I dunno why I even wanted to see this movie. I knew very little about About Schmidt before seeing it. I knew that Jack Nicholson was getting raves for his work, and that was basically it.
Well, it’s true, ol’ Jack gives a bravura performance, worthy of nominations up the wazzoo.

But that doesn’t mean that About Schmidt is fun.

No, unfortunately this is another one of those movies…another movie that I know is a good movie, but that I just didn’t like.
In fact, I was pretty bored, and a whole lot of depressed by the time it was over.
Yes, I know, I can get depressed at the drop of a hat, but really, I found this movie very depressing. I think many people will.

Based on the book by Louis Begley, About Schmidt is directed and co-written for the screen by Alexander Payne. Payne previously directed Election, a movie I never saw. It got rave reviews, so I rented it one night and didn’t end up seeing it anyway.
(I still had a sex life back then)
Well, with the exception of Nicholson's kudos, I dunno what’s being said about this movie, but I’m sorry, it didn’t work for me. Yes, the acting is great, especially Nicholson. Kathy Bates and Hope Davis are really good, but then again, they always are. Dermot Mulroney is almost unrecognizable from the young stud that broke Julia Roberts’ heart in My Best Friend’s Wedding, and he’s really good as well. With a sort of balding mullet look going on, he looks like he belongs in an early Eighties southern rock band. But he’s pretty cool.
But this is Nicholson’s movie all the way. I’m not sure how old he is in real life, but he plays a sixty-six year old very well. His character is kind of sympathetic, but still has flashes of the arrogant assholes Nicholson plays perfectly. Actually, as with ADAPTATION and PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE, I could relate to the lead character. Maybe this is what my future looks like, with a few glaring exceptions…
But still, I just couldn’t get into this movie.