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Reviews
About Schmidt (2002)
About Payne!
Simply put, this film is a perfectly crafted mixture of Tragedy and Comedy. Both forces pull with equal intensity, and the final emotional result is something altogether new and beautiful. The film depicts and comments on overdue mid-life crises, aging, the concept of family, Midwest life/landscape, pilgrimages, regret, and acceptance (to name a few). But the tone of the film is not grounded in any way. `About Schmidt' lets viewer both laugh and cry at the screen - and this is what makes it so uniquely amazing.
One element of the film's beauty, of course, is Jack Nicholson's performance. Jack IS Schmidt, down to the core. And because we all know Nicholson's on and off screen persona so well, he dazzles us all the more. But to put the focus solely on Nicholson's performance, and furthermore to dismiss the film as simply a great opportunity to see Nicholson at his best, would undermine beauty of the film.
`About Schmidt' is a film with a great actor who was molded by an equally great director - Alexander Payne. For the most part, Payne has crafted each scene, as well as the overall plot structure, in a slow-paced and reserved manner. But it is this cinematic pacing that makes the film so extraordinarily funny and (at the same time) depressing. What Payne has created, with the HELP of Nicholson, is a film with a distinct `feeling.' If you're in the mood for a specific kind of film - one that is either dramatic or comedic, then this is not the film to watch. `About Schmidt' is simply the superb storytelling of certain kind of tragically humorous life/emotion - and it is beautiful.
Magnolia (1999)
An artist's rough draft of perfection
For most people, Magnolia is like sauerkraut -- you either love it, or you despise it. When I saw this movie for the first time I was torn for the same reasons as everyone else -- good, but too long and too much. But after reflecting on the film, I feel have a better understanding on the whole picture. This movie is a masterpiece with one major problem - It is not cohesive. Magnolia's lack of unity separates it from other classic films that have the same interwoven character plots like "Pulp Fiction" and "Nashville." But this film does, however, have a great "feel." The acting was great, and the cinematography was innovative and truly breath taking -- not obnoxious.
This film is NOT perfect, but it SHOULD be seen by everyone. Paul Thomas Anderson is a genius, along with Wes Anderson, I believe he will lead the next generation of filmmakers to great things. Once Anderson stops writing parts for actors (ie. Bill Macy) and starts being true to the basic idea of the script, he will truly produce the "Great American Film."
The Adventures of Sebastian Cole (1998)
Clever, hilarious, and inspirational - a Masterpiece!
This is one of my favorite movies. If you ever have a chance to see it then indulge! Every frame is beautiful, every line is hilarious -- the film is a masterpiece. Watch Tod Williams, he is a talented director who will be a big name in a few years.