About Schmidt (2002)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Alexander Payne

Writers (WGA):

Louis Begley (novel)
Alexander Payne (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

20 December 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Schmidt Happens

Plot:

Warren Schmidt is a man in his 60's. While trying to run his daughter's life, he realizes that he wasted his.

Plot Keywords:

Retirement | Marriage | Wedding | Character Study | Black Comedy

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 19 wins & 29 nominations

Cast

Jack Nicholson	...	Warren Schmidt
Kathy Bates	...	Roberta Hertzel
Hope Davis	...	Jeannie Schmidt
Dermot Mulroney	...	Randall Hertzel
June Squibb	...	Helen Schmidt
Howard Hesseman	...	Larry Hertzel
Harry Groener	...	John Rusk
Connie Ray	...	Vicki Rusk
Len Cariou	...	Ray Nichols
Mark Venhuizen	...	Duncan Hertzel
Cheryl Hamada	...	Saundra
Phil Reeves	...	Minister in Denver
Matt Winston	...	Gary Nordin - Warren's Replacement
James M. Connor	...	Randall's Best Man (as James Micheal Connor)
Jill Anderson	...	Bridesmaid Reading St. Paul

MPAA:

Rated R for some language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:U | Portugal:M/12 (original rating) | Finland:K-3 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:14A | France:U | Germany:6 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIA | Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:M | Norway:7 | Peru:14 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #38731)

Filming Locations:

Boulder, Colorado, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

When Jack Nicholson received the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama, he commented afterward, "I'm a little surprised. I thought we had made a comedy."

Goofs:

Continuity: When Warren uses a payphone to call Ray, he is asked to press "3" to erase his message and re-record. He actually presses the # key.

Quotes:

Warren Schmidt: I'd like a blizzard with vanilla ice cream.
Dairy Queen Employee: Ok. What would you like on it?
Warren Schmidt: Uhh... I'll have the Reese's Pieces... and some cookie dough.
Dairy Queen Employee: And what size?
Warren Schmidt: ...medium.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Wanderlust (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Sentimental Lady

Great note on appreciating what you have while still have it

This is an inspiring story. It teaches me so much about what is important in life. Jack Nicholson, with a great performance as Warren R. Schmidt is an example of an American middle class after retiring. For many years he has worked as an actuary at a big insurance company. After retiring, Jack at home, while watching television, he decides to sponsor a six years old boy (Ndugu) from Tanzania. Sending a check of US$ 22,00 every month, he is also required to write a letter to the boy. In the process of writing these letters, he vents out to the boy about his life frustrations, his lost dreams and the dilemma he is in. He is married for forty-two years with his wife Helen (June Squibb) and he has a daughter living in Denver, Jeannie Schmidt (Hope Davis) who will marry a looser pretty soon. He misses his daughter. A few days after his retirement, his wife dies, and Jack realizes how important the wife was in his life now even though he never appreciated her. The director of the movie, Alexander Payne takes the audiences with Jack on a trip in a trailer to visit specific places in America. He mainly makes Jack visit the places where he has been before physically but at the same time Jack was revisiting his own life inside. In this trip he realizes what really matters in life - friendship, family and sharing- then why it is important to appreciate them whenever you have a chance.

In 'Citizen Kane' (1941), the director Orson Welles portrays the same idea when creating Mr. Kane. The movie is more than the story of a tycoon's rise and fall; it is an account of what is ultimately important in a person's life. Even though Kane attains riches and prestige, he is far from happy. He ends with two failed marriages and few friends. At his dying bed, all he has left is his reminiscences - and something called "Rosebud." In 'About Schmidt' the director Alexander Payne uses voiceover to convey Jack's thoughts and memories throughout the movie. To be specific it is when Jack is writing a letter to the boy he sponsors - (Ndugu), at the same time Payne is informing the audience about Jack's regrets and pain concerning his wife and daughter while the movie is still rolling on. I think this is a great technique.I believe this has been a great adventure and wake up call to many Americans as to what is important in life and why we should cherish every moment of it.