David O'ConnellAbout Schmidt (2002): Jack acts his age
June 4th 2008 04:48
There are so many remarkable things about this film, easily one of the finest of the last decade. It certainly confirms and enhances the unique screenwriting abilities of director Alexander Payne and his writing partner Jim Taylor. Regardless of whether they're adapting from a source – as they are with this film, a novel by Louis Begley - or creating a world from scratch, they provide an amazing uniformity in their characterizations, creating works that are immediately identifiable as their own - slightly offbeat, with snatches of their own deadpan dark humour thrown in. So far they’ve given us three modern classics in About Schmidt, Election and Sideways. (Sadly, I still haven’t seen their first film Citizen Ruth.)
Another noteworthy aspect of the film is seeing Jack Nicholson actually play somebody roughly his own age for once! Where else in his body of work can you find the great man looking so old and haggard, without a younger woman on his arm, but rather married to an unattractive frumpy old lady!!??
Jack is Warren Schmidt, as much of an everyman as Nicholson has ever played, working for an insurance company in Nebraska, who has crawled through years of routine and repetition to a not exactly noteworthy retirement. He’s simply gone through the motions his whole life - like watching the clock count down on his final day! - performing his duties competently but never making the slightest mark on the lives of those around him.
He wakes up wondering who the hell the old woman is who has been sleeping next to him for 42 years and when he sees an infomercial on tv asking for people to sponsor a starving African child, he signs up. He sponsors a Tanzanian boy named Ndugu and the letters he writes the boy are interspersed through the film as voice-over narrations providing a glimpse into the heart and soul of this man who has clearly always had difficulty in verbally communicating with those around him. His ‘relationship’ with this unseen boy provides a perfect outlet for him and for us as the audience.
When his wife passes away he decides to continue making a difference in the world. He determines to make use of his fancy Winnebago to travel to Denver to stop his daughter Jeannie (Hope Davis) from making a terrible mistake in marrying her redneck boyfriend Randall (Dermot Mulroney), whom Warren can’t stand.
The film becomes a road movie for a while as Warren drives cross-country, meeting a few uniquely oddball – and identifiably Payne/Taylor – characters along the way. Randall’s colourful family are a treat as well, especially his exuberant, loud-mouthed mum Roberta, played with reckless abandon (shall we say, remembering a certain spa scene!!) by Kathy Bates.
Regular Payne composer Rolfe Kent provides his greatest work so far with an eclectic and memorable set of emotional and comic themes. It’s easily one of the finest scores of recent years.
To be honest, there are just so many vintage moments and details to savour in About Schmidt and watching it for the first time I had no idea how it would end. Nicholson is brilliant as a man who looks back on his long life with regret at its utterly unremarkable nature before producing a late-life run at making a difference.
In equal measures both funny and moving, this film always leaves an indelible mark on me. In fact, even after having now seen it 3 times, I still can’t help crying like a baby after that final scene. It’s the perfect cathartic ending for Warren and I defy anyone to not be moved by it.
About Schmidt raises cinema to a new level for me. It’s a genuine masterpiece and one of my favourite films of all time.
Another noteworthy aspect of the film is seeing Jack Nicholson actually play somebody roughly his own age for once! Where else in his body of work can you find the great man looking so old and haggard, without a younger woman on his arm, but rather married to an unattractive frumpy old lady!!??
Jack is Warren Schmidt, as much of an everyman as Nicholson has ever played, working for an insurance company in Nebraska, who has crawled through years of routine and repetition to a not exactly noteworthy retirement. He’s simply gone through the motions his whole life - like watching the clock count down on his final day! - performing his duties competently but never making the slightest mark on the lives of those around him.
He wakes up wondering who the hell the old woman is who has been sleeping next to him for 42 years and when he sees an infomercial on tv asking for people to sponsor a starving African child, he signs up. He sponsors a Tanzanian boy named Ndugu and the letters he writes the boy are interspersed through the film as voice-over narrations providing a glimpse into the heart and soul of this man who has clearly always had difficulty in verbally communicating with those around him. His ‘relationship’ with this unseen boy provides a perfect outlet for him and for us as the audience.
When his wife passes away he decides to continue making a difference in the world. He determines to make use of his fancy Winnebago to travel to Denver to stop his daughter Jeannie (Hope Davis) from making a terrible mistake in marrying her redneck boyfriend Randall (Dermot Mulroney), whom Warren can’t stand.
Clock-watching on the last day of work
The film becomes a road movie for a while as Warren drives cross-country, meeting a few uniquely oddball – and identifiably Payne/Taylor – characters along the way. Randall’s colourful family are a treat as well, especially his exuberant, loud-mouthed mum Roberta, played with reckless abandon (shall we say, remembering a certain spa scene!!) by Kathy Bates.
Regular Payne composer Rolfe Kent provides his greatest work so far with an eclectic and memorable set of emotional and comic themes. It’s easily one of the finest scores of recent years.
To be honest, there are just so many vintage moments and details to savour in About Schmidt and watching it for the first time I had no idea how it would end. Nicholson is brilliant as a man who looks back on his long life with regret at its utterly unremarkable nature before producing a late-life run at making a difference.
In equal measures both funny and moving, this film always leaves an indelible mark on me. In fact, even after having now seen it 3 times, I still can’t help crying like a baby after that final scene. It’s the perfect cathartic ending for Warren and I defy anyone to not be moved by it.
About Schmidt raises cinema to a new level for me. It’s a genuine masterpiece and one of my favourite films of all time.
Randall, Jeannie and Warren
Kathy Bates as Roberta in the film's one true horror scene!
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Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
I haven't seen this one and it looks really GOOD. I love Nicholson (on occassion) his ability to make me laugh has been remarkable ... I will give this a look in and can vouch for Sideways as another classic - more modern in tone - but a classic nonetheless.
The film built to one moment (if I remember correctly), where the DVD had to be stopped so that tissues could be found for my tears of laughter...
great review.
Lilla ...
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic