Rating: 
Summary: Booooooring
Review: I am rating the movie itself, not the DVD. I thought this movie was HIGHLY overrated. I felt like I was watching a boring older man's home movies. Zzzzzzzz. I love Jack Nicholson, but this was a real bomb.
Rating: 
Summary: After retiring there is another life
Review: This film is a real feast of pleasure. Jack Nicholson is outstanding in the composition of his role and is marvelously seconded by Kathy Bates and other younger actors. The film is also fascinating due to its concentration on an essential moment in life for a man. His retirement and the quick loss of his wife, leaving him a young recently-retired widower. Some particular problems are explored with tact and truthfulness. His relation to his daughter at this moment, especially in the face of her marrying someone he considers as unfit. He will try to prevent it and yet will yield gracefully and in style. This conflict will bring up the difference between his vision of his daughter as a goddess in his life and the daughter's resentment at her father about his relation to her mother who happens to be his wife. What a man, an old man has in his mind does not always correspond to reality. Little by little he thus discovers that life was not what he thought it was and hoped it to be. He was retired by his firm and discarded, with nice words, by his successor as well as by the firm itself. He does not count any more. His wife had had an affair, some twenty-five years ago, with his best friend and superior in the firm. Thus he is led into going on a nostalgic trip, at first, across the US, but this trip becomes an initiation to solitude and to the awareness that should be his in a world that does not exactly correspond to his vision and desire. He thus learns, under the stars and in the night, all by himself and alone, how to cope with these necessary adjustments. And he does it marvelously. But in this epiphanic journey he is helped by the relation he voluntarily starts with a young African boy in Tanzania that he takes under his patronage for 22 dollars a month. This relation, and the drawing this child will send him, after his numerous and very personal letters, will make him realise that life demands a connection between him and someone else, and that this connection is in no way written down or programed in the big book of society. It can neither come from the past, nor from the immediate present of the people he meets along the way. It has to come from a wilful choice and action to help someone and not just to confide and submit or take. This help, and the hope that comes along with it, is the key to a balanced life after retiring, after entering old age solitude. Jack Nicholson is a marvelous actor in this part and does not in any way fall in the trap of his too common tricks : he does not look at all paranoid or psychotic or in any way deranged. He looks normal, banal, close to us, typical of what such people can be and actually are : definitely not a man who enters a phase of ranting and raving, of obsession and mental hyperventilation. Every moment of the film is a piece of pleasure and the expectation of the next moment is even more pleasurable. A film we could watch a hundred times and still enjoy even more and expect to enjoy one more time after this hundredth time. A beautiful and universal picture of what our societies are for senior citizens and how they can cope with life and coming death.Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University of Perpignan
Rating:
Summary: About As Good As It Gets
Review: This is nothing short of a really great movie, easily the best movie of 2002. It is wise, poignant, funny, memorable. For baby-boomers over age 50, you leave the theater as touched as you were after first seeing "The Graduate". Kathy Bates is marvelous. The whole cast shined. And, of course, Jack Nicholson finally realized his "highest acting self" here, after years of giving us glimpses. It is a near perfect a movie as one could imagine. It's only imperfection was that, although it was a rather long movie, it was still too short. I didn't want to leave "About Schmidt"'s wondrous universe so soon. Obviously, I loved it! (And the nation's critics loved it, a group with whom I'm often not in agreement). I'm wondering if there will be a dirctor's cut.
Rating:
Summary: Divine!
