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About Schmidt (2002)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 1/08

Asch
1/08: About Schmidt is a tale of two halves that are full of ups and downs.

Starting with the first one, it's the most perfect piece of work I can ask for. The setting is serene and calm which is a refreshing change of scenery considering the junk I've been seeing lately that fails to capture what movies are supposed to be about. Then, the second loses the momentum and thus has a lot of disappointing parts. I suppose the director's intention is to spoil the mood after building it up so well.

When Warren Schmidt made a toast during the post-wedding celebration, he was in the midst of blurting out his true feelings but didn't. Actually, in hindsight, lying through his teeth would've made the speech more comical. How the film ended is impressive. I probably can relate to Warren but not everybody else. Masking his past brings intrigue to the story because there's a lot to him that I don't know about.

Jack Nicholson gives one of the best performances. The role was meant for him. Advertised as a comedy, About Schmidt is more of a drama to me. Ironically, when Jack Nicholson received a best actor award for drama, he lamented, "I'm a little surprised. I thought we had made a comedy."

All in all, although not meant to be the next Death of a Salesman, About Schmidt is a moving, touching portrait about a man's worthlessness when he takes the moment to reflect back on his life.