About Schmidt

Name: About Schmidt
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: December 13, 2002
Duration: 125 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Hope Davis, Jack Nicholson

2002

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 40 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 137 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 137 Ratings

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About Schmidt

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Movie Details & Credits

New Line Cinema | Release Date: December 13, 2002 | R

Starring: Dermot Mulroney, Hope Davis, Jack Nicholson

Summary: Warren Schmidt (Nicholson) has arrived at several of life's crossraods all at the same time. With no job, no wife, and no family, he is desperate to find something meaningful in his thoroughly unimpressive life. He sets out on a journey of self-discovery, exploring his roots across Nebraska in a 35-foot motor home. (New Line Productions)

Director: Alexander Payne

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 125 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Jami Bernard

Payne achieves an impressive control over the look and tone, so that, melancholy as the movie is, it comes off as both comedy and comment on the human condition. Read full review

100

David Ansen

This powerfully contained, painfully funny performance has to rank with the greatest work Nicholson's ever done -- This road movie gives you emotional whiplash, and you’ll be glad you went along for the ride. Read full review

100

Lawrence Toppman

A dark comedy that's as emotionally honest as any picture of 2002. Read full review

Darrin Keene

This is where Payne shines. Schmidt’s Winnebago journey through America’s heartland is more like a personal voyage into his Heart of Darkness. Read full review

J. Hoberman

One may not realize how truly sad this movie is until the forlorn final moments, when Payne resists an inspirational closer, and, with exquisite tact, averts his eyes. Read full review

David Sterritt

Nicholson makes the movie so poignant that it's hard to resist, but I wonder if Payne and Taylor are rejecting the skeptical attitudes of their other films to become more popular, hoping a softer emotional tone will help this picture win the Oscars that have eluded their more tough-minded works. Read full review

Charles Taylor

Had Payne the grace or generosity to present the vulgarity and naiveté and tackiness of these characters as something vital and endearing and delightful, the movie might have been explosively funny. Read full review

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User Reviews

john24

Jun 25, 2012

Really good .

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

KennyM.

Mar 28, 2008

Incredibly funny and sad.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

WilliamK

Jan 11, 2006

Out of the despair of a life of disposable accomplishments and artificial emotion, in the end all that remains is faith, hope and love.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

pkgadersons

Jun 10, 2012

I just love this! Jack Nicholson is my all time favorite actor. He plays so well all of his roles in every movie he does, great movie, it is really sad

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

talisencrw

Jan 17, 2014

I loved seeing this at the theatres when it was released. At the time I hadn't seen anything by Alexander Payne, but made a mental note that I'd keep an eye on his work, and with good reason. Nicholson was excellent as I had come to expect, the writing was exemplary, Bates was hilarious andI loved seeing this at the theatres when it was released. At the time I hadn't seen anything by Alexander Payne, but made a mental note that I'd keep an eye on his work, and with good reason. Nicholson was excellent as I had come to expect, the writing was exemplary, Bates was hilarious and the ending was very poignant: I was quite surprised it didn't get any Oscars, though it achieved other merits.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

Jul 26, 2016

About Schmidt is a terrific film with a killer lead performance from Jack Nicholson. As with all of Alexander Payne's films, this one is one that really resonates with the human condition. A film about aging and loss, About Schmidt is truly beautiful at times in his musings on life and alsoAbout Schmidt is a terrific film with a killer lead performance from Jack Nicholson. As with all of Alexander Payne's films, this one is one that really resonates with the human condition. A film about aging and loss, About Schmidt is truly beautiful at times in his musings on life and also quite funny at times, as is typical with Payne's works. Well-written and well crafted, this melancholy little comedy-drama has a unique approach to its topic that separates it from similar films, while also never becoming boring. Excellently paced, I thought it was possible it could slack of at times, but it luckily never did and kept the feels and laughs coming from beginning to end. Overall, About Schmidt is yet another great addition to Payne's filmography.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MIkeG.

Dec 7, 2005

This is a movie that failed to mix the funny scenes and the serious scenes well. The funny scenes were certainly funny, and Nichollson's delivery is certainly dead on. But the supposedly poignant scenes are greatly blunted by the way this movie is paced. Is Payne making fun of these This is a movie that failed to mix the funny scenes and the serious scenes well. The funny scenes were certainly funny, and Nichollson's delivery is certainly dead on. But the supposedly poignant scenes are greatly blunted by the way this movie is paced. Is Payne making fun of these characters or does he want you to embrace them? It's unclear, and the result is a film that left me feeling dissatisfied with the results, unconcerned about what would happen to any of the characters, and not invested in the performances. The movie also really doesn't have an ending for Schmidt - he's just kind of an afterthought that gets lost in the Davis/Mulroney storyline.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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11	#11 Best Movie of 2002
59	#59 Most Discussed Movie of 2002
57	#57 Most Shared Movie of 2002