About Schmidt
Director Alexander Payne has shown a flair for satirizing American society -- honing in on his native Midwestern birthplace of Omaha, Nebraska -- in each of his last three films. In 1996's Citizen Ruth, starring Laura Dern, he took a humorous look at the abortion issue. In 1999's hilarious Election, starring Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick, he skewered high school politics. With 2002's About Schmidt, Payne adds an element of heartbreak and tragedy to his usual satirical tone, and the result is his best film to date.
The great Jack Nicholson stars as Warren Schmidt, a just-retired actuary who finds himself experiencing difficulty adjusting to life without a job. Suddenly his wife's habits begin grating on his nerves, and Warren's relationship with his daughter (Hope Davis) is on shaky ground. Worst of all, his daughter is marrying a lowly water bed salesman (played by Dermot Mulroney, sporting a wicked mullet haircut that's surely the hairstyle of the year).
Warren feels increasingly isolated and sets out on a road trip, with the eventual destination being his daughter's wedding. Along the way are moments of humor and soul-searching as Warren struggles to find his place in the universe. Eventually he makes his way to the home of his son-in-law's mother (Kathy Bates), and various amusing wedding hijinks ensue.
No male actor has scored more Academy Award nominations than Nicholson. Here, as a man trying desperately in his old age to make his mark on the world around him, he gives his finest leading performance since 1975's One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Nicholson has traditionally played larger-than-life charcters, but for his portrayal of Schmidt he tones his trademark Jackisms down, revealing a "small man" who's often pitiable. Alternately hilarious and devastating, this is acting at its finest.
Davis and Mulroney provide solid support, and Bates and Nicholson have a wonderful rapport that makes for some hilarious scenes. At the screening I attended, some audience members snickered at a scene in which Bates gets buck-naked in entering a hot tub to seduce Nicholson. But Bates will ultimately get the last laugh when she scores a surefire Oscar nomination for her brave performance.
Writer/director Payne has been criticized for condescending to his characters, but while his satirical tone is often bitingly harsh, it's tempered by a sentimental, tragic element that shows Payne really cares underneath his film's cynical exterior. In About Schmidt, Payne does a beautiful job of balancing the film's satirical, humorous tone and its tragic, hearthwrenching element. In the film's final scene, Payne correctly chooses to end the movie on a dramatic note, and the result is perhaps the year's most powerful final shot.
About Schmidt may seem on the surface to be a small film about a small man, but it cuts far deeper to explore our continuing search to find meaning in our existence. Featuring sharp writing & direction and a career-defining performance by screen legend Jack Nicholson, About Schmidt is one of 2002's best films.
Send any comments/ feedback to the author.
While I was ecstatic to spot a jug of Carlo Rossi wine in one choice scene, this film generally does not lend itself to boozing.
The film's comedic aspect isn't enough to rank this as a top-notch date flick.
Buy this DVD from Amazon.com
Buy This Photo At AllPosters.com
Related Articles:
1) Election
2) Top 10 Nicholson Performances
3) Nicholson Poster Store
4) Anger Management
5) One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
