Jack Nicholson is known for playing some really crazy type people. When I see him I still here that "here's Johnny" quote in my head. What makes About Schmidt so interesting is how "real" his character is.

Warren Schmidt (Nicholson) has just retired and he's entering the later years of his life. The death of his wife throws him into a spiral where he decides he has to do something to make the world better. Unfortunately, that "something" in his mind, is to stop his daughter's wedding to a total loser. (played masterfully by Dermot Mulroney)

This movie inspires and challenges your ideas of purpose in life, and makes you realize that you can spend a lifetime building something that can be torn down in a matter of days. It's scary, when you think about it. Cathy Bates will shock you. In fact, without giving too much away, I had to turn from the screen for a few seconds. There are moments in this movie that will make you laugh, but break your heart at the same time. Like when Warren meets up with some fellow travelers and shows just how unable he is to deal with recent events and the possibility of having to rebuild his world.

The direction, cinemtogaphy is nothing really special. Don't get me wrong, it's solid enough, but it's not the kind of movie that needs quick tight zooms and 3 panels of action. It's very straight forward in substance and the mechanics follow suit. What's wrong with a story driven/character driven movie anyway?

About Schmidt may not appeal to the average warez-leeching, computer junkie on this board. But for us older folks that like a serious movie, this one is a real gem. Jack should get the nomination for this....the win? Who knows?

-K

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Very nice and to the point review..Keep up the great work.

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Re-incarnated as evil overlord..

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Sorry Pho--had to add the last part, he is the star of the movie.

on to the review.

Over the years I can't think of no one better as an actor than Jack Nicholson, he has played everything to an SOB, to an astronaut, to a criminal who tried to act crazy, to his current role, one which I think should get him an oscar nomination for Best Actor.

In the new comedy/drama, About Schmidt, Nicholson plays 60+ year old Warren Schmidt, a recently retired Insurance salesman, who lives his life in complete disregard. When his wife suddenly dies he decides to go cross country in his 30-foot Winnebago to see his daughter (played by Hope Davis) get married to a waterbed salesman (Dermot Mulroney).

Alongs the way he meets different people, and writes letters to a poor Tanzanian Boy, for whom he sponsors for 73 cents a day. Despite his failures in life, he sees new light in the letters to the boy, which I think is the heart and soul of this movie.

Nicholson gives probably one of the best performances of his career, as I really felt the emptiness as his heart.

About Schmidt isn't for everyone, but it is a must see, if you want to see Nicholson at his very best.

There is also a good performance for Kathy Bates who tries to befriend, Warren.

About Schmidt is 2 Hours and 4 minutes long and is rated R for language and brief nudity.

My rating: 9.5 out of 10.

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Re-incarnated as evil overlord..

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good review kalf.... entertaining picture aswell.

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One time, my cousin Walter got this cat stuck in his ass. True story. He bought it at our local mall so the whole fiasco wound up on the news, it was embarrassing for my relatives and all, but the next week he did it again, different cat, same results, complete with another trip to the emergency room! So I run into him a week later in the mall and he’s buying another cat and I says to ‘em "Jesus Walt, what are you doing? You know your just gonna get this cat stuck up your ass too, why don’t you knock it off?" And he says to me "Brodie, how the hell else am I supposed to get the gerbil out?" My cousin was a weird guy....

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