Jan 29, 2003 04:47 AM
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(Updated Jan 29, 2003 05:02 AM)
A while ago I just saw a wonderful Movie called ABOUT
SCHMIDT.It was Directed by Alexander Payne and Produce by Michael Besman & Harry Gittes. Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor were the writers. New Line Cinema release it in December of 2002. Due to the language and some nudity this film is rated ''R''.
THE STARS:
Jack Nicholson plays Warren Schmidt. Warren is the type of Man who could be a ''spy'' because he would not be a Person you would notice in a Room or on the Street. He left his Retirement Party and no one noticed it. While he is driving his maroon Cadillac he listen to Rush Limbaugh, (a talk show Host in the USA who is a Republican). He's the kind of Man who has a devilish grin and a twinkle in his eye.
Kathy Bates plays the Mother of Schmidt's soon to be Son-in-law.
Dermot Mulroney plays Randall, (SCHMIDT’s soon to be Son-in-law).
Hope Davis play Jeannie SCHMIDT, (SCHMIDT's Daughter).
ABOUT SCHIMIT is the Story about Mike Schmidt.He once played
Baseball for the Philadelphia ''Phillies'' Team.
The Movie flashs through the time when he was young and lived in Dayton, Ohio ,USA, the time he spent at the University of Ohio and then to the ten years he played Professional Baseball. He is retired now and about to face many changes in his life.
MY REVIEW:
Warren is busy trying to take care of Helen and thinking about what he will do with the rest of his life, (after she dies).
His Career has already been taken away from him and soon his Wife will be gone too.
Warren decides to become a sponsor of a 6 year old Boy from Tanzanian named Ndugu Umbo.He is not the type of person who can be honest with any of the People in his life starts to write Ndugu a series of very frank letters. Nicholson does a ''voice-over'' while Ndugu Umbo is reading the letters.
I loved the Scenes when Warren tries to get into a waterbed and when he tried Percadin because there are so few of them and they offer a break from the Movie's sad plot.
This Movie is not concerned with the beauty and comedy of life but the focus is on the ugliness that is often found in the lives of real People.
Warren complains that his Wife that she doesn't take the keys out of her Purse the right way, that she doesn't sit properly and that she never lets him finish a sentence without ''butting in''.
These events aren't ''earth shattering'' but they show Helen and SCHMIDT are human.
We see how Warren reacts to the ugliness around him. He can't stand his prospective Son-in-law because he has a handlebar moustache, a ponytail and the front and top of his hair is bald. Kathy Bates is his Mother and doesn't like the way Warren is treating her Son.
During dinner one night she tests his patience. Payne goes to everyone attending the Dinner telling them how bad their table manners are. Bates is the Character who show us the true the meaning of all the ugliness.
Toward the end of the Film, (this isn't giving away any of the way this Movie ends), she asks Warren over to sit in her hot tub. He is in is enjoying the warm water when Bates, (dressed only in a Robe), comes out to the deck. She takes off her Robe and for a second you will see her hanging breasts and lumpy back-side. Almost everyone in the Audience began to laugh but I think that Bates had a lot of ''guts' to do this Scene.
Schmidt's Wife dies and as they are clean up after the funereal he realizes that he is alone. Warren asks of his Daughter Jeannie , ''Who's going to take care of me?'' She is leaving for Denver in the morning and Warren's hoping she'll stay longer.
This as an important moment between a Father and his Daughter....and this is where I will end my review because I never tell the end of a Movie.
I LOVED THE MUSIC IN THIS MOVIE:
This was orignal Music that was composed by Rolfe Ken.
''1. The Adventurer
Telling Ndugu about the Family
About Schmidt
Schmidt Went to Denver
Randall's Room
Guilty Escaping the Rusks
Helen Goes and Schmidt Stays
Of Life After Helen
The Fury of Schmidt
Shopping with Schmidt
Missing Helen
Riverside Prayer
Dinner with Randall's Relatives
Schmidt Revisited His Alma Mater
Schmidt At The Wedding
Omaha Return
Ndugu's Painting
What I Really Wanted to Say
The End Credits
Constantine & Warren
Africaan Beat
Ndugu Letter''
GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS,(2003):
Best Male Actor in a Drama: Jack Nicholson, (who said when he accepted the Award he thought he had accepted a Role in a Comedy).
Best Movie Screen Play: Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor.
MY THOUGHTS:
I thought there was an effective plot throughout this unconventional Story. Jack Nicholson and Kathy Bates perfect in their roles.
The Costumes helped make the Characters real. For example when Schmidt wears a dress shirt the collar is too tight, (and that causes the fat around his neck to bulge over).
The Cast and Crew of this Film donated money to help Ndugu Umbo, (until he finishes High School), and help his Village by building a Health Clinic and improving the School.
I found my self laughing and they crying ...etc... all through this Movie.
If you have not seen it yet I highly recommend it to you.
Comments are always welcome and ratings don't matter.
©LL2003
