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      About Schmidt

      R Released Dec 20, 2002 2 hr. 4 min. Comedy Drama List
      85% 205 Reviews Tomatometer 74% 50,000+ Ratings Audience Score Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) has arrived at several of life's crossroads all at the same time. To begin with, he is retiring from a lifetime of service as an actuary for Woodmen of the World Insurance Company, and he feels utterly adrift. Furthermore, his only daughter Jeannie (Hope Davis) is about to marry a boob. And his wife Helen (June Squibb) dies suddenly after 42 years of marriage. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Feb 20 Buy Now

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      Critics Consensus

      In this funny, touching character study, Nicholson gives one of the best performances of his career.

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      Audience Reviews

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      The H Jack Nicholson proved he's not just an interesting face. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/24 Full Review Marcos M Good drama, with comedic parts at times, and with really good acting. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/12/23 Full Review Umatsu O The single worst movie I've ever seen. No idea why people like this. Intensely slow and Intensely dull. I "affectionately" call this movie "About Sh*t" when people begin discussing bad films, and this one inevitably comes up. "About Jack Sh*t" more like though. A toddler could tell a more compelling story. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 10/10/23 Full Review Steve C At least Schmidt didn't get scammed from revealing all that social engineering rich information. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/07/23 Full Review Leaburn O Nooo sorry, this was such predictable schtick. It was like emotionally manipulative, base humour, particularly by by numbers film making. It lost a whole star for the ending. Basically the story of a mediocre man having a late life crisis as he reflects upon his mediocre life and then takes philosophical solace through some banal musings on the futility of life and an African kid's kindness. Pleeeeease. Nicholson is an actor who always annoys me. This wasn't for me clearly. Dreary, pointless film making. Bought on DVD a long time ago, finally got round to watching unfortunately. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 09/20/23 Full Review Taylor L Somewhere in Tanzania there's a young boy named Ndugu Umbo that can't read. Do you think the good sisters at the orphanage read every one of Jack Nicholson's complaints and bits of meandering life advice to him? About Schmidt is a strong comedy-drama, in that it does both comedy and drama independently without making Schmidt feel stretched out as a character. Getting old is a weird time, full of self-reflection and a comprehensive review of all the accomplishments, missed connections, and poor choices that have resulted in the you that you now are. There's ample opportunity to be disappointed in having failed to meet your own expectations, but there's also a bit of absurdity in it all, seeing how things that you once thought were important turned out to be trivial. It's this cocktail of emotions that sends Jack Nicholson's Schmidt a bit over the edge as he drives around in his RV, thinking about his years spent in risk analysis and the time spent with his late wife, seeing parallels to the upcoming wedding of his daughter to some slacker; it's both motivating and deflating, and it's all chronicled in a series of letters sent to little Ndugu half a world away. But it's a testament to the writing and direction that all this relatable discussion of the sum total of one's experiences doesn't really clash with the humor, a reminder of the impracticality of taking yourself too seriously; sometimes, you just end up in a hot tub with a nude Kathy Bates. Nicholson delivers one of his best legitimate performances, the kind that shows he knows what he's doing and doesn't have to trade on name recognition alone. And the ending is powerful, surprisingly so, with Schmidt latching onto this small bit of unquestionably positive influence he has had. But imagine if the film ended with all those letters coming back to him 'Return to Sender'. Now that would be tragicomic. (3.5/5) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      About Schmidt

      (left to right) Kathy Bates and Jack Nicholson (Warren Schmidt) star in New Line Cinema's upcoming comedic-drama ABOUT SCHMIDT. Kathy Bates (far left) and Jack Nicholson (far right) star in Alexander Payne's, About Schmidt. Kathy Bates stars in Alexander Payne's, About Schmidt. Jack Nicholson stars in Alexander Payne's, About Schmidt. Jack Nicholson stars in Alexander Payne's, About Schmidt. Jack Nicholson stars in Alexander Payne's, About Schmidt. Kathy Bates stars in Alexander Payne's, About Schmidt. Hope Davis stars in Alexander Payne's, About Schmidt. A scene from the film ABOUT SCHMIDT. Jack Nicholson (left) and Director Alexander Payne on the set of About Schmidt. View more photos

      Critics Reviews

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      Nell Minow Common Sense Media Heartfelt Nicholson, not for kids at all. Rated: 3/5 Sep 2, 2010 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 4/5 May 2, 2003 Full Review Peter Rainer New York Magazine/Vulture These filmmakers have a feeling for the isolation of blasted lives, but they also can't resist putting them down. Jan 16, 2003 Full Review James Croot Stuff.co.nz This is Nicholson's show -- and he excels. Rated: 4/5 Dec 22, 2022 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Jack Nicholson delivers one of the best performances of his career in About Schmidt. Rated: 4/5 Dec 14, 2022 Full Review Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site The latest film by Alexander Payne (Election, Citizen Ruth) scrutinizes features of America's social fabric with a relatively sharp eye. Mar 5, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) has arrived at several of life's crossroads all at the same time. To begin with, he is retiring from a lifetime of service as an actuary for Woodmen of the World Insurance Company, and he feels utterly adrift. Furthermore, his only daughter Jeannie (Hope Davis) is about to marry a boob. And his wife Helen (June Squibb) dies suddenly after 42 years of marriage.
      Director
      Alexander Payne
      Executive Producer
      Bill Badalato
      Screenwriter
      Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
      Distributor
      New Line Cinema
      Production Co
      New Line Cinema
      Rating
      R (Some Language|Brief Nudity)
      Genre
      Comedy, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Dec 20, 2002, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      May 23, 2016
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $65.0M
      Sound Mix
      Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
      Aspect Ratio
      Flat (1.85:1)
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