Jack Nicholson, that master of acting, truly proved his versatility as an actor and cemented himself (in my opinion) as one of the finest actors to ever grace the screen with About Schmidt. We've loved Jack for years in all his really Jack-ish roles, playing the crazy, the hilarious, etc. But here we find him in a territory I've never before seen from him. In a role so vulnerable you can literally feel it, he delivers some of the most subtle and personal and moving work of his prestigious career.
Warren Schmidt is retiring. His daughter is getting married to a man who doesn't approve of. He and his wife can hardly relate to each other anymore. And with his retirement he has to face it all up front for the first time in a long time. And he doesn't much like what he sees. Through letters written to the impulse Tanzanian child Warren is sponsoring, we get a glimpse into what is going through the mind of a man faced with a life he isn't pleased with. But Warren isn't without hope. Rather than giving up, he gathers himself together and sets off on a mission to save his daughter (and maybe himself)- But is he too late? About Schmidt is a light-hearted film dealing with some very heavy issues indeed. It's a slow-moving, contemplative piece of work, and one that will keep you mulling for some time afterward. The character of Schmidt is a truly tragic; As he faces the close of his life he must also face that he's done nothing with it. He finds himself so very alone, a victim of never really going through with what his heart tells him to, limited by fear. Through the simplest of things Schmidt begins to see his life for what it really is, and this is where the movie excels.
The part is played to simple perfection by Mr. Nicholson; I defy you not to be moved by his journey. Hope Davis and Dermot Mulroney offer support as Schmidt's daughter and fiancé, and Kathy Bates even shows up as an hilarious and bizarrely unique mother-of-the-groom. No one can steal the spotlight away from Nicholson, though, as he really grounds the movie and makes it work as well as it does. Truly this is the work of a master, in a performance that really hits home.
Flaws? Well, it's a little too slow and a tad uneven in it's tone. It's definitely funny the first time through, and leads up to an undeniably heartbreaking final scene so memorable it's hard not to think about it the entire second time through. It's a movie that everyone should take the time to see. Can you learn a lesson from Schmidt? Do you see yourself in him? These are hard questions to ask, but as the movie brings us to that heartbreak and acceptance, it also leads us to a place of simple, beautiful hope that brings the entire film to a near-perfect close.
Jay Addison
Warren Schmidt is retiring. His daughter is getting married to a man who doesn't approve of. He and his wife can hardly relate to each other anymore. And with his retirement he has to face it all up front for the first time in a long time. And he doesn't much like what he sees. Through letters written to the impulse Tanzanian child Warren is sponsoring, we get a glimpse into what is going through the mind of a man faced with a life he isn't pleased with. But Warren isn't without hope. Rather than giving up, he gathers himself together and sets off on a mission to save his daughter (and maybe himself)- But is he too late? About Schmidt is a light-hearted film dealing with some very heavy issues indeed. It's a slow-moving, contemplative piece of work, and one that will keep you mulling for some time afterward. The character of Schmidt is a truly tragic; As he faces the close of his life he must also face that he's done nothing with it. He finds himself so very alone, a victim of never really going through with what his heart tells him to, limited by fear. Through the simplest of things Schmidt begins to see his life for what it really is, and this is where the movie excels.
The part is played to simple perfection by Mr. Nicholson; I defy you not to be moved by his journey. Hope Davis and Dermot Mulroney offer support as Schmidt's daughter and fiancé, and Kathy Bates even shows up as an hilarious and bizarrely unique mother-of-the-groom. No one can steal the spotlight away from Nicholson, though, as he really grounds the movie and makes it work as well as it does. Truly this is the work of a master, in a performance that really hits home.
Flaws? Well, it's a little too slow and a tad uneven in it's tone. It's definitely funny the first time through, and leads up to an undeniably heartbreaking final scene so memorable it's hard not to think about it the entire second time through. It's a movie that everyone should take the time to see. Can you learn a lesson from Schmidt? Do you see yourself in him? These are hard questions to ask, but as the movie brings us to that heartbreak and acceptance, it also leads us to a place of simple, beautiful hope that brings the entire film to a near-perfect close.
Jay Addison