About Schmidt (2002)

Director: Alexander Payne Cinematographer: James Glennon


Payne’s perceptive dark comedy follows Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson), a retired insurance salesman, who at age 66, has little money, no particular plans and is left struggling after the sudden death of his wife. Hugely disheartened by what the future holds he sets off on a road trip to attend his estranged daughter’s wedding. Critically acclaimed and a commercial success, the film is a low key character study that’s both funny and melancholic in equal measure. Along with an Oscar nominated turn from Kathy Bates (as the eccentric mother of his daughter’s fiance), Nicholson delivers arguably his best work since the 1970s with what is an unusually restrained performance that also garnered an Oscar nomination.

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Buy (watch online)
DVD
About Schmidt / I Am Sam (DVD)
Something’s Gotta Give , About Schmidt : Jack Nicholson 2 Pack Collection (DVD)

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Lists:

• • No. 1871 on The Pendragon Society’s Greatest Films of All-Time (2019)
  • List among Time Out’s 1000 Films to Change Your Life (2006)

CAST

• Jack Nicholson as Warren R. Schmidt
• Kathy Bates as Roberta Hertzel
• Hope Davis as Jeannie Schmidt
• Dermot Mulroney as Randall Hertzel
• June Squibb as Helen Schmidt
• Howard Hesseman as Larry Hertzel
• Harry Groener as John Rusk
• Connie Ray as Vicki Rusk
• Len Cariou as Ray Nichols
• Phil Reeves as Minister in Denver

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Directed by Alexander Payne
Produced by Michael Besman, Harry Gittes
Screenplay by Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Music by Rolfe Kent
Cinematography James Glennon
Edited by Kevin Tent
Running time 124 minutes
Country United States
Language English