(The following donated review by Mike Piazza was moved by Filmtracks to this comment section in January, 2007)

As Good As It Gets: (Hans Zimmer) Hans Zimmer, who was once classified only as action/thriller composer, has, in the late 90's, made a large adjustment. Zimmer has now become open to every possibility, which is obvious from this masterpiece. As Good as It Gets is Zimmer's blindfold to the rest of his scores. Through the large use of piano, and strings creates miscellaneous themes that could be classified, if not seeing the movie, as either happiness or sorrow. A new use, which I've never heard him use, was the sharp staccato of instruments for the sequences with both curiosity, reason, and the little bit of action that was placed in the movie.

The mixture that is also compelling is that the score can be happy at times, reflecting on the different relationships that Melvin is experiencing. At other times it can signal the growing love between him and both Helen Hunt, the dog, and his neighbor. And where these times are divided, you can hear the real struggle that Melvin is going through. You can really feel the mental problem of obsessive compulsive disorder through the stressing of strings the piano theme agonizingly slow to embody the emotional exertion he has to endure. This score can be uplifting, sorrowful, giddy, and exciting all wrapped around one or two main themes. It is amazing the way only with a simple key change, volume difference, or speed, Zimmer is able to create every single category imaginable in one of the most heartening scores since The American President.

All in all, you will never look the same way at a Hans Zimmer label slapped on any future works again. Though only nominated for an Academy Award, I feel this was the best score of 1997. Action scores will bring some of you fans, but I think Zimmer has learned that to win the awards you have to steer clear of them. Action scores may be Zimmer's previous department, but with this and the other scores he's issued out in the past three years (for example The Lion King, The Prince of Egypt, etc.), I think he's going to open his doors for a variety of new movies. *****