ABOUT SCHMIDT (2002) **1/2 If you see more than a passing resemblance between yourself and any of these people (the same number of feet and noses would be acceptable, for example), do not hesitate to take your ass down to the nearest bar, or shrink, or convent, or military school, or wherever, and get yourself the help you so desperately need. The caricatures, particularly Jack Nicholson, are so true that they become real characters despite your contrary knowledge and impulse. Alexander Payne shoots every scene to maximum effect, and the small flourishes are perfect and well spaced (the Satie, the tire swing). It's well done, I'm just not convinced that there's any point in doing it. Jack is, usually, such a tremendous actor that he makes anyone interesting, which should be a consideration of some ambivalence in casting a retired life insurance salesman. The magnitude of the man's art (ok, assisted and coupled with the dearth of character in the other characters) is such that only Howard Hesseman can compete with him in any scene. It's all very impressive, in a mundane and unnecessary way. P.S. Always enjoy life to the fullest extent possible, but I've rarely been so unconvinced that it's an original moral. Important one, sure, but maybe some of us have ways of enjoying life that transcend even watching this movie. How about that? Didn't think of that did ya, smart guy?!
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