Oh, Manchester, So Much To Answer For

last sunday, I kind of assumed that the main reason jack nicholson won his golden globe award was because the hollywood foreign press association loves jack - he always gives good quote, is a fun presence, et cetera. and to an extent, that may have been true. but the bottom line is this: he gives what may be the finest leading performance of his career in about schmidt. he completely immerses himself in the role of warren schmidt, an insurance-industry lifer who's left emotionally adrift after his retirement and the sudden death of his wife of 42 years. he pulls off broad comedy and complete pathos in the same performance, and actually does the unthinkable: he makes you forget that he's jack nicholson. much of the credit must go to screenplay by alexander payne and jim taylor, and to payne's note-perfect direction, which takes great care in the film's details: an extreme closeup of nicholson's ankle here, a moment of ambient vacuum cleaner noise there. kathy bates is as fine as advertised in her supporting role, as well - and yes, her nude scene is a jaw-dropper. but make no mistake; about schmidt is jack's film, and he tears into his role as a sad, angry, lost man with relish he hasn't shown in years (c'mon, he was sleepwalking through his last oscar-winner, as good as it gets - which wasn't, by any means). it's a stunner, and there should be no doubt that jack'll win his fourth oscar (and third for best actor) on march 23rd.

p.s. after seeing both films, I'd agree with the globes: yes, about schmidt should've beaten (and did) adaptation for the screenplay prize.