As far as universally-resonant themes go, few are more challenging to talk about than ageing and death. These are two of life’s most notable inevitabilities, and while not everyone gets the opportunity to grow old, we all age and learn vital lessons along the way. So many artists have discussed the topic in their work across every conceivable medium, and one of the more profound statements on the experience of growing older comes from Oscar Wilde, who momentarily stepped away from his razor-sharp wit to proclaim that “wisdom comes with winters” – and this quote in particular bears resonance to the present discussion, which is centred around About Schmidt, one of the most profound and moving explorations of the experience of getting older we have gotten in the last couple of decades. Alexander Payne’s loose adaptation of the novel by Louis Begley is one of the most compelling investigations into the sudden realization that many have later on in life – once you have reached a certain age, you are essentially shifted to the side, put in a position where you are respected and valued, but otherwise inconsequential to the rest of the world, nothing more than a remnant of the past, there to impart wisdom and give guidance, but contribute very little else in a fast-paced world that prioritizes the rawness of youth over refined maturity. This film dares to take an approach where it looks at the experiences of a man who is bestowed with all the admiration the older generation receives, only to realize that he has very little to show for it, leading to a cross-country voyage that sees him undergoing a metaphysical journey that allows him to confront the past and face the future, all the while living in each individual moment, being more present as a result of life-altering changes than ever before, in what is one of the most captivating comedies of recent years, and a person triumph for the polarizing director, who reached a peak with this film to which he has yet to return.

About Schmidt was born from two different concepts – a screenplay written by Payne years before, in which he was aiming to explore the experiences of a man rediscovering life after retirement (a stark contrast to his two previous films, which were centred squarely on much younger character), and the novel by Begley, which Payne wove into his existing idea, creating a multilayered story that aimed to investigate the trials and tribulations of an ordinary man who is faced with several challenges that he didn’t envision as being part of what many referred to as his golden years. There are very few films that are as compassionate when looking at the process of ageing as this, and for all of his faults (such as his overt reliance on oversentimentality and often prosaic approaches to the more serious subject matter), Payne puts together a remarkably complex depiction of the titular character, who faces several obstacles, managing to overcome every one of them through a combination of the resourcefulness he earned after years of middle-class existence, and pure luck, taking him on a journey of self-discovery, the likes of which he didn’t imagine would factor into the planned tranquillity of his retired life. About Schmidt places all of its thematic cards on the table from the very start – we can easily predict many of the major developments, and from the first melancholic moments, where Warren R. Schmidt sits in his barren office, watching the clock as his official retirement looms in a matter of seconds, before shutting the door to an uncertain future, that this film is going to approach his existential voyage with a blend of heartfulness and humour, which is exactly what was required in order to offer such an empathetic and nuanced discussion on the theme of an existential crisis that comes later in life, which is a far more common occurrence than many would believe.

The titular role in About Schmidt is undeniably an excellent one, and there’s definitely not a shortage of actors of a certain age that could have feasibly played the role and done exceptionally well with it. However, without Jack Nicholson, this film quite simply would not exist, a sentiment that Payne has openly mentioned over time. The role was written with Nicholson in mind, and his presence is what propels the film and makes it such a beguiling and complex work. There is an argument to be made that not only is this one of his best late-career performances, it is also amongst his greatest work overall. My natural inclination when discussing his peak as an actor goes to the earlier stages of his career in films like Five Easy Pieces and The King of Marvin Gardens (both representing his finest work), but it’s About Schmidt that sees Nicholson embracing a very different character quite late in his life. This was not his swan song, but its possibly his last truly great performance before he finished off his illustrious career with a few well-meaning but inconsequential comedies that were entertaining but didn’t challenge him as an actor. This is precisely what makes this film in particular so compelling – an actor of Nicholson’s stature can’t always rest on their laurels, and they often do their best work when they’re being challenged. Few films have presented him with the opportunity to step out of the box than this, and he certainly rises to the occasion, turning in one of his most heartbreaking and nuanced performances to date, showing a vulnerability that could only come from half a century in the industry, playing characters that are rough around the edges, coalescing in this shattering but heartfelt depiction of an ordinary man who just wants to live out his final days in peace. Nicholson gave so many incredible performances over the course of his career, but it’s About Schmidt that stands as one of the few that lingers on indelibly – and with a body of work as astonishing as his, it speaks to the strength of his performance that playing a grieving widower on a cross-country voyage to find himself is universally considered some of his best work.

