About Schmidt

Review by Clint Morris

Ever wonder what happened to brittle, post-middle aged loser, Melvin Udall, of As Good as It Gets (1997)?

The answer may lie in Warren Schmidt, a slightly more disheartened and less structured man, but a no lesser perplexed soul struggling to exist in an ever changing, ever more challenging world.

Without Jack Nicholson, As Good as It Gets mightn’t have been as overtly credible and handsome as it was, and without Nicholson’s stellar performance in Alexander Payne’s About Schmidt, we’d be left with very little.

Simply put, “It’s all about Jack”.

Nicholson is Warren Schmidt, a recent retiree, suddenly left to an empty existence when his wife of 24 years desolately passes away.

His only purpose now seems to be to put a stop to heis beloved daughters marriage to his infectiously daggy son-in-law to be, and in his Winnebago, hits the road to see what can be done.

Along the way he checks in at his old childhood home – now a tyre store, makes a move on a married trailer-park momma, and inspects some novel landmarks.

For all intents and purposes though, he really isn’t up to much, and that’s the motivation of the movie. Warren Schmidt’s expiry date is near the end of its course, and he knows it. He knows there’s nothing much left to look forward to, and he feels inert to see out the last bracket of his life with structure and meaning.

By film’s end, Warren will discover a meaning for his existence though, and hopefully will realise he’s not purely on this Earth for his seemingly endless supply of monetary donations or doormat like gesticulations.

As much a vanity project it may be, there’s still no denying Schmidt is an enthralling picture.

Nicholson is the draw card – he’s absolutely amazing. Impressing, credible, real – Nicholson, as unlikely as it sounds, is the aged, dismayed Warren Schmidt. It’s a part I’m sure he was reluctant to play a first, but he’ll be glad – especially come Oscar time – that he did.

And, while the focus is primarily on Nicholson at most times, the support cast also get infinitesimal moments to shine. Kathy Bates is amusing as his daughter’s fiancée’s mother Roberta, Dermot Mulroney – almost unrecognisable with that lack of hair on his head and hideous goatee on his chin – rightfully embarrassing as superfluous son-in-law Randall, and Hope Davis – charming and probable as the beloved, but slightly ungrateful daughter, Jeannie.

About Schmidt won’t be a film for everyone. It does have an indecisive nature about it. One half is art house-like black comedy, another Big Fat Greek Wedding style hijinks, and another dawdling Straight Story style self-discovery piece.

All in All though it’s a film about performances, and with performances like these on offer – who needs more.

3.5 out of 5

About Schmidt
Australian release: Thursday February 6
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Hope Davis, Dermot Mulroney, June Squibb, Kathy Bates, Howard Hesseman, Christine Belford, Harry Groener.
Director: Alexander Payne.
Website: Click here

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