Review: First of all, I'd like to say something about a lot of the reviews of this movie. I notice that a lot of people cut back on stars because it's "depressing." Is this actually a good reason to give it a bad/average review? One person gave it 1 star because they said it was bitter, depressing, and puzzling. Sounds like this movie in reality was actually a 5 star to this person. A movie so subtletly powerful that can put you in a depressed state? Some people get scared to look beyond the simple "It was sad and depressing, who would want to watch that?" because of the extreme depth that the movie had that they can probably relate to themselves. It was a very depressing movie indeed, but it was magnicifent, rich, thought-provoking, and taught an extremely important life lesson. The movie is about a man named Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson), who has just retired and seems to be on some sort of journey to find his purpose in life. When his wife dies, he's left all alone with his confused emotions and a big trailer which he decides to leave in. I'm not going to get into extreme details of the movie, but I would like to address some of the important life lessons that it teaches. One way to look at it: the hypothesis of the movie was proposed by Warren's best friend at his retirement party. He claimed that what makes a man rich is being able to do your job well in life, therefore making Warren Schmidt a very rich man. For the rest of the movie, Warren seems to be challenging this idea. Is that was truly makes a man happy? I won't spoil it for you, but the outcome is something to truly ponder. A great movie for teenagers especially. Another life lesson is getting to know those whom you love as good as you can. When Warren's wife died; he had all of these questions. "Did Helen really love me?", etc. He even writes to Ndugu (a young boy in Africa who he sponsors), "Young man, you need to cherish the things you have, while you have them." Warren learns a valuable lesson of how quickly things can disappear and how you must take advantage every day while they are still there to cherish, love, and get to know them exactly for who they are. I loved the symbolism in the movie. Ndugu, the cows locked up in vans (pay attention to that), and of course the pioneer exhibit in the end. This a must-see movie; you'll feel like a wiser person when you walk out.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing!
Review: Did Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, who wrote and directed together one of the true classics of 1999, Election, really write this movie? You've got to wonder. Whereas Election was uproariously funny, with interesting characters and situations, and left you wanting to watch it over and over again, About Schmidt is filled with pretty dull characters, a predictable story and overall it leaves you wanting to hurry up and get out of the cinema as soon as possible. The first hour and a half of this film is ridiculously boring. There was really nothing interesting that happened, the film was straightforward, had no real emotion and I was looking at my watch about every five minutes. It did have some good parts (Warren writing to Ndugu - his first letter is priceless) but it was looking at about 2-star territory. The last hour and a half is better. It's funnier and takes more chances on its characters. Though I still found myself quite bored and took my time during a loo break. The second half of the movie really deals with Warren seeing he has done nothing to change anybody or the world. Well, if he wasn't such a fat lazy slob in the first place he probably could've changed something - I really don't feel any sympathy for this man at all. Predictably it is shown that he "changed" Ndugu's life. I saw this coming a mile off and definitely didn't need that shoved in my face. The best part of this film is undoubtedly the wedding the second half of the movie. It's actually quite emotional. I was close to tears when Schmidt was giving his speech at his daughter's wedding, it didn't make me burst out into tears but I really do have a soft spot for Hope Davis, a terrific and underrated actress. She did excellent in that scene. The performances in this movie were actually quite disappointing. I was expecting the main standouts in the movie to be Jack Nicholson and Kathy Bates. However this was not so. Jack Nicholson did a really good job but I don't understand how he gets an Oscar nomination when so many other actors who didn't get recognised in 2002 were so much better, like Mel Gibson or Richard Gere? He did a good job but just wasn't quite up to the standard I expected. Kathy Bates was quite dull really. It wasn't so much her fault as it was the script's fault. She really gets nothing much to do at all and shows up only for the last half an hour of the film to show her T&A. That was truly one of the grotesque things the audience had to witness for the film, but you've gotta give Kathy Bates kudos, she has real guts and is a terrific actress. Just definitely not Oscar/Golden Globe worthy, and the critical acclaim she has been getting for a mere 15-minute role really is quite ludicrous. The main performance that really stood out for me in this film was Hope Davis. She is simply wonderful as Jeannie. I really have a soft spot for her performances, she was excellent in Hearts in Atlantis but didn't really get the chance to shine there. Here she plays quite a big part in the film and is the emotional anchor. She cries so well! One of the only times I was even close to feeling much emotion for any of the characters was at the wedding scene when she started to silently cry - that was very powerful and Davis deserves an Oscar much more than Kathy and Jack this year. There were a couple of other times I felt quite depressed or sad for the characters. One time was when Warren found out that his deceased wife had been cheating on him with his best friend - that's gotta "be bad". Another good emotional scene was when Schmidt talked to the heavens and asked for forgiveness from his wife. However I