ABOUT SCHMIDT

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 11/6/06 at 6:43pm

One of the most heartbreaking films I've seen in years and a much....much.....MUCH better film than SIDEWAYS. It's also a lot funnier than people give it credit for.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/6/06 at 6:45pm

Totally agree

Thought Sideways was a tad overrated

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 11/6/06 at 6:48pm

I think I laughed more during Sideways than I did during any other film of '04 that was not The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. Nonetheless, About Schmidt is probably one of the few films that actually has the power to change lives. I know it did to me.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/6/06 at 6:49pm

Old Jack has a set of cajones the size of Cleveland to even attempt to take on that role . He did it beautifully

[broadway86]

Posted: 11/6/06 at 11:15pm

Beautiful movie, and one of the very best of 2002. Such a great story, with a crowning achievement of a performance by Nicholson. Bates is brilliant, giving the film SO much with limited screentime.

a much....much.....MUCH better film than SIDEWAYS.

Eh, no. I think they're about equal.

[blueroses]

Posted: 11/6/06 at 11:37pm

I disliked it, though Nicholson and especially Bates were great.

Sideways? Loved it. I still think of Virginia Madsen's moving dialogue about wine and the fragility of life. I loved her and loved Giamatti.

[yodamarie78]

Posted: 11/6/06 at 11:56pm

Such a hilariously heartbreaking movie. Jack Nicholson is marvelous and the ending is pitch perfect. Even the woman behind me yelling "That's it?!" couldn't ruin it for me.

"Dear Ndugu..."

I loved Sideways as well. I refuse to force them to compete. They're both wonderful.

[mabel]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 8:10am

"Dear Ndugu..."

As soon as I saw this thread I was going to post that! Love this movie, as well as Payne's Sideways and ELECTION! Definitely three favorites of mine.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 8:25am

I enjoyed 'About Schmidt' more than 'Sideways' although I'm not certain what's accomplished by comparing them.

But, no, it didn't remotely change my life. It's just a movie I liked.

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 11:22am

I loved both About Schmidt and Sideways equally. About Schmidt was terribly sad. Schmidt facing retirement realized how empty his life is. He co exists in a seemingly loveless marriage and hasn't been much of a father to his daughter. Painful and funny to watch especially a no longer youthful woman.

[focusingonmoviesmatt]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 11:27am

what about cathy bates naked!

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 11:35am

Schmidt was repulsed seeing an older naked woman's body.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 11:38am

sometimes the phrase "dear ndugu" goes through my head when i witness some 21st century foolishness or chicanery.
i loved this movie - a lot.
i enjoyed SIDEWAYS but there was something hollow and untruthful about it for me. the giamatti character was such an ass with so little to recommend him i just couldn't understand Virginia’s attraction to him -- at all.

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 11:48am

The part in Sideways where Giamatti steals money from his mother was downright icky.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 11:57am

Schmidt is such a great journey, in three distinct acts (home, the road, the wedding), full to the brim of humor, real comedy, but a real feeling for people,the midwest, the sense of a lifetime portrayed in one key era. All performances are underrated, expecially the brilliant one by Hope Davis, who does some of her best, fullest work. I know Bates has the showier part, but Davis has an extraordinary arc, which she fills in. You understand everything about this girl, why she resents the dad, still wants his attention, acts out by choosing the Mulroney character (another stunning turn).

Favorite scenes: the dinner table with the lazy susan. Priceless. And the Harry Groener character who says "permission to come aboard!" to Jack in the trailer park. Groener's goofball character is another bold original, out there but not a caricature.

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 12:14pm

Auggie well said.

[Jon]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 1:18pm

I must say this: Omaha, Nebraska is a lovely city - not at all the dreary, drepressing place portrayed in ABOUT SCHMIDT.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 5:50pm

The scene at the end when he gives the wedding toast is one of the saddest movie moments ever.

But I still think it's cool that this movie has a LOT more comedy than you would initially think it would. You may not remember laughing once you get out of the theater...but it's still hilarious at times. "I'll have a blizzard with some REESE'S PIECES!"

[Patronus]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 6:40pm

"I'll have a blizzard with some REESE'S PIECES!"

Actually, his Blizzard contained Reese's Pieces and Cookie Dough. Apparently it didn't change your life to significantly, Cruel.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 7:29pm

Come on, man. Have some Christmas spirit.

[misschung]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 7:54pm

drink your f*cking milk and shut the f*ck up!

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 8:06pm

Dear Ndugu... Updated On: 6/21/07 at 08:06 PM

[Patronus]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 8:26pm

"Well Ndugu, I'll close now. You probably can't wait to run and cash this check and get yourself something to eat."

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 8:34pm

The sad thing is this sort of thing happens to so many people, often without them realizing it.

[mattonstage]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 12:52am

Alexander Payne is genius. Let's not forget Citizen Ruth, an amazing film with my favorite Laura Dern performance.