"Flamboyant in some movies and artfully restrained in others, 65-year-old Jack Nicholson could be looking at his 12th Oscar nomination by proving that he's now, more than ever, choosing his roles with the precision of the insurance actuary." Mike Clark USA TODAY

Insight Did you know that there are still people out there who think that all the great actors and actresses lived in the first half of the last century? It's true. I mention that because I have just been to see "About Schmidt" for the second time. Oh yes, not satisfied with soaking it up the first time round, like a glutton at a smogasborg or an all you can eat buffet, I went back to gorge myself on a film I can readily describe as a feast. I also mention that because once during a radio show the host pointed out to me that there are no great actors these days. Yeh, right baby. No great actors. Where the bloody hell had this person been living, on planet Mars or maybe in a religious retreat high in the Himalayan Mountains! No great actors in the 'modern era', you've got to be kidding me, right? With the wisdom of Solomon I made a comment of biblical proportions which brought about a lot of back pedalling from the host. "Like", I said "Tom Hanks, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson", which was a far as I got before the host beat a hasty retreat and agreed that yes these were some of the finest actors of all time. But was I about to let this person get off so lightly. Not on your sweet bippy I wasn't. I was like a tiger stalking its prey. I was ready for the kill. I was on a collision course with, hell I don't know what, but I was like a truck with no brakes careering down a steep mountain road. "And", I added, "Morgan Freeman, Denzell Washington, Samuel L Jackson". The host wisely cried "Uncle" before I could start on the list of women like Meryl Streep, Dame Judith Dench, etc, etc. It was to say the least a satisfying kill [but don't take that literally folks]. But what I learnt from that experience is this [and yes I am open to learning], every era has its great actors and actresses, just as there are great sportsmen and women, great humanitarians, great scientist and even [dare I say it] great politicians. Each era has something defining about it and the movie industry is no different. There were great actors then, there are now, and there will be in the future.
Jack Nicholson is one of these. A great actor. "About Schmidt" is another of his finest hours in a damn fine film. Warren Schmidt redefines the thought that retirement is the happiest, most joyous time one can look forward to. Jack Nicholson reaffirms his greatness by deliverying the goods, breathing real life into Schmidt. "About Schmidt" takes us down a road rarely travelled, into a world rarely portrayed on the big screen, through the darkest moments, through childhoods re-visited, through the cruel and bitter twists that life can throw at us, the fun, the laughter, the memories, the love, all those magical things that make each persons life special and unique. Life is not always a pretty story. Some get it better than others, everything isn't on a level playing field in the game of life and that's what "About Schmidt" delivers so well. From the opening scenes, the bleakest moments in a mans life when he realizes his career is finished, to those final closing scenes, where Warren Schmidt discovers the truth about himself, "About Schmidt" is all heart and a wonderfully rich, heart warming experience to watch. "About Schmidt" is directed by Alexander Payne ["Election"] and stars Jack Nicholson ["As Good As It Gets", "The Pledge", "Terms of Endearment"], Hope Davis ["Hearts in Atlantis", "Arlington Road"], Kathy Bates ["Misery", "Titanic", "Prelude to a Kiss"] and Dermott Mulroney ["Lovely and Amazing", "My Best Friends Wedding", "Copy Cat" and soon to be seen in the TV hit series, "Friends"]. It's a gem. The Story

"About Schmidt is undoubtedly one of the finest films of the year. If you're not deeply touched by this movie, check your pulse." Paul Clinton CNN "Nicholson ... produces the most understated -- and one of the most powerful -- performances of his career." Desson Howe WASHINGTON POST

