MOVIE - ABOUT SCHMIDT - REVIEW RATING $$$$$ $$1/2 (OUT OF 10)
STARRING - Jack Nicholson (Warren Schmidt), Kathy Bates, Hope Davis (Jeannie), Dermot Mulroney, Howard Hesseman & Len Cariou.
DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER - Alexander Payne (Election, Citizen Ruth)
Based very, very loosely on the 1996 book, of the same name, by Louis Begley.
Jack Nicholson, Warren Schmidt, has to simultaneously deal with retirement, the death of his wife, and estrangement from his daughter and her fiancé.
At times compelling, brutally honest, and satirically funny, About Schmidt paints a semi-poignant picture of a distant, emotionally shallow, somewhat callous man without a hint of backbone.
I was inspired to do a little research. The original Schmidt, in the book, was Archie Bunker with a Harvard education. The substantial difference between the book and the movie, is that the movie ultimately wants you to like Schmidt, whereas the book wanted Schmidt to be an unlikeable but nonetheless provocative character.
Despite its failings About Schmidt still has impact. The biggest compliment I can give About Schmidt is that it has inspired me to read the book. That, and Nicholson's performance, are reason enough to recommend it.
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