What is quite intriguing about this film is that even when dismantling the story and setting aside the conversations around ageing (which are obviously only going to be resonant with a certain portion of the population), About Schmidt is still a very effective film that speaks to all of us, regardless of whether we can relate to the trials and tribulations of a grouchy retiree living in the American Midwest, which is a surprisingly niche market. This is a film primarily about a voyage of self-discovery – Payne approached the story from a perspective of not looking at the character as solely defined by his age, but rather a more intangible concept that isn’t as easily defined as the numerical value assigned to you based on the time spent alive, which is often viewed as an achievement when in reality it is often just a case of luck. There are other characters in About Schmidt that are also advanced in age, and seem to be perfectly content – the general sentiment that drives the film is not how many years you have been alive, but rather how it was spent, which is the source of many of the film’s more emotional moments, and the thematic thread that ties the film together and makes it so exceptionally endearing. We observe this character unpacking his own life in the wake of his recent retirement and the death of his wife, which puts him in a position where he has no choice be to address his past and come to terms with the fact that he didn’t lead a particularly daring life, which results in a desperate attempt to ensure that whatever time he has left is worthwhile. There are many lessons embedded deep within this film, and a lot of its impact comes in how the director blends comedy and drama in a way that feels authentic – the humour is sharp and pointed, while the sadder moments feel genuinely moving. It does help that About Schmidt is populated by a cast of actors that can handle the shifting tone, with Nicholson being joined by Kathy Bates, Hope Davis and June Squibb in bringing this vibrant and heartfelt story of suburban malaise to life with candour and charm.

There’s a vivacity to the approach Payne takes when telling this story that feels incredibly refreshing and unique, and allows the film to avoid the same heavy-handed cliches that normally abound in such stories, and gives it an effervescence that makes a considerable difference, since the emotional moments are far more resonant when it feels like they’re coming from a place of genuine compassion, rather than simply trying to stir up a reaction in the viewer, one of the many merits that allow About Schmidt to be a truly enthralling and deeply human film. Anchored by a tour de force performance by Jack Nicholson, who has proven on countless occasions that he is justified in being called one of the finest actors of his generation, and told by a director who may not always succeed when it comes to looking at deep issues, but who strikes the perfect balance between humour and pathos here, creating a vibrant and captivating film that feels like a work of genuinely impactful storytelling, rather than just a series of quirky moments surrounding an eccentric protagonist and his various misadventures. About Schmidt is a genuinely complex character study that has enough heart and soul to transcend some of its more heavy-handed subjects, which Payne flawlessly integrates into this endearing story of an old man deciding to finally embrace life, hearkening back to his youthful days in the hopes of capturing some sense of excitement as he undergoes this extraordinary journey. There is a reason About Schmidt has remained so cherished for the past twenty years – it is a simple story that is told well, and gives us unfettered access into the life and times of a truly complex protagonist, who may technically represent a very specific kind of individual, but who is so well-written, his journey is one that we can all relate to, especially in how he reflects on his feelings of displacement in a world that is supposedly driven by conventions. In short, About Schmidt is a minor miracle of a film, a resounding triumph that gives us the opportunity to see the world from a different perspective, and allows us the chance to get to know this character as we accompany him on his thrilling journey, learning as much about ourselves as we do him – and if there was ever a film that celebrates the simple joys of life and the possibility of overcoming any challenge, About Schmidt is a perfect candidate.