About Schmidt
Rent & Buy
A recently retired man embarks on a journey to his estranged daughter's wedding, only to discover more about himself and life than he ever expected.
What critics thought
Alexander Payne's character study won near-universal praise on release, with critics treating Nicholson's performance as something of a career landmark — a man so fundamentally passive and emotionally oblivious that watching him slowly wake up becomes unexpectedly moving. Kathy Bates was also singled out, though the film's emotional register, hovering between dry comedy and quiet tragedy, was really the central thing critics were trying to place.
“It's a commanding Jack Nicholson lead performance that puts it into a sublime league of its own.”
Michael Rechtshaffen·The Hollywood Reporter
“About Schmidt is undoubtedly one of the finest films of the year. If you're not deeply touched by this movie, check your pulse.”
Paul Clinton·CNN.com
Accolades
Genres
Drama, Comedy
Cast & Crew
Alexander PayneDirector
Jack NicholsonWarren Schmidt
Kathy BatesRoberta Hertzel
Hope DavisJeannie Schmidt
Dermot MulroneyRandall Hertzel
June SquibbHelen Schmidt
Howard HessemanLarry Hertzel
Harry GroenerJohn Rusk
Connie RayVicki Rusk
Len CariouRay Nichols
Cheryl HamadaSaundra
Phil ReevesMinister in Denver
Rolfe KentComposer
Jim TaylorWriter
James GlennonCinematographyFrom the studio
About Schmidt
A recently retired man embarks on a journey to his estranged daughter's wedding, only to discover more about himself and life than he ever expected.
What critics thought
Alexander Payne's character study won near-universal praise on release, with critics treating Nicholson's performance as something of a career landmark — a man so fundamentally passive and emotionally oblivious that watching him slowly wake up becomes unexpectedly moving. Kathy Bates was also singled out, though the film's emotional register, hovering between dry comedy and quiet tragedy, was really the central thing critics were trying to place.
“It's a commanding Jack Nicholson lead performance that puts it into a sublime league of its own.”
Michael Rechtshaffen·The Hollywood Reporter
“About Schmidt is undoubtedly one of the finest films of the year. If you're not deeply touched by this movie, check your pulse.”
Paul Clinton·CNN.com
Accolades
Genres
Drama, Comedy
Cast & Crew
Alexander PayneDirectorJack NicholsonWarren SchmidtKathy BatesRoberta HertzelHope DavisJeannie SchmidtDermot MulroneyRandall HertzelJune SquibbHelen SchmidtHoward HessemanLarry HertzelHarry GroenerJohn RuskConnie RayVicki RuskLen CariouRay NicholsCheryl HamadaSaundraPhil ReevesMinister in DenverRolfe KentComposerJim TaylorWriterJames GlennonCinematographyFrom the studio
Rent & Buy