About time

About Schmidt" presents a squirmingly realistic portrait of an aging man whose connection to the human race is nonchalant at best, who learns through the course of the movie that one's connection to humanity is truly the only thing that actually matters in this world.

Nicholson portrays Warren Schmidt with remarkable and uncanny restraint, knowing exactly how much emotion to invest into each response and reaction; it is a performance he's not given before (I generally think he plays himself in most of his movies and it's about time he's shown us something deeper, more profound). This performance will most definitely earn him an Oscar nomination if not an actual Oscar, and the entire cast is brilliant as well, particularly Kathy Bates who will most likely get a Best Supporting Actress nomination.

"About Schmidt" is not for everyone; a lot of people (particularly YOUNGER people) may find it torturous to watch, for all the wrong reasons - it IS torturous to watch but there's a magnificent pay-off, one of the best in any movie I've ever seen. So hang in and endure. You can do it.