Feb 07, 2007 02:27 PM
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Based on the novel by Louis Begley, Alexander Payne adopts this touching story of a man devoid of any purpose in his life, which he realises at the age of 66. The story unveils as Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) bids farewell to his 32-year service in the insurance league as assistant vice president. Suddenly life seems hollow and meaningless after all those mechanical lifestyle that consumed him, and is now left with nothing but time.
Realising he hasn’t made any difference in his long spanning life, he adopts a 6-year-old Tanzanian boy, Ndugu by sponsoring a child organization. He spills out his thoughts writing confessional letters to Ndugu, which balances the grief of the child's material emptiness and Schmidt's emotional emptiness. He despises his wife Helen (June Squibb) and often rumbles about her annoying habits, but her death brings the world down on him.
His daughter Jeannie (Hope Davis) and her fiance Randall Hertzel (Dermot Mulroney) whom he thinks is a loser joins him in the funeral, but return back much to his disappointment, as his daughter isn’t as enthusiastic about spending time with him as her wedding is approaching. Alone and helpless, Schmid is drawn into the world of loneliness. But soon, he realises he’s got to make the best out of whatever time he’s left with. He embarks on a journey out of desperation, and along the way he discovers himself. He visits his childhood home, his college and comes across strangers, and finally ends up in Randall’s house. Looking at the weird family of his, he dissuades his daughter from marrying him. What happens after that forms the crux of the movie…
A well-executed performance from Jack Nicholson and Kathy Bates earned them their Oscar nomination for best actor and actress. Jack Nicholson plays the part of Schmidt so brilliantly, that it sometimes become hard to differentiate him away from his trademark gestures we all know him for. About Schmidt is a reflection of many Schmidt’s we meet in our day-to-day lives, but fail to look. A poignant story of a lone man consumed by age and isolation.
Cinematography is quite beautiful, with some soothing background score that perfectly synchs with the visuals and story. Definitely a movie not to be missed.
