| Written by John Shea,
on 29-12-2002 08:00
|
Published in : Reviews, Movies |
 
Jack Nicholson has always been one of the most vibrant of screen identities. He generally dominates a film, virtually bursting off the screen. In About Schmidt, Nicholson takes that wicked charm and energy and channels it inward, turning it into a deep sadness, an almost oppressive sense of repressed emotion. Warren Schmidt is a man who spent his life squashing his desires and dreams to take the safe route. Now he has hit his retiremen and he finds, with terrible regret, that he is lloking back at a life that made no impact on the world at all. He is replaced in his job by a young man who needs no help at all to take over. Warren barely knows his wife and vice versa. His daughter sees him only occasionally and is marrying someone he doesn't approve of. Just what was the point of his life?
About Schmidt is a very funny film but it is also deeply saddening. Warren spent his life making all the safe moves, doing exactly what he was supposed to do. But in the process he became a painfully boring person. He has no hobbies or interests. There simply doesn't seem to be a point to his existence and sadly, he knows it. His wife has lived with him most of his life and he seems to barely know her. She seems to suffer the same lack of drive and individuality that he does. Her life has revolved around keeping a home for him and their daughter and little else.
We meet Warren as he retires, has the big going away party and then finds he has no idea what to do with himself. The problem gets worse when his wife suddenly drops dead, casting him further adrift. Warren's whole life was based on a certain routine and structure and now all of it has been stripped away. He becomes aimless for awhile but then decides to take an interest in his daughter and her wedding plans as a way to deal with his loss. This leads him on a strange road trip that culminates with his daughter's strange new in-laws, most particularly her future mother-in-law Roberta, played with fierce energy by Kathy Bates. Easily the most frightening aspect of the whole story for Warren has to be suddenly finding himself in a hot tub with a very naked and willing Roberta. This is the sort of scene that you just can't prepare yourself for.
The humor in the film comes from Warren's hapless efforts to deal with all this. In an effort to make a mark on the world he sponsors a poor child in Tanzania. When he is encouraged to communicate with the child, he begins a series of rambling letters in which he confesses thoughts that he shares with no one else. What a child would make of these ranting, rambling, deeply personal messages is anyone's guess.
This is a subtle quiet film that wants us to question what we're doing with our lives. Consider it a cautionary tale. If you don't try new things and find a purpose, it warns, you will end up just like Warren Schmidt. Roberta is almost the polar opposite of Warren and she provides the needed contrast to put his life in perspective. Here is a woman of poor financial means who none the less leads a rich life. She cultivates and pursues new interests and remains deeply involved with her children. Sure, she may be a bit blind to her family's shortcomings, but not for a lack of involvement. The course of the movie leads Warren to slowly come to realize what it is he's missing and with that realization the sadness of how little time he has left to do something about it. We laugh at About Schmidt because of the actors and events but the story is a sad one and that odd combination makes this a film worth your time.
- John Shea
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