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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.
About Schmidt (2002) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   51,176 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
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:
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
NewsDesk:
(68 articles)
Decade in Review: 2004 Top Ten
 (From FilmExperience. 14 December 2009, 6:56 PM, PST)

This decade’s film: 2000-2004
 (From t5m.com. 14 December 2009, 8:08 AM, PST)

User Reviews:
A terrific film, featuring one of Nicholson's best performances more (576 total)

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
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for some language and brief nudity.
Runtime:
125 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The film's plot involves the children's charity "Childreach". Since 2002, the year of the film's release, the organization has referenced the film and featured its poster in its literature for prospective child sponsors. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Warren Schmidt's home address is listed as 5042 Farnam Street for most of the film, but at the end, when he gets the letter from the nun, the address on the envelope is listed as 5402 Farnam Street (although, admittedly, it is not unheard of for mis-addressed letters to be delivered). more
Quotes:
Warren Schmidt: Well Ndugu, I'll close now. You probably can't wait to run and cash this check and get yourself something to eat. more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Quetrième Gnossiennes more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
26 out of 32 people found the following review useful.
A terrific film, featuring one of Nicholson's best performances, 24 October 2005
9/10
Author: eagle_owl from Cumbria, England

Jack Nicholson stars as a Warren Schmidt, a man who suffers several crises at once. First he goes into retirement, then his wife dies, and finally his daughter marries a no-hoper. Forced to abandon his usual comfortable routine, Schmidt goes on a personal journey of discovery and tries to make some sense of his life.

The beauty of About Schmidt is how well developed and interesting the characters are. They feel like real people struggling with real situations, which is a surprisingly difficult trick to pull off. This success can be attributed to the strength of the script and most importantly to the uniformly superb acting.

This film provides a showcase for Nicholson to display his talent, and he doesn't disappoint, delivering a superb and multi-layered turn, which is a world away from the smirking characters he often plays. He allows his face to droop, and adopts a world-weary expression, as Schmidt continually finds himself at the mercy of events.

One of Schmidt's first decisions when he determines to get out of the rut he finds himself in is to sponsor an African child. This doesn't have much to do with the rest of the plot, but provides an outlet for Schmidt's innermost thoughts, and is a brilliant and original way of allowing the audience inside the head of the central character.

About Schmidt succeeds in tackling the subject of old age, a topic not often addressed in mainstream Hollywood fare, and for that it should be applauded. This is a terrific film, which features Nicholson at his best.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (576 total)

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did anyone notice the milk bone dog biscuits? ithrowbedpans
Why no one can forget this movie crass-9
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Randall a 'Fraud'? SnacksForAll
PSA for suicide? ellehcor7111
I just didn't get it. Robert1980
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