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Schmidt Happens
I'm seeing a lot of movies this week and I'm trying to keep up with my reviews. First up, About Schmidt, which I saw last week. I'm seeing Chicago and Catch Me if You Can today. Perhaps the best day of cinema this year???
My Review of About Schmidt
For my third year anniversary issue, 14 months ago, I reviewed the screenplay to Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor's About Schmidt. I called it 'The best darn script of the year'. This film has been pretty high on my list of must-see movies of the holiday season. Last week, I had the superb delight of seeing it at a press screening. This project is directed by Alexander Payne (Election) and headlined by a stellar cast that includes Jack Nicholson, Hope Davis, Dermot Mulroney and Kathy Bates.
Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson), has just retired from the Woodmen of the World Insurance Company at the age of 66. We watch him through the first few months of his retirement. His adaptation to retired life is already challenging when his wife Helen (June Squibb) dies. Soon after, he decides to take a road trip across America's midwest en route to his daughter Jeannie (Hope Davis)'s wedding. We witness his true feeling for his existence, thanks to his out of the ordinary correspondence/friendship with an African boy through the Childreach Organization.
The finished product isn't a disappointment. Alexander Payne didn't stray too far away from his original screenplay. His sardonic vision of retirement is vastly compelling. The film is thought provoking. It asks a lot existential questions of the audience. You can't walk away from this picture like one of those tedious action flicks. It stays with you. This is the trademark of GREAT films. Payne also brings his usual Midwest vision of life to this film. He sprinkles it across the story locations and the very pretty visuals. I believe a city like LA or New York would have smothered the storytelling of a tale like this one. His direction is unblemished. His writing is marvellous. I think the Hollywood Foreign Press and the Academy will agree with me on those.
The only true problem I have with this film is: It's a downer. If you're sad, please avoid this movie like the plague. The comedy in the original script balanced flawlessly the thin line between melancholy and joy. I hate saying this, the dark side ultimately won. It's not a bad thing but the pill is a little harder to swallow. I'm saddened they cut out the frat boys' sequences from the script. Those scenes really cracked me up. You could see the deep hole in Warren's disappointing life in those scenes too.
Jack is magnificent. It's another career highlight for him. I don't remember seeing him so vulnerable on-screen before. It's a stunning performance by Jack. He deserves an Oscar nomination if not the trophy itself. It's the little things his character does that make him brilliant. You can see the misery in his face. He never seemed so human before. His acting alone is worth the price of admission.
The supporting cast is tremendously good. I'll admit it, I'm a wuss. I shielded my eyes when Kathy Bates removed her robe. I didn't want to risk impotence at such a young age. She steals every scene she appears in. Dermot Mulroney is funny. The first time you see him you just have to laugh. His character is so idiotic it's insane. I know exactly how Warren feels about his daughter marrying a dumbass. I have family members who have wed guys like Dermot's character and I felt the same 'she could have done better' feeling too. Hope Davis is great as Jeannie. She brought seriousness to the perfect daughter role.
This film is a satirical dramatic comedy that will spark serious reflection in the audience. It reminds me of American Beauty, except that I believe Alexander Payne delivered something deeper, something sadder, something more Midwestern and certainly something greater.
Stay tuned...
That's all folks...
Jean-François Allaire (aka DeadPool)
Questions, comments, praise etc. Email me at deadpool@tnmc.org
Jean-François Allaire is TNMC's first columnist. At only 24 years old he has become a respected entertainment journalist, with his columns appearing in Corona's Coming Attractions and Scr(i)pt magazine. He also writes a monthly column in Screenwriters Monthly entitled 'The Last Word.' Hailing from Montreal this young writer is determined to dig up all the details on the movies before they hit your local theater. If you're part of a movie production then you really need to be talking to him.
