About Schmidt (2002)

Director:

Alexander Payne

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

3 January 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Schmidt Happens

Plot:

A man upon retirement embarks on a journey to his estranged daughter's wedding only to discover more about himself and life than he ever expected.

Plot Keywords:

Retirement | Wedding | First Person Narration | Wedding Reception | Speech

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 33 wins & 34 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
Vaughan Wenzel	...	Man Mourning Helen
Judith Kathryn Hart	...	Woman Mourning Helen
Marilyn Tipp	...	Neighbor Lady (scenes deleted)
Robert Kem	...	Priest in Omaha (as Reverend Robert Kem)
Melissa Hanna	...	Dairy Queen Employee
Tung Ha	...	Frat Kid
James J. Crawley	...	Other Frat Kid
Mary Beth Nelson	...	Bartender
Steve Heller	...	Tire Store Employee (as Stephen Heller)
Lester Kills Crow	...	Native American Cashier
Thomas Michael Belford	...	Funeral Director
McKenna Gibson	...	Six-year-old Jeannie
Emily McNaughton	...	Twelve-year-old Jeannie
Beth Heimann	...	Wedding Singer #1
Linda Wilmot	...	Wedding Singer #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chris Huse	...	Chuck Woodard (uncredited)
Joe Kunze	...	Partygoer #1 (uncredited)
Angela Lansbury	...	Herself (voice) (uncredited)
Mark J. O'Leary	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Robert Kingston Phillips Green	...	Male shopper (uncredited)
Michael Tolochko	...	Surly Denver Neighbor Taking Trash Out (uncredited)
Ja'le Youngblood	...	Bus boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Alexander Payne

Writing credits (WGA)
Louis Begley		(novel "About Schmidt")
Alexander Payne		(screenplay) &
Jim Taylor		(screenplay)

Produced by
Bill Badalato	....	executive producer
Michael Besman	....	producer
Harry Gittes	....	producer
Rachael Horovitz	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Rolfe Kent

Cinematography by
James Glennon		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Kevin Tent

Casting by
Lisa Beach
Sarah Katzman

Production Design by
Jane Ann Stewart

Art Direction by
T.K. Kirkpatrick		(as Tim Kirkpatrick)
Pat Tagliaferro

Set Decoration by
Teresa Visinare

Costume Design by
Wendy Chuck

Makeup Department
Carrie Angland	....	makeup artist: Mr. Nicholson
Danielle Cunningham	....	makeup artist
Emjay Olson	....	key hair stylist
Angie Paul	....	hair stylist
Jeanne Van Phue	....	key makeup artist
Joy Zapata	....	hair stylist: Mr. Nicholson
Lisa Brockman-Kalz	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Stacy Heatherly	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Bill Badalato	....	unit production manager (as William Badalato)
Billy Badalato	....	production supervisor
Carla Fry	....	executive in charge of production
Rick Reynolds	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rocco Marra	....	additional second assistant director
Shari Nicotero	....	second assistant director
George Parra	....	first assistant director
David Waters	....	second second assistant director (as David 'Muddy' Waters)

Art Department
Rob Baker	....	utility construction
Dave Brown	....	shop steward
Nathan Carlson	....	graphic designer (as Nate Carlson)
Andrew Wayne Carson	....	set dresser
Jack Clowers	....	set dresser
Paula Clowers	....	set dresser
Kevin Cowan	....	carpenter
Michael Daly	....	carpenter
Ron Gielow	....	co-construction coordinator
Merve Johnson	....	co-construction coordinator
Melanie Jones	....	painter foreman
Rick Kaufman	....	carpenter
Sora Kimberlain	....	set painter
Robert E. Knight	....	lead painter (as Robert Ellison Knight)
Craig Lee	....	set painter
Patrick Lees	....	leadman
Tanya B. Magidow	....	assistant property master (as Tanya Magidow)
Chanda McConnell	....	additional property
Stephen Miller	....	construction gang boss (as Steve Miller)
Jeffrey M. O'Brien	....	property master (as Jeff O'Brien)
Ron Rhodes	....	co-construction coordinator
Michael Tagel	....	paint gang boss
Debi Shirk Tagliaferro	....	construction auditor (as Debi Tagliaferro)
Packy Tagliaferro	....	construction production assistant
Brian Vogelgesang	....	set dresser
Steven Wolfe	....	on-set dresser
Matthew Richard Harris	....	graphic designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Scott Austin	....	daily sound transferer
Javier Bennassar	....	sound effects editor
John Cannon	....	sound assistant
Claudia Carle	....	adr recordist
Mark Choi	....	sound effects editor (as Mark Hunshik Choi)
Patrick Cyccone Jr.	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lisle Engle	....	sound effects editor
Frank Gaeta	....	sound designer
Frank Gaeta	....	sound supervisor
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley mixer
David Grant	....	dialogue editor
Ann Hadsell	....	adr mixer
Rickey Hawkes	....	utility sound technician
Adam Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kimaree Long	....	adr supervisor
James Moriana	....	foley artist
Mark Ormandy	....	additional sound
Michelle Pazer	....	dialogue editor
Art Rochester	....	sound mixer
Earl Sampson	....	boom operator
Unsun Song	....	sound recordist
David Stanke	....	sound assistant
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist (as Jeff Wilhoit)
Greg Zimmerman	....	foley recordist

