James Croot The Post NZ Dec 22, 2022 4/5

This is Nicholson's show -- and he excels.

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Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Dec 14, 2022 4/5

Jack Nicholson delivers one of the best performances of his career in About Schmidt.

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Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site Mar 5, 2021

The latest film by Alexander Payne (Election, Citizen Ruth) scrutinizes features of America's social fabric with a relatively sharp eye.

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John Powers L.A. Weekly May 17, 2018

A character study that has the emotional richness of the great Italian and Eastern European films of the 1960s, in which humor and pathos rode up and down on the seesaw together.

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Kevin Carr Fat Guys at the Movies Jan 10, 2016 4/5

[It] toys with convention, leading us down that happy ending path and then hopping off of it again. It's refreshing, if not humorously frustrating.

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Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jan 20, 2011 A-

Sharply observed, Alexander Payne's poignant comedy is a character study of an ordinary American, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and in the process becomes humanized and extraordinary.

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Sep 2, 2010 3/5

Heartfelt Nicholson, not for kids at all.

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Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Apr 15, 2009 D

"About Schmidt" is a hostility-provoking film for the same reason that American citizens have lost their civil rights. The picture endorses, nay lionizes, complacency, inaction and the privilege of the greedy to steal whatever they covet simply because th

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Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com Feb 6, 2009 3.5/4

A simple, silent, static shot of Nicholson's face is one of the most beautiful, powerful, indelible images of the 2002 movie year.

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Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review Aug 7, 2008 4/5

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Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Jul 23, 2007 C-

Mostly, the satire here amounts to nudging us into feeling superior to other people's lives.

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Joe Lozito Big Picture Big Sound Jul 14, 2007 4/4

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Alan Dale Blogcritics.org Sep 26, 2006

[Y]ou laugh with a growing sense of dread because it makes you feel what it's like to realize it's too late to help yourself.

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Betsy Bozdech DVDJournal.com Aug 31, 2006 3.5/4

Nicholson offers one of the best performances of his career. ... Warren is alternately smug, confused, selfish, clueless, helpless, mournful, and ultimately, hopeful.

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Jeffrey Overstreet JeffreyOverstreet.com (Ghost.io) Dec 6, 2004 C

About Schmidt is like The Straight Story and Ikiru without beauty, warmth, the delightful discoveries along the way, or the hope.

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Steve Crum Kansas City Kansan Nov 1, 2004 A

Great work by Jack Nicholson in the title role plus Kathy Bates, Hope Davis and Dermot Mulroney at the tempered hand of writer/director Alexander Payne.

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Tony Medley tonymedley.com Oct 7, 2004 8/10

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Daniel Kasman d+kaz. intelligent movie reviews Aug 7, 2004 B

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Caffeinated Clint Mediasharx Jun 2, 2004 3.5/5

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Greg Maki Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) Jan 6, 2004 3.5/4

I don't know if there is another actor alive who could have made About Schmidt as entertaining as it is.

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