Rating of
3.5/4
About Schmidt review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 06/03/13
"I know we're all pretty small in the big scheme of things, and I suppose the most you can hope for is to make some kind of difference, but what kind of difference have I made?" Spectacular mix of comedy, drama and a touch of intellient moral messages. A story focused on Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) who retires from his insurance company and witnesses something on television. He sponsors a child named Ndugu and writes a letter about his personal information. As soon as he mails the letter he discovers Helen has passed away while cleaning on the floor. Jeannie (Hope Davis) has a tlk with Warren and discusses about the casket. Warren dicovered that Helen and his best friend Ray had an affair. He passes by places he recognizes and is met by Roberta Hertzel (Kathy Bates) before Jeannie and Randall got home. Warren disapproves the wedding of her daughter and tries explain his reason.
Only knack this critic had was the stupidity and weirdness of certain figures. Jack Nicholson's performance is entertainment enough. His mannerisms and facial expressions just makes you emphatize with his empty character. The screenplay was great for a dark comedy with provocative lines: "You're going to have to learn to take care of yourself." - Jeannie. "Why do you have to be so negative?" - Larry "I've got to make the best of whatever time I have left. Life is short Ndugu. I can't afford to waste another minute." "You've got to appreicate what you have while you still have them." The score, cinematography and direction was detailed and wonderful all at the same time. Suprisingly, the picture's humor was very effective even by just mere gestures. Highlights of the laugh out loud moments were: the opening ofthe dinner scene while Warren looks perplexed, the waterbed moment, Bates feeding Nicholson on the bed and Randall introducing the business he has. A film thouches on aging, coping death, regret, forgiveness, lost time, reminiscing, love, marriage, family, appreciating life and the things/loved ones around you. About Scmidt has a message and this line encapsulates the entire film "What difference has my life made to anyone. None that I can think of. None at all." and then the positive conclusion transpires. One of the underrated masterpieces about basically how to lie your life.
