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About Schmidt
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About Schmidt (2002) More at IMDbPro »

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About Schmidt (2002) -- Warren Schmidt is a man in his 60's. While trying to run his daughter's life, he realizes that he wasted his.

Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   49,161 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 24% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Alexander Payne
Writers (WGA):
Louis Begley (novel)
Alexander Payne (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for About Schmidt on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
20 December 2002 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Drama more
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. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 19 wins & 29 nominations more
User Comments:
simply beautiful more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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
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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for some language and brief nudity.
Runtime:
125 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS
Filming Locations:
Boulder, Colorado, USA more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The word "Ndugu" means "brother" literally in Kiswahili (same as Swahili). It is also used as slang for "friend" as in the US. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The seasons change back and forth, between winter and summer. Sometimes the trees are bare, but in the next scene, they're full again. At the beginning of the movie, the trees are bare and it's gray and cold. Yet, two weeks later he leaves on his trip and it's summer all of a sudden. more
Quotes:
Warren Schmidt: You can't marry him. I mean... Look at these people! more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2003) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
You Sexy Thing more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
66 out of 77 people found the following comment useful:-
simply beautiful, 24 November 2004
8/10
Author: f-main from UK

I was dubious when my 65 year old father picked this DVD up from the shelf at Blockbuster. "Great choice dad!", secretly wondering why I let him pick 2 films out of the 3 in the special offer they had going. You see, my father has a penchant for Woody Allen and anybody who has a rather dry sense of humour, this includes Nicholson.

We sat down tonight, and the first thing that hit me was the way that the film was shot. It is shot using rather blue and green hues, so the film is rather subdued. Secondly, the music stands out. Instead of using a typical 'boohoo' orchestra, the film uses beautiful wandering piano and marimba sounds.

The characters, I could easily relate to. Helen, the faithful wife who is excited about getting to spend a new chapter of her life with her husband. The husband, who obeys his wife but secretly resents it. A sudden change which causes a rethink in everything he has done up until that point.

At first, this appeared to be a comedy, but it was soon revealed to be a beautifully poignant film. Throughout, it questions mortality, what you can achieve in life, and how to cope with loss, or change. I don't think I have ever cried as much in 2 hours as I did during this film, and yet at the same time laughed so hard that my sides were splitting.

I would thoroughly recommend anybody to watch this film. It will stay with you for a long time.

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Schmidt was wrong - his daughter's not too good for justinzinn
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