Hey folks, Harry here... I'm hoping to see ABOUT SCHMIDT soon, Alexander Payne's last film... ELECTION was just one of those films that completely surprised me. I'll never forget sitting in that Chicago screening room that afternoon watching BEING JOHN MALKOVICH and ELECTION back to back. Not really knowing or anticipating either. Bliss. As for Jack picking up nomination number twelve and Oscar number FOUR? Time will certainly tell. Personally I want Gollum to win.
I just caught About Schmidt, and it was amazing. Jack Nicholson puts in his best performance that I have seen. He was great.
But before I start, I just want to note that the trailer for this film is put together perfectly. It doesn’t really give anything away, and the plot has many different aspects, and occurrences than one may not think of from watching the trailer. So just know, there are a few things I will write that happen fairly early on in the film, but to some they may be considered spoilers because of the fact that it doesn’t happen in the trailer. They will be minor, but still, they could be considered. So don’t read the next paragraph.
Ok, so About Schmidt is about Warren Schmidt (Nicholson) coping with the loss of his wife of forty years. She dies just weeks before their only daughter (Hope Davis) is to be married. Warren can’t really live by himself so he goes off to be with his daughter and help with preparation of the wedding. She doesn’t want him there until a few days before the wedding, and he is already half way there, so he tours around some places he never got a chance to see. He later goes to Randall’s (Dermot Mulroney) mother’s (Kathy Bates) house and meets and stays with them, getting to know everyone and getting ready for the wedding.
Done with the spoilers.
About Schmidt is very well made and very well written. It isn’t an original concept, but they way it was made is just outstanding. This is Jack Nicholson’s film. And I think this will garner him another Oscar, or at least nomination for sure. It really is an amazing performance. The rest of the cast is great too, including Bates who takes on this role in which she does something that many women her age wouldn’t do, and really it isn’t a pretty sight. But I do applaud her for doing it because it takes major guts to do what she did. I don’t want to say what it was that she did, but I think you can assume that I am writing of and be correct. But like I said, Jack Nicholson just stands out in the film, with a perfect performance. He nails all of the drama and comedy with ease. Nicholson really is one of the most impressive actors we have.
In the end, this may not be an original film, but it was brilliantly acted and directed, and just fun to watch.
Parlgamads.
