Such a great film.

Perfect really.

Just saw it again, recently and it's just as good with the passing years.

What's your take?

(Linking pic of Kathy Bates - cos she's a major DL Fave - though not the one of her getting in the jacuzzi).

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 34

May 31, 2021 5:28 PM

Agreed. Best thing Nicholson's done since CUKOO'S NEST. The last five minutes reduce me to tears every time.

by Anonymous

reply 2

June 20, 2016 2:05 PM

Warren Schmidt was a very nice and generous man.

by Anonymous

reply 3

June 20, 2016 2:48 PM

The film is nothing like the book which, like Begley's other books, are small jewels.

by Anonymous

reply 5

June 21, 2016 1:17 AM

A of Payne's films from SCHMIT on have been nominated for BP. And ELECTION should have been too. SIDEWAYS is the best and one of the best film comedies ever. AS is very good too

by Anonymous

reply 6

June 21, 2016 1:23 AM

I get very angry when someone doesn't understand the ending. I love the message actually. And that everytime I thought it was turning into the cliche (the sad loss of the wife, especially), it would turn left instead (those letters).

Payne and Taylor were a great team. I felt much less satisfaction from "The Descendents".

by Anonymous

reply 8

June 21, 2016 1:27 AM

The message is that a naked Kathy Bates solves everything.

by Anonymous

reply 10

June 21, 2016 1:32 AM

I'm concerned that I may not have understood the ending and I don't want to make r8 angry.

by Anonymous

reply 11

June 21, 2016 1:34 AM

No, don't worry, I kid on the anger part -- but a lot of people do find the ending "soooo depressing", which I find bizarre. To me, the message is obvious: everything that was supposed to bring joy into Schmidt's life, everything society tells him should be done -- the retirement party after years of loyalty to one company, the longtime wife, the great lifelong friend, the wedding of his only daughter, all the Hallmark moments -- none of them makes him happy. All are, in fact, huge disappointments.

But a sweet letter from a kind stranger talking to him about Ubu, or whatever the child's name is, brings him to happy tears, is the only thing he cares about at that point. Simple pleasures vs. doing all that textbook shit society tells us to do. (There are hints at this on his roadtrip too, the Dairy Queen, the visit to the old house that is now a tire store, the night up on top of the Winnebago, etc.)

by Anonymous

reply 12

June 21, 2016 2:50 AM

(You could indeed also put a naked Kathy Bates on the list; the blending of two families, the joy of both sets of parents seeing their son and daughter unite, and it's one big bitchfest, especially the salt of the earth mother, Bates).

by Anonymous

reply 13

June 21, 2016 2:53 AM

I'm trying to think of how to say what I'm thinking without making you mad R8 / R12 . I agree with pretty much everything, but I don't really remember the tears at the end as "happy tears". I thought of them as being sort of the straw that broke the camel's back. The letter was sweet and gave him some joy, but that also helped him to let go and release all the sadness and disappointment that had been weighing on him. I didn't find it depressing, but it really struck a nerve with which I don't think we all particularly want to engage. Mind you I saw this probably 10 years ago so I may be way off.

by Anonymous

reply 14

June 21, 2016 3:03 AM

I was sobbing in the movie theatre at the final scene...

by Anonymous

reply 15

June 21, 2016 3:05 AM

No, that sounds like a valid take, I am no doubt bringing the "happy tears" in to it. But I do think it gives the story hope that he will go on and live out his last years doing exactly what he wants, no more slave to social bullshit. Also, I considered them happy tears because he couldn't save his daughter from marrying that doofus (and she was no prize either) but he DID make a difference in Ubu's life, including hearing that Ubu enjoyed hearing his letters being read to him. So that's why I didn't find it all sad. (I am tearing up a bit thinking of that final scene too, though, I must admit and that's even with the vodka snapple).

by Anonymous

reply 16

June 21, 2016 3:09 AM

(Looking back, did Adrian Brody REALLY need that Oscar? I would've been perfectly fine with Jack winning another one, as expected, especially for this great film/performance).

by Anonymous

reply 17

June 21, 2016 3:11 AM

Another interpretation of the ending is that he realized how empty his life was and this letter was a pitiful example of too little, too late.

by Anonymous

reply 18

June 21, 2016 3:36 AM

Aw. I love you for starting this thread OP. Wonderful film and I'm honestly not a huge fan of Paynes' other films other than Election. But he definitely gave Nicholson one of his best later career roles.