Special Effects by
Pat Tagliaferro	....	special effects supervisor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Erik Henry	....	visual effects supervisor
Robert Stromberg	....	matte painter
Edward Helmers	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Shaina Holmes	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
L. Elizabeth Powers	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Mark Sawicki	....	optical camera (uncredited)
Patrick Zentis	....	digital compositor: Digital Backlot (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Tom Axtell	....	electrician
Michael Baird	....	video assist operator
Claudette Barius	....	still photographer
Monty Bass	....	grip
Dave Behn	....	grip
Quintin Bogard	....	rigging electrician
Dennis Buffum	....	electrician
Dwight Campbell	....	chief lighting technician
Lora Davis	....	grip
Milo Durben	....	dolly grip
Robert Edesa	....	additional photographer (as Bob Edesa)
Robert Edesa	....	camera operator: "a" camera (as Bob Edesa)
Paul Eichler	....	electrician
Geoff Eng	....	electrician
Melissa Freeman	....	camera loader
Kevin Ketelhut	....	rigging electrician
Aaron Lemere	....	electrician
Stephen B. Martinez	....	best boy grip (as Stephen Martinez)
Mike Mastre	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Scott McCarthy	....	additional camera loader
Simone Perusse	....	best boy electric
Radan Popovic	....	additional photographer
Radan Popovic	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Kaile Shilling	....	additional photography supervisor
Dennis Shotsman	....	grip
John A. Small	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (as John Small)
R. Michael Stringer	....	key grip
Jay Swanson	....	rigging electrician
Michael Tolochko	....	rigging gaffer
Travis Williams	....	rigging electrician
Steve Wolpa	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
James M. Wykoff	....	grip (as Mike Wykoff)
Justin Akers	....	key grip: second unit (uncredited)
Robert K. Feldmann	....	key grip: second unit (uncredited)
Craig Ladwig	....	rigging key grip (uncredited)
Patriq Luo	....	electrician (uncredited)
Kyle T. MacDowell	....	grip (uncredited)
John Pycha	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Chad Bishoff	....	extras casting assistant
Sandy Holt	....	adr voice casting
John Jackson	....	casting: Midwest
Teresa Affleck	....	casting intern (uncredited)
Kathleen Chopin	....	casting: New York (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jeannine Bourdaghs	....	costume supervisor
Linda Carol Flake	....	set costumer (as Linda Flake)
Christel Highland	....	set costumer
Nava R. Sadan	....	wardrobe: Mr. Nicholson (as Nava Sadan)
Susan Strubel	....	set costumer
Cat Cacciatore	....	additional costumer (uncredited)
Jeannie H. Kelly	....	additional costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
David Berman	....	apprentice editor
Tom Dailey	....	first assistant editor: avid
Danya Joseph	....	first assistant film editor
Jody Levin	....	executive in charge of post-production
Mato	....	color timer
Mark Scovil	....	assistant editor
Carla Swanson	....	montage: Warren
Mike Sowa	....	digital color timer: mastering (uncredited)
Jayson Wall	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Tony Blondal	....	orchestrator
Bob Bowen	....	music executive
Paul Broucek	....	music executive
Robert Fernandez	....	score mixer
Richard Ford	....	music editor
Larry Groupé	....	conductor
David Sabee	....	music contractor
Annie Searles	....	music clearances
Lori Silfen	....	music business affairs
Kerry Wikstrom	....	additional orchestrator
Shie Rozow	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Chet Badalato	....	driver: Mr. Nicholson
Steve Brill	....	transportation coordinator
Joe Brumbaugh	....	driver
Larry Cain	....	transportation captain (as Larry 'Weasel' Cain)
Angie Carraher	....	driver
Gary Edelman	....	transportation captain
Lindsay Elliott	....	driver (as Lindsey Elliott)
Floyd Erwin	....	driver
Michael Grooms	....	driver (as Mike 'Sluggo' Grooms)
Donald Jones	....	driver
Gracie Klein	....	driver
Gary Labs	....	driver
Dave Nickel	....	driver
Gary Roberts	....	driver (as Gary 'Jonboy' Roberts)
Robert J. Rocco	....	driver (as Robert Rocco)
Lawrence Root	....	driver (as Lawrence 'Sparky' Root)
Bernard Sczemanski	....	picture car captain (as Bernard 'Ski' Sczemanski)
Tony Swartz	....	driver
Carla Klein	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Erika Anderson	....	set production assistant
Sam Arent	....	set production assistant
Anne Badalato	....	accounting clerk
Tommy Baratta	....	chef: Mr. Nicholson (as Tommy Barratta)
Dana Belcastro	....	production executive
Carolyn Blackwood	....	production attorney
Tracy Boyd	....	assistant: Alexander Payne
Kaylene Carlson	....	production coordinator
Laurie Cartwright	....	risk management
Laura Chang	....	production office assistant
Stephen Coleman	....	technical consultant (as Stephan Coleman)
Teresa Cowan	....	craft service assistant
Jeff Egan	....	production safety
Karen Eisenstadt	....	production accountant
Stacy Eyrich	....	location assistant: Mr. Nicholson
Nicholas Fitzgerald	....	set production assistant (as Nick Fitzgerald)
April Fitzsimmons	....	set production assistant
Jim Foyt	....	projectionist
Will Gatlin	....	craft service
Josh Geller	....	set production assistant (as Josh Gellar)
Lynn Giordano	....	assistant: Jane Stewart
Jeffrey Gladu	....	payroll accountant (as Jeff Gladu)
Emily Glatter	....	supervising production coordinator
Sherri Robin Goldman	....	first assistant accountant (as Sherri Goldman)
Brian Grummert	....	additional accounting clerk
John Hackett	....	double: Mr. Nicholson
John Hackett	....	stand-in: Mr. Nicholson
Gene L. Hamilton	....	photo double (as Gene Hamilton)
Gene L. Hamilton	....	stand-in (as Gene Hamilton)
Joshuwa Hannum	....	photo double
Joshuwa Hannum	....	stand-in
Marc Jacobs	....	production resources
Wayne Lamkay	....	assistant production coordinator
John Latenser V	....	location manager
Mike Latenser	....	assistant location manager
Sagan Lewis	....	photo double
Sagan Lewis	....	stand-in
Kendra Liedle	....	location production assistant
Roland Manarin	....	production secretary
Andrew Matthews	....	financial advisor
Jennifer Mount	....	risk management
Dawn Perlin	....	executive assistant: Mr. Nicholson
Dawn Pieke	....	photo double
Dawn Pieke	....	stand-in
Paul Prokop	....	production controller
Steven John Reynolds	....	second assistant accountant (as Steve Reynolds)
Rebecca Robertson	....	script supervisor
Amy Romeo	....	production office assistant
Oswaldo Rosa	....	chef: Mr. Nicholson
Suzanne Rosencrans	....	business affairs executive
Amy Russell	....	clearances: The Clear Choice
Kaile Shilling	....	assistant: Alexander Payne
Aaron Smith	....	production office assistant
David Sporn	....	business affairs administrator
Lee Tucker	....	preview technical supervisor
Edward C. Wang	....	assistant: Harry Gittes
Rick Williams	....	assistant: Michael Besman
Deborah Wuliger	....	unit publicist
Teresa Affleck	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Helen Blume	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Peter Pham	....	additional production assistant: second unit (uncredited)
Traci Stick	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Kirk Tedeski	....	video coordinator (uncredited)