Warren Schmidt's life is about to change. After a career spanning some 35 years, Warren Schmidt, assistant Vice President at Woodmen of America Insurance Company is about to face retirement. Life will be a whole different for Warren Schmidt who now finds he has so much time on his hands he doesn't know what to do with himself. Sure he and his wife have plans for his retirement, after all you don't just go out and buy a thirty five foot motor home to leave it sitting in the driveway, now do you. And then there's the problem of his 'little girl' Jeannie. Warren is not impressed with her choice of Randall Hertzel a young man who is destined to become his future son in-law. Life is dragging its feet for Warren Schmidt, until he comes across a television advert for a group called "Childsearch" [a real life USA support group]. For just $US22 a month he can sponsor a child. He is moved by the sight of the suffering children and signs on. Ndugu Umbo is just six years old and lives in Tanzania. Invited to correspond with young Ndugu, Warren Schmidt starts telling him all about his lousy life. Then tragedy strikes. After 42 years of married life his wife dies and Warren is all alone. In a defining moment, Warren Schmidt takes to the road in his motor home. He is now driven by only one thing, he must prevent his daughter from marrying that schmuck Randall Hertzel. Ndugu Umbo is about to get a lot of mail and Warren Schmidt is about to face his biggest challenge, one which will reshape his life. The Verdict "One of Nicholson's finest performances to date. Emotionaly savage, devilishly funny and wickedly satirical, "About Schmidt" is one hell of a trip both on and off the road. Nicholson's Schmidt is a man many retirees will find easy to relate to while younger cinema fans will glean much from the depicted events which truly do reflect real life experiences like the loss of a loved one or the loss of a career which has consumed ones working life. What The Critics Say

"This road movie gives you emotional whiplash, and you’ll be glad you went along for the ride." David Ansen NEWSWEEK "On balance, I recommend the movie both for Nicholson's performance and for the opportunity to spend some time with the kind of man that we often meet in real life, but rarely see on screen." James Berardinelli JAMES BERARDINELLI'S REELVIEWS "A brutally dry satire of Middle American numbness." Ty Burr BOSTON GLOBE "Perfectly pitched between comedy and tragedy, hope and despair, About Schmidt instead comes far closer than many movies to expressing the way many of us live -- someplace between consuming self-absorption and insistently demanding otherness." Manohla Dargis LOS ANGELES TIMES "That Jack Nicholson makes this man so watchable is a tribute not only to his craft, but to his legend." Roger Ebert CHICAGO SUN-TIMES "An impressively bleak comedy with intimations of social satire." J Hoberman VILLAGE VOICE "Lays out an expansive, impressively even-handed vision of life in contemporary Middle America." Stephen Holden NEW YORK TIMES "One of the best, most understated performances of [Jack Nicholson's] career." Jami Bernard NEW YORK DAILY NEWS "About Schmidt is slice-of-life filmmaking at its sharpest and truest." Rob Blackwelder SPLICEDWIRE "A thought-provoking and often-funny drama about isolation." Jay Boyar ORLANDO SENTINEL

The Cast & Crew

Jack Nicholson Kathy Bates Hope Davis Dermot Mulroney June Squibb Howard Hesseman Len Cariou Harry Groener Connie Ray Mark Venhuizen Cheryl Hamada Phil Reeves Matt Winston James M. Connor Jill Anderson Judith Hart Marilyn Tipp Robert Kem Tung Ha James Crawley

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Warren Schmidt Roberta Hertzel Jeannie Schmidt Randall Hertzel Helen Schmidt Larry Hertzel Ray Nichols John Vicki Rusk Duncan Hertzel Saundra Minister Gary Nordin Randall's Best Man Bridesmaid Woman Mourner Neighbor Lady Priest Frat Kid Frat Kid

From the novel by Louis Begley Directed by Alexander Payne Screenplay by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor Original Music by Rolfe Kent Cinematography by James Glennon Film Editing by Kevin Tent Production Design by Jane Ann Stewart Art Direction by TK Kirkpatrick & Pat Tagliaferro Set Decoration by Teresa Visinare Costume Design by Wendy Chuck Run Time 125 minutes Rated M[AUST] Copyright ©2003 - New Line Productions Inc - All Rights Reserved Copyright ©2003 - Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved