|
By
ETHAN CUHULINN
Critics loved "About
Schmidt." It was one of the top 2002 rated films
on
Critics.com with a median rating of 3½ stars.
I'm hardly surprised. It features the sort of
nuanced story professional critics appreciate,
plus two fabulous performances by two of our best
actors, Jack Nicholson and Kathy Bates. Where I
take issue with most critics is in characterizing
the film as a comedy -- or the more qualified
description of black comedy. Yes, there are
several wry bits, but I found "About Schmidt" to
be devastating, presenting a very bleak notion of
what one can expect from the world when one grows
old. Especially, if one decides to do so in Omaha,
Nebraska, right after a career in insurance.
Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) reaches retirement
and is supposed to start a new life traveling in a
Winnebago with his wife. But the problem is that
Schmidt can't quite figure out what he's supposed
to do now, and hence who he really is. He ends up
spending a lot of time watching television, and
gets himself a foster son to whom he writes
letters detailing his frustrations. Desperate to
get away from the strain of trying to re-adjust,
Schmidt takes a road trip to visit his daughter
and help her plan her wedding -- but she does not
welcome him with open arms. Other illusions
Schmidt has had about his life slowly fall away,
and, I guess, by the end he is a little wiser, and
not so much happier as somewhat at ease with his
life.
There are nine deleted scenes on the DVD,
accompanied with instructive introductions by
director Alexander Payne. Of particular note is a
featurette showing footage from Payne's
second unit, which shot footage of Omaha's Woodmen
Tower (apparently a pitiful local landmark) from
different angles so it could be used for the
film's title sequence. With more footage than
Payne could use, the editors created five short
films that run about a quarter of an hour. For
people interested in film making techniques
they're fascinating to watch. No audio commentary
accompanies the film through and there are no
other worthwhile extras. |