Speaking of later career Jack roles - I thought he was absolutely brilliant in Sean Penn's 'The Pledge', which was released the year prior to About Schmidt.

I know he's all but certainly retired at this point, but I'd love for him to have one last career capping performance - just not some stupid Nancy Myers postmenopausal romcom, please.

by Anonymous

reply 19

June 21, 2016 3:39 AM

The crayon drawing gets me every time!!!

(flashing back to my Snapple Kiwi Strawberry and Vodka + this movie)

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 20

June 21, 2016 7:38 AM

I'm surprised everyone's focusing on the sad aspects of the film, when there was so much that was so funny.

by Anonymous

reply 21

June 21, 2016 7:43 AM

It's nice to be surprised sometimes.

by Anonymous

reply 22

June 21, 2016 9:41 PM

I thought maybe I was projecting those "happy tears" and, yeah, it is still pushing it. But watch Snapple Troll's clip at R20 and, at the very least, you will see how Jack transitions into what looks like a surprise joy in those tears. His skill, the director's eye, the original author (I didn't know there was a book until now, to be honest), who knows... but it is brilliant. And I like that it's not banging us over the head so that we can actually discuss our interpretations. Not something that happens much in film anymore.

As for humor, I still smile whenever I think of Schmidt's awkward attempt to slug his lifelong friend after finding those letters. Brilliant Jack again. I do wish they had rethought Kathy Bates' character, though; it might have been nice to have an oddball Earth Mother providing some contrast but instead she turns out to be a scowling bitch like the rest of the women in the film (a female friend complained about that, I remember, and I guess she has a point; the daughter is just disgusting and I never really liked Hope Davis after that).

Thanks for starting this up, OP, and thanks to the rest of you to the nice sane discussion.

by Anonymous

reply 23

June 21, 2016 10:22 PM

The whiny daughter was perfect.

by Anonymous

reply 24

June 21, 2016 10:24 PM

[quote] the original author (I didn't know there was a book until now, to be honest),

As I wrote above, there is almost nothing resembling the book in the film: plot, characters, location, feel. They share a title and both are about older men coming to terms with themselves and their lives. Beyond that, nothing.

by Anonymous

reply 25

June 21, 2016 10:25 PM

Really liked this film too. I think it's stronger overall than Payne's more popular films, like Nebraska, Sideways and particularly The Descendants. It's easily one of Jack Nicholson's best performances.

I also like Dermot Mulroney a lot in this.

by Anonymous

reply 26

June 21, 2016 10:41 PM

R23 I don't think you were projecting the happy tears. In fact, I see your take more after watching that clip again. I guess when I think of happy tears I think of someone at a wedding or something similar. There was definitely some joy in there and it becomes more evident at the end of the scene, but I think there was a lot else happening. As I said earlier, I think that was just his breaking point and it allowed him to release all the disappointment, grief, etc. By the end you can see him surfacing after he lets go.

by Anonymous

reply 27

June 22, 2016 12:53 AM

Good movie. Sad and funny.

by Anonymous

reply 28

June 22, 2016 2:08 AM

Let's bump this and see what happens.

by Anonymous

reply 29

February 15, 2020 9:16 PM

Jack does not need 4 Oscars. I would have seen him justifiably win for this if he hadn't won for As Good As It Gets, which is a standard romcom

by Anonymous

reply 30

February 15, 2020 10:26 PM

I don't get the ending. I'm dumb.

by Anonymous

reply 31

February 15, 2020 10:58 PM

Mr Nicholson only has 2.5 Oscars.

by Anonymous

reply 32

February 15, 2020 11:06 PM

I interpreted the ending as a message that we all have an impact - no matter how small and insignificant we think our lives are.

Schmidt spent his entire working life in a soulless career at some middling insurance company; He lost his wife after decades of a soulless marriage; and his daughter marries a nincompoop with a wacky family.

Schmidt returns home feeling like a loser and a failure. Then he opens that letter and learns that he helped improve Ndugu's life - if only a little bit. That letter made him realize his life has value.

by Anonymous

reply 33

May 31, 2021 5:22 PM

I loved About Schmidt when I saw it in the theater, but I haven't revisited it since. I do remember thinking Kathy Bates was robbed of a Best Supporting Actress Oscar (all because Catherine Zeta Jones committed category fraud).

by Anonymous

reply 34

May 31, 2021 5:28 PM