About Schmidt (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) is forced to deal with an unpredictable future in 'About Schmidt', directed by Alexander Payne. Newly retired, newly widowed, & with a new Winnebago sitting in the driveway, so starts a journey to his daughter (Hope Davis); who's marrying a man he does not approve of. This is a funny, yet melancholy look at a man who's only realizing now what a failure his life has been. Nicholson is fantastic as the tired 66 yr. old who's trying to make sense of his life. The screenplay is full of wonderful nothings. And though it drags on a bit too long, the poignant last scene really makes up for the sluggishness.
Warren had been a mildly successful insurance exec before retirement. At his retirement party, a man stands up & toasts, 'if a man works hard enough & provides for his family, he can look back on his life with some satisfaction'. Warren hears it, but doesn't really believe it. Though he loves her, he's grown tired of his wife. And he's sad that retirement is offering him nothing new. But low & behold, his wife up & dies; and her sudden death has allowed him a new lease on life, so to speak. Maybe he can start over. First thing to do? Foster a child in Africa. And through a series of letters to Ndugu, Warren narrates the rest of this story.
Warren takes off across Nebraska on a journey of self-discovery. Along the way he meets a plethora of kooky individuals; none more so than his own daughter's fiancee, Randall (Dermot Mulroney), a waterbed salesman. Another kook is his mother, Roberta (Kathy Bates, in a delicious role). An ex-hippie, Roberta drinks, cusses, & enjoys skinny dipping in her hot tub (much to Warren's surprise). While there are many funny characters (such as she) & funny isolated moments in 'About Schmidt', it is actually quite a SAD movie. There are many scenes in which Warren is in quiet contemplation or outright depression.
An example of this type of scene is when Warren watches his intelligent, but resentful daughter marry (who he feels is) the wrong guy. All he can do is sit, watch, grind his teeth, & try to smile. His bittersweet toast to the new couple is the epitome of lying through your teeth to quell an obvious disapproval. Nicholson conveys this perfectly. Another wonderful scene is the last one in which he receives a life-affirming letter from his foster child, Ndugu. The last vision we see onscreen before the credits roll is priceless.
'About Schmidt' may be slow moving; even dull, at times. But it's as emotionally honest as you get. Yes, it has it's humor, but it's also somewhat of a tragedy. Warren realizes how insignificant his life has been (though, that's sometimes in the eye of the beholder). While driving through middle America in his Winnebago, he was also driving towards something intangible ... the meaning of life. Nicholson gives one of his most understated, realistic, & powerful performances, here. His repressed rage is fascinating to watch. And he's the main reason to experience this movie.
Warren had been a mildly successful insurance exec before retirement. At his retirement party, a man stands up & toasts, 'if a man works hard enough & provides for his family, he can look back on his life with some satisfaction'. Warren hears it, but doesn't really believe it. Though he loves her, he's grown tired of his wife. And he's sad that retirement is offering him nothing new. But low & behold, his wife up & dies; and her sudden death has allowed him a new lease on life, so to speak. Maybe he can start over. First thing to do? Foster a child in Africa. And through a series of letters to Ndugu, Warren narrates the rest of this story.
Warren takes off across Nebraska on a journey of self-discovery. Along the way he meets a plethora of kooky individuals; none more so than his own daughter's fiancee, Randall (Dermot Mulroney), a waterbed salesman. Another kook is his mother, Roberta (Kathy Bates, in a delicious role). An ex-hippie, Roberta drinks, cusses, & enjoys skinny dipping in her hot tub (much to Warren's surprise). While there are many funny characters (such as she) & funny isolated moments in 'About Schmidt', it is actually quite a SAD movie. There are many scenes in which Warren is in quiet contemplation or outright depression.
An example of this type of scene is when Warren watches his intelligent, but resentful daughter marry (who he feels is) the wrong guy. All he can do is sit, watch, grind his teeth, & try to smile. His bittersweet toast to the new couple is the epitome of lying through your teeth to quell an obvious disapproval. Nicholson conveys this perfectly. Another wonderful scene is the last one in which he receives a life-affirming letter from his foster child, Ndugu. The last vision we see onscreen before the credits roll is priceless.
'About Schmidt' may be slow moving; even dull, at times. But it's as emotionally honest as you get. Yes, it has it's humor, but it's also somewhat of a tragedy. Warren realizes how insignificant his life has been (though, that's sometimes in the eye of the beholder). While driving through middle America in his Winnebago, he was also driving towards something intangible ... the meaning of life. Nicholson gives one of his most understated, realistic, & powerful performances, here. His repressed rage is fascinating to watch. And he's the main reason to experience this movie.