was not crying and hugging the person in the seat next to me like the men and women in this film. They all seemed to find it a jolly good cry-fest. Like I said before, I didn't feel too much sympathy for Schmidt so it was hard to get into the film as much as the people around me. The comedy in the movie is OK. Most of the jokes, gags or funny scenes were never laugh-out-loud funny, they were only kind of a "ha" from the bottom of my throat. There were a couple of scenes that had me laughing out loud though. Like when Warren first writes to Ndugu, he says some hilarious things about his wife and his life in general. Also when living with his wife, she commanded that Warren always sit down to urinate (also mentioned in the letter). Warren, when she's dead, enjoys the pleasure of standing up to "urinate", which is also pretty funny. The scene at the trailer-park with Warren going over to meet his new mate (played by The Mayor from Buffy, sorry, that's the only way I can remember him!) was really quite hilarious, especially the wife's facial expressions, and Warren thinking she wanted to get with him when she called him a "Sad Sad Man!" And Kathy Bates getting naked had me somewhere between gagging in horror and laughing out loud... This movie disappointed me. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't expecting it to be about a 4 star movie. The movie is pretty boring a lot of the time, and then it has a couple of interesting or funny scenes, and then there's some dramatic scenes, then it's back to bores-ville. I found it quite uneven to be honest. This movie was so very nearly almost a 2-star rating for me, but Hope Davis, the wedding scene and the laugh-out-loud scenes make it just above that rating.
Rating:
Summary: About how long?
Review: Occasionally amusing, and as always well acted by Nicholson. Yet, this movie drags more than it entertains. By the time the end finally arrives, your asking yourself what was the point? See it only if there's nothing else you want to see, and are killing time.
Rating:
Summary: About Jack Nicholson
Review: Once again, Jack Nicholson delivers a great performance as Warren Schmidt, a 66-year-old man who has not prepared himself to face retirement and life without work. Spending much of his time watching television, he "discovers" the Childcare Foundation and decides to "adopt" a tanzanian child, Ndugu. Through his letters to Ndugu, he tries to analyze his life so far, kind of a distance therapy. When something unexpected happens, Schmidt takes his brand-new Winnebago and makes a trip to Denver, where his daughter is going to marry a complete jerk, in his opinion. "About Schmidt" is perfect for Jack Nicholson, playing a difficult role, a complete common and straight guy (for a change). Also, the movie portraits something not everybody is conscious about: life for older people. What to do when you think there's not much life in your life? Nicholson, in my opinion a young guy of 67, is very convinving as Schmidt, an old guy of 67. More, Nicholson transmits through the screen the immesurable sadness within Schmidt. The only flaw in Nicholson's performance is that Schmidt's voice tone and speed, his way of walking and the way he keeps rubbing his hands are much alike "As good as it gets" 's Melvin Udall. Also good performances by Hope Davis and Dermott Mulroney, but especially a great performance by Kathy Bates, including a nude scene(!). Director Payne is competent without trying to make an accrobatic direction: the movie is plain and quiet as Schmidt's late life. There are some very funny moments, mostly when Nicholson delivers his comic vein performances, making faces. The script is right for the purposes of the movie. The final scene I could see coming a mile away, but was emotive and well played anyway. Grade 8.8/10
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR
Review: I must begin by saying, that Jack Nicholson is a man who only gets better with age.I can honestly say that this film shows him at his best. He is wiser, subtler, and quietly powerful. ... You feel as though you're cornered, like he has you all to himself.Yes it's that good!!Whilst Jack is of course, what the whole film centers around, don't let that the other performances are satisfactory. They're all wonderful, from Kathy Bates,who charms the movie with her in-your-face humor, to less well-known actors who add some ingredient to the movie. This movie is as real as it gets. People who said this movie was depressing, I find it I can't blame them. We get fed so much fluff fed to us over the course of modern cinema, that we can't accept it when a movie is made with no fluff,no glitz, and no multi-bazzilion budget written all over it. No doubt this movie takes patience, and an open mind. Now, I'm a 13 year old girl who fell in LOVE with this movie.But that's not saying much, since I may be perhaps one of the only 13 year old kids who actually did enjoy it. And maybe, many will be embarassed to go see this movie, as it circles mostly around the senior age group..., but that too may be what turned off all these people. I'll give you a tiny piece of this movie-Jack Nicholson plays a just-retired old man.He is bitter, and bored with his life.Then his wife just dies,all of a sudden. He realizes that she wasn't really so bad at all. He finds himself feeling even emptier than before.And it doesn't help that his daughter is an egocentric [person]who is to busy planning her marriage to water bed salesman Randall Hertzel(Dermot Mulroney,in perfect disguise).That's where this movie starts out. There's really not much of a plot with this movie. It really is just like life. Stripped all the things that filmmakers use to make films entertaining, and replaced by mind-blowing performances,and a sharp,dry storyline, things that are so seldom used these days.This is life presented init's truest form.I can't really say if you'll enjoy this movie, all I can tell you it that it's sad,and it's absolutely hilarious(I don't remember a time when I laughed as hard in a cinema),and it's endlessly touching,in all the right places.
