ABOUT SCHMIDT Movie

[Jodi1980]

Why do you think he cried at the end of the movie?

 

[floridaminnie]

How did you like the movie? Haven't seen it yet.

 

[Margie J]

My deep interpretation:

He was a man who had lived his entire adult life in a very structured, safe and mundane way. He took much of life for granted; his wife, his daughter, his job, his home. The loss of his wife and then his retirement triggered a need for understanding and learning of basic skills that had always been done for him.

His crying can be interpreted as a "rebirth" in spirit. He was learning what life was again, just as a child does. He took pleasure in the simple things, finally, just as a child does. When you get to that point, a beginning and an end of your life, a beautiful flower or star filled sky can make you cry. You cry for what stirs your soul and for the time you wasted by not living life to it's fullest and not telling those you love what you feel.

 

[Jodi1980]

It was okay. Kind of sad.

Part of Roger Ebert's review:

"About Schmidt" is billed as a comedy. It is funny to the degree that Nicholson is funny playing Schmidt, and funny in terms of some of his adventures, but at bottom it is tragic. In a mobile home camp, Schmidt is told by a woman who hardly knows him, "I see inside of you a sad man."

Most teenagers will probably not be drawn to this movie, but they should attend. Let it be a lesson to them. If they define their lives only in terms of a good job, a good paycheck and a comfortable suburban existence, they could end up like Schmidt, dead in the water. They should start paying attention to that crazy English teacher.

 

[Mishetta]

I think Margie J hit it right on.....

I'd like to add that some people don't know how to "feel" life. He finally got to "feel" life when it was too late.

 

[Tinkbell]

Marjie pretty much hit it on the head. I felt like he finally realized what life should be about and the tears were for all of the wasted years.

 

[Linda Talbot]

Thank you Margie J for your wonderful interpretation of the movie. I saw it twice and I cried both times. We all seem to take life for granted, we work hard for the comforts of today and for the hope of a retirement with our spouse. We always say"someday I will do this, or someday I will do that" and there is no guarantee that we will have that "someday". We tend to take life much to seriously and forget to stop along the way to enjoy the simple things, and the people around us. Schmidt found this out too late.
On a lighter side, I did get a lot of laughs at the antics of the daughter's future in-laws. Kathy Bates was fantastic. I had told my husband that if she, as an actress, had the nerve to do a nude scene, be it ever so brief, she should be nominated for an award. Kudos to her!
I would recommend that anyone of the 50+ age bracket see this movie.