Thanks
Julie Ginsburg	....	thanks: Omaha Film Commission Office (as Julie Ginsberg)
Laurie Richards	....	thanks: Nebraska Film Commission Office
Kathy Sheppard	....	thanks: Omaha Film Commission Office

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema (presents)
• Avery Pix (uncredited)

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (2002) (USA) (theatrical) (an AOL Time Warner company)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Entertainment Film Distributors (2003) (UK) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2003) (Finland) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Humax Pictures (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2003) (France) (theatrical)
• Nexo (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2003) (Canada) (DVD)
• FS Film Oy (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• FS Film Oy (2003) (Finland) (VHS)
• New Line Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• New Line Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (2003) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2004) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• GAGA (2004) (Japan) (all media)
• Talpa (2006) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Canvas (2006) (Belgium) (TV)
• Nelonen (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Fox-Warner (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Custom Film Effects (uncredited)
• E=mc² (uncredited)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance provided by (as AON/Albert G. Ruben)
• Atumusica  music preparation
• Cast & Crew Payroll Services  payroll (as Cast & Crew)
• Childreach/Plan  thanks
• Clear Choice, The  clearances
• Custom Film Effects  titles and opticals
• DeLuxe Laboratories  prints (as Deluxe)
• Double Tire Guest Suites, Central  thanks
• FotoKem Laboratory  color (as Fotokem)
• Le Mobile Remote Recording Studios  score recorded by (as Le Mobile Remote Recording Services)
• LoopEase  loop group
• Magic Film and Video Works  negative cutting (as Magic Film & Video)
• Midnight Medics  set medic
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Nebraska Film Office  thanks (as Nebraska Film Commission Office)
• New Line Records  soundtrack released by
• Omaha Film Commission Office  thanks
• Omaha Police & Fire Departments  thanks
• Pearson Television  "The Private Navy of Sergeant O'Farrell" footage courtesy of (as Pearson Television)
• Premiere Radio Networks  audio of "The Rush Limbaugh Show" courtesy of
• Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP)  "Guiding Light" footage courtesy of (as Proctor & Gamble Productions Inc.)
• Seattlemusic  score performed by
• Signet Sound Studio  score mixed at (as Signet Sound Todd Studios)
• Soundelux  sound editorial
• St. Thomas Chapel, Seattle  score recording (as St. Thomas Chapel, Bastyr University, Seattle)
• TM Motion Picture Rentals  grip and electrical equipment furnished by (as TM Motion Picture Equipment)
• Todd Studios  re-recording services
• Tony's Catering  catering
• Winnebago Industries  thanks

Also Known As:

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:

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) | Malaysia:U | Portugal:M/12 (original rating) | Finland:K-3

Filming Locations:

USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

The production crew created a lifetime Endowed Scholarship for the real-life Ndugu, Abdallah Mtulu, through the real Childreach organization.

Goofs:

Continuity: The vacuum cleaner behind Jeannie during Warren's lunch moves between shots.

Quotes:

Warren Schmidt:You're not gonna believe this. We had a tire swing over there.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.45" (2011)

Soundtrack:

Quetrième Gnossiennes

Enormous emotional impact.

This is the saddest movie I've seen in years, maybe in my entire life. People who say it's comedy are dead wrong. It's a realistic, brutally true example of a failed life, and it's so tragic.

Nicholson plays Warren Schmidt, an insurance salesman, whose life crashes down on him when he retires. Nicholson, someone I've loved ever since I first saw him, gives his best performance since "One flew over the cuckoos nest". He's so subtle, so sad, so hollow. You don't doubt for a second that he is Schmidt. He has let his body age for the role, which makes him even more real.

Alexander Payne's direction is flawless. Everyone, simply everyone, does a great job portraying the various characters, from the hotshot newly educated young man who takes Schmidt's job, to the embarrassing buddy of Schmidt's daughter's fiancé.

This is a must-see movie. Even if you hate Jack in all his other movies, you will love him in this one. Don't expect a "hilarious comedy", though. This is a thoughtful movie and not "Anger Management".

10/10