Rating: 
Summary: A mild-mannered but potent performance by Nicholson
Review: After retiring as an actuary from Woodland Insurance in Omaha, where he built his entire career, Warren Schmidt (Nicholson) faces the usual post-retirement crisis. What to do now that he has all this free time on his hand? He begins seeing his wife in a new light, on how her quirks begin irritating him. As he wonders, "Who is this old woman who lives with me?" She seems bubbly enough and an effective housekeeper. He's also worried about his daughter Genie (Hope Davis), who is soon to be married to an incompetent nincompoop hippie named Randall (Dermot Mulroney). Then, the unthinkable happens: his wife keels over and dies. After the funeral, he travels to Denver for Genie's wedding, which he plans to stop, and along the way, gains new insights. Most of it in particular involves Genie's in-laws, led by the hefty Roberta (Kathy Bates), who is quite a character but can be negative. Only Larry and his wife Sandra seem to be the truly decent characters here. The bottom line is that he's losing Genie to this new flaky family, quite a contrast from his staid household. He also decides to sponsor an African child for $22 a month after watching an ad on TV. His letters to the six-year old Ndugu reveal someone whom he feels comfortable opening up to, much like the son he never had, although I wonder if Ndugu would understand any high-level words or aspects of American culture. With Genie's association with Randall and his dysfunctional family, it's clear how precarious the father-daughter grip on her is slipping. Ndugu is a new start for Warren, and Schmidt's letters to Ndugu, accompanied by his narration, reveal someone trying to connect, but held back by this uncertainty, doubt that he is making a difference. This is a very atypical film role for Jack Nicholson. Never mind the rabble-rouser in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, the misanthrope in As Good As It Gets, or the manically giggling Joker in Batman. Warren Schmidt is a retiree, reserved, insecure, with years of anger repressed inside. A Best Actor award for this movie would tie him with Katherine Hepburn for four total awards, but I somehow doubt he will get it, though he is right to be nominated. And as for Hope Davis, she plays Genie as simultaneously assertive to start a life of her own, away from the restrained aura of her parents. About Schmidt is not only about the autumn-soon-to-be-winter years of a man, where he thinks, "Well, what have I accomplished in my life?", but brings forth questions on how a man is judged by the number people he can have an impact on, i.e. "Do I matter to someone, not just on a superficial level?" This is a similar theme explored in Akira Kurosawa's Ikiru, about a bureaucrat dying of cancer, who decides to leave behind a park for children. An unusual but well-scored triumph for Jack Nicholson, who never ceases to amaze me.
Rating:
Summary: Great film
Review: Most people expect two things from a movie: that everything will be explained up front and quickly and that no personal thought on the audienc es side is necessary. This is one of those films about patience. A film that quietly plods along as the main character looks through his life, the past, the present and eventually the future and realizes that not much of anything of massive signifigance happened to him.
Is this a good thing? A strong thing or is it just someone contemplating their mortality? I think it's a reflection on one's existence and the various kinds of lives we choose to live or fall into the habit of living. All of the actors in this film are very strong and the great thing about the film is that it breaks convention and almost literally ends where it begins.
There's no huge break through or possibility for happiness for Schmidt, just an understanding that his life was good at some points and failures at others and that occasionally, something as small as helping a small child through an agency like Unicef can gives us the personal reflection on who we truly are in spite of our ability to communicate that to others.
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