udall is portrayed in a harmful light for those suffering from mental illness, the art direction balances the main character by creating a more comfortable environment for the audience. The film is set in New York City, making Melvin Udall another eccentric New Yorker. The fact that Udall resides in a large and famous city makes him more recognizable to the public. If a viewer has visited New York, or any other densely populated city, they have likely come across someone who has a mental illness, although one may not immediately come to that conclusion unless they have been pushed aside by someone trying to . to avoid cracks in the sidewalks like Melvin does. Nonetheless, Melvin Udall lives in a city that is supposed to symbolize America's acceptance of differences, with Lady Liberty welcoming immigrants of all religions, races, and cultures at the back of the public's mind. The auditory component of the film also serves as a contrast for Udall's character. Although the opening scene ends with Verdall whimpering as he slides down the garbage chute, the opening music is bright and upbeat. Later in the film, Udall plays an uplifting song on the piano, singing to himself about looking on the bright side of life (29:51). While the juxtaposition of the negative portrayal of Melvin Udall and the positive background music may further separate Melvin from the audience, the music serves to highlight the possibility that a certain goodness in Melvin shines through. Another auditory component that influences viewers' perception of Melvin is his use of language. Melvin often screams and hits the table at the restaurant, causing those around him to jump. These startling noises unsettle the audience and often overshadow Melvin's large, clean apartment, demonstrating his success as an author in New York City. Narration As Good as It Gets contains three perspectives. One follows Udall, another Bishop and another Connelly. The narrative in the film reflects the relationship that grows between the three characters. Initially, each perspective only overlaps with each other at a time; as Udall, Bishop, and Connelly grow closer, the perspectives merge into one. Later in the film, the first time Bishop and Connelly's perspectives overlap underscores Udall's separation from the two, the film's final conflict. The final perspective resolves this conflict when Udall and Connelly are shown together, while Melvin pursues Carol. The narrative strategy throughout the film also serves to strengthen Udall's character. Scenes in which Udall is viewed negatively by the other characters in the film are shown one after another, emphasizing his disgust from multiple perspectives. The montage sequence works with the narrative choice of events that characterize Udall as obsessive-compulsive and abusive at the beginning and throughout the film, pairing similar scenes one after another to flood the viewer with the film's characterizationby Melvin Udall, a man with obsessive-compulsive disorder. disorder.Analysis of DSM-5 criteriaThe Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (fifth edition) related obsessive-compulsive disorders and closely related to anxiety disorders. Disorders related to obsessive-compulsive disorder include body dysmorphic disorder, hoarding disorder, trichotillomania (also known as hair-pulling disorder), excoriation (or skin picking) disorder, induced obsessive-compulsive disorder from substances or drugs and the related disorder and other specified and unspecified disorders. obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, 235). Diagnostic criteria for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder include the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions. Obsessions are thoughts that are repeated repeatedly and continuously and that the individual considers unwanted and destructive, which are fought through other thoughts and actions, which cause anxiety and distress. Compulsions are the repeated actions or mental steps that the individual feels compelled to perform in response to the obsessions. Repeated behaviors include hand washing, checking and ordering, or mental acts, such as praying, counting, repeating words silently. Compulsions are intended to combat anxiety and discomfort, although they are not realistically related to obsessions. Although obsessions and compulsions differ between individuals, the most common symptoms include cleanliness (obsession with contamination and compulsions to clean), symmetry (obsession with symmetry and repetition, compulsive ordering and counting), forbidden thoughts or socially undesirable (obsessions with aggression, actions, or religion and complementary compulsions) and harm (obsessions with fear of harming self or others and associated controlling compulsions) (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, 235-236 ). The next criterion for obsessive-compulsive disorder involves obsessions and/or compulsions that are time-consuming (taking up an hour or more a day) or cause distress or dysfunction in social, occupational, or other functional areas. The symptoms cannot be the physiological effect of a substance or some other medical condition. Finally, the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder cannot be better explained by some other disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, 237). Melvin Udall only partially meets the first diagnostic criterion of obsessive-compulsive disorder, the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions. . The film As Good As It Gets does not feature any obsession. Viewers are unaware of Udall's thought processes, but even so, Udall's speech and actions do not appear significantly anxious or distressed. Since Melvin Udall appears to have no obsessions, the compulsions he displays are not responses to attempts to suppress the obsessions. Although Melvin Udall demonstrates examples of compulsions, such as repeatedly checking and locking his apartment doors (3:46), repeatedly counting to the number five (3:55), turning on the lights five times (3:59), and using a new bar of soap after repeatedly washing his hands (4:42), and avoiding stepping on cracks in the sidewalk (10:30), these compulsions satisfy the behavioral aspect, but not the mental component. Furthermore, compulsions are not intended to reduce anxiety or stress or prevent situations or events from occurring because Melvin does not have obsessions that cause his anxiety or stress. Since Melvin Udall meets half the criteria for compulsions, he may meet the early criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, Melvin Udall's compulsions don't seem overly time-consuming. Editing the film takes only a few minutes..