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Dancing_P [ 7.0 ]
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Alexander Payne returns with this bittersweet comedy about old age. Jack Nicholson is Warren Schmidt, retired insurance agent who comes home one day to find his wife dead on the floor. Left on his own, Schmidt decides to take a road trip with his gigantic camper, eventually showing up in Denver for his daughter's (Hope Davis) wedding to a mulleted waterbed salesman (Dermot Mulroney). Nicholson positively owns this movie, and that could be the problem. There's a streak of dark humor running through the movie, but it's not quite pulled off because Nicholson makes Schmidt way too sympathetic. It's a great performance, no doubt; Nicholson's face has never spoken this much while being so restrained. It's only that the film seems to go on a parallel line to Nicholson's performance; they're never quite on the same level. It's got some great moments (and Mulroney is hilarious as the clueless Randall) but the movie would've benefitted from a bit of cruelty on Jack's part.
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chapter11 [ 10.0 ]
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How is it that Jack Nicholson's most non-Jack role may well end up the finest performance of his career? In "About Schmidt" Jack is Warren Schmidt, a despondent widower attempting to cope with the sudden death of his wife. Naysayers needn't fret--- this is no weeper, although several scenes do prove surprisingly moving. Instead, it's a bit of a tragi-comedy, yet one not as far out in left field as, say, "The Royal Tenenbaums," or the more recent "Adaptation." What is remarkable about Warren Schmidt as played by Jack Nicholson is how unremarkable he is. Director Alexander Payne further probes his knack for finding humor in the most common of places and events--- a high school class president race in "Election," adapting to old age in "About Schmidt," et cetera. Warren Schmidt is a most common man--- when he finds out his wife was cheating on him, he hot-headedly attempts to pummel the culprit; he stocks up on frozen pizza and pees all over the bathroom floor because, without nagging from his wife, he can now whiz hands-free; and, when his daughter (Hope Davis) announces her impending marriage to a mulleted waterbed salesman (Dermot Mulroney), Schmidt's distasteful reaction to the news is hilarious because it's so true-to-life. There are no brilliant zingers, no cleverly scripted quips. Most of "About Schmidt" is lifted from real life, save for Kathy Bates' late-movie character, who seems a little too spacey to be an attempt at a true-to-life character. All in all, casting Jack as, basically, the anti-Jack, was brilliant casting, and his performance is the landmark that characterizes the near-perfect "About Schmidt."
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youngg8578 [ 8.0 ]
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I should just avoid getting old and kill myself now. Seriously. Jack is so cute and harmless in this movie it is hard to believe it is him at times. While watching this movie I had the distinct feeling that this was someones big artistic script, but I liked it. There were themes and symbols, but it didn't seem preachy. At times i felt like I began to understand why old people seem so crazy as well as Jack's ability to continually put a positive veneer on his whole life. In particular i liked the shots of the Woodman Tower in Omaha and Mr. Limbaugh's radio show during the car ride.
Less Filling but Thought Provoking
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trothon [ 8.0 ]
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I quite liked this film. I did feel sorry for Jack Nicholson's character, and I thought he did a good job, but there were a couple of elements missing that would've made this film a classic.
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scottwblack [ 5.5 ]
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I didn't take to this comedy as quickly or as enthusiastically as the multiplex crowd of seniors that I watched it with did. The broad, look-how-funny-those midwestern-hicks-are humor offended me more than it made me laugh; the jokes reminded much of The Good Girl (which I didn't much care for) and the worst parts of Fargo (which I did like in parts). Somehow Jack Nicholson manages to both overact and underact in the lead role, although I'm not sure that he should be awarded any points for it.
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jim [ 8.5 ]
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Affecting comedy/drama with an extremely strong performance by Jack Nicholson in the titular role. The ending is particularly good--moving, but in a multifaceted, open-ended way. Alternate title: The Secret Lives of Actuaries.
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astrosheil [ 9.0 ]
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This was such a touching, sad movie about a man who has retired, is looking back on his life and what his presence on this earth has really meant to anyone. He is so totally alone. The only person that has a any meaning to him is an orphan who he supports and writes letters to in a foreign country. Jack Nicholson is incredible.
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jeff_v [ 7.0 ]
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I suppose this one would hit harder if I were older. As it is, my enthusiasm is moderate. Fine performances, fine script, etc. Didn't think the last scene was emotionally moving at all (and am not even sure if it was supposed to be).
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Stitch [ 9.5 ]
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Simple movie about a retired Insurance man who has to deal with retirement, loss, and the marriage of his only daughter to a sweet, mulleted, doormat of a waterbed salesman. It's also about self-discovery, self-awareness, the unknown impacts we make on others, and importance of reaching out to those in need. Well, maybe not so simple after all.
This movie gets its high rating for two very powerful reasons. First because of Jack Nicholson's performance. A performance I consider his best. I'm not trying to knock any of this other movies (As Good As it Gets in particular), I've always been a big Jack fan and have always thought he was a great actor. But this movie shows what an amazing actor he has become. Throughout the film he has to convey everything with just his face. No words or funny looks, just projection. And he does this brilliantly. Second, because of the film's ending. Without giving any plot points away, up until the last two minutes the film, while having many comedic moments, was pretty melancholy. And it seemed to be ending on a very depressing note. However, those last couple of minutes changed all that. I've never been moved to tears by any Jack performance but my tears flowed all through the end credits. Beautiful film.
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| Weighted Rating | : 7.3 |
| No. Ratings | : 25 | |
| No. Reviews | : 12 | |
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