Plot & Details
Jack Nicholson plays retiring insurance actuary Warren Schmidt in Alexander Payne's About Schmidt. Schmidt has settled into a dormant life. He has an unfulfilling marriage to Helen (June Squibb), and conspires to spend as much time away from her as possible. Schmidt's daughter Jeannie (Hope Davis) is engaged to Randall Hertzel (Dermot Mulroney), a man Schmidt believes is entirely unworthy of his daughter. When Helen unexpectedly dies, Warren is adrift until he discovers old love letters sent to his wife from his best friend. This inspires Warren to make a valiant effort to stop his daughter's wedding. His plans start to go awry when he meets Randall's extroverted mother, Roberta (Kathy Bates). About Schmidt was screened at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival where many were surprised that Nicholson did not take home the Best Actor award.
- MPAA Rating: R
- Genre(s): Drama
- Run Time: 124min.
- Theatrical Release Date: 12/13/2002
- DVD Release Date: 06/03/2003
- Distributor(s): New Line
- Director(s): Alexander Payne
- Starring: Jack Nicholson , Hope Davis , Dermot Mulroney , Kathy Bates , Len Cariou
- Themes: Family Gatherings,Death of a Partner,Wedding Bells,Existential Crisis,Fathers and Daughters,Golden Years,Fish Out of Water
- Tone: Irreverent,Quirky,Reflective,Understated,Satirical,Wry,Biting
- Keywords: daughter,death,funeral,in-law,insurance-agent,motor-home,retirement,salesperson,son-in-law,wife
- Country of Origin: USA - Limited (12-13-2002),USA (01-10-2003)
- Language: English
Awards
Academy Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Cast & Crew | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Supporting Actress | Kathy Bates | Nominated |
| 2002 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Actor | Jack Nicholson | Nominated |
Golden Globes
| Year | Award | Category | Cast & Crew | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Hollywood Foreign Press Association | Best Screenplay | Jim Taylor | Won |
| 2002 | Hollywood Foreign Press Association | Best Picture | Nominated | |
| 2002 | Hollywood Foreign Press Association | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture | Kathy Bates | Nominated |
| 2002 | Hollywood Foreign Press Association | Best Screenplay | Alexander Payne | Won |
| 2002 | Hollywood Foreign Press Association | Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama | Jack Nicholson | Won |
| 2002 | Hollywood Foreign Press Association | Best Director | Alexander Payne | Nominated |
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