Warren Schmidt (Nicholson) is an excruciatingly
average American. The film opens with him in a
faded-photograph-blue-tint city office. No windows,
files all boxed up, he waits patiently for the clock
to strike five and walks tentatively away to his also
muted retirement party where his best friend gives an
oddly haunting speech about what really matters in
life.
That's pretty much what Warren spends the rest of
the film trying to find out, without really knowing
he's trying to find it out.
I loved this film. Warm in its loving yet
unforgivingly inconsistent depiction of everyday
people, relaxed in its perfect quiet pace and proud
in its message. Though Jack is a big name, this
little film is more of an indie in its simplicity
both in the audio and visual. Simple but exacting.
Exacting, but colorful, despite the washed-out
skies.
By the poster, I'd expected to see Jack once again
play the lunatic, but that charismatic demented
poster misleads. Warren is excruciatingly
average.
(This film viewed at Alhambra's Edwards
Renaissance Stadium 14)
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