MovieChat Forums > About Schmidt (2003) Discussion > If you had to write the sequel...

If you had to write the sequel...

posted 12 years ago by Quicksilver1900
4 replies | jump to latest

..how do you think Warren Schmidt's life would go?

I think he'd sink into isolation, depression, and alcohol, and when he bottomed out, he would venture into some local spheres of activity, and some enterprising widow or divorcée would bag him. If he was lucky, she'd be a warm, loving woman with a big family and wide circle of friends. He would get pulled into a happy home life, and die a loved and contented man. On the other hand, if his loneliness made him desperate, he could let himself be bagged by a difficult, maybe crazy woman, or possibly an alcoholic, if he met her at a bar. Then he'd sink deeper and deeper, until he finally died.

[–] wlandolfi-1 12 years ago

I think the ending of ABOUT SCHMIDT is open-ended. Here are the spoilers: We know that at the end of the movie, Warren Schmidt reads the letter from the Sister who takes care of Indugu, the boy who Warren has been sending money and writes letters to throughout the film, and cries. One has to remember that in Warren's very last letter, he feels that there is no hope for him and that his life has no meaning. Therefore, when he sees the letter from the Sister and the drawing from Indugu, he sees that perhaps, his life DOES mean something to somebody. Now, what might happen to Warren? One does not know because he was set in his ways and even after attending his daughter's wedding, there is no sign of his patching things up with his daughter. However, I think that Warren might try to enjoy the remaining years of his life. Perhaps, he might travel some more. After all, he did have the big RV. I'm not saying his life would be peachy keen. Not at all. I would hazard to say though that Warren might find that due to his letters to Indugu, his life does have meaning and it might help him go out and do things rather than wallow away in depression.

[–] Captain_Bob 12 years ago

It came to me in a dream. Warren's Omaha neighborhood falls into decay and eventually becomes a suburban ghetto with Asian families slowly taking over. A clumsy immigrant boy from next door tries but fails to steal his 35-foot motor home, but turns out to be a good-hearted yet misguided kid. Warren takes the boy under his wing, helps him get a job, and repeatedly fends off attempts by gang members to corrupt him. Ultimately Warren decides to take a bullet from the gang so they will go to jail. He dies heroically on the street next to a tire swing with a melting Dairy Queen® Blizzard (Reese's Pieces and cookie dough, size: medium) dripping from his lifeless hands. A stray cow walks past slowly. Cut to black, credits roll with Warren's croaky voice singing a nostalgic tribute to Winnebago motor homes. Awesome.

[–] choatelodge 12 years ago

Schmidt begins to have long conversations with himself, that often lead to arguements, yelling and storming around. He finds solace in downloading bomb making directions off the internet and with the money from the sale of the suburban house, he constructs a small cabin in the wilderness, with a larger garage.
Tracing the flagged bomb making sites through provisions made possible by the Patriot Act, the BATF surround the shack and command Schmidt to come out and give himself up. An engine is heard to start and in a moment Schmidt bursts out of the garage in the motorhome to which he has welded steel plates all over the outside and he steers it while peering through a narrow slot. The vehicle swerves onto the highway swaying drunkenly under the excessive weight of the armor, bullets ringing off the plating. One bullet shatters a tiny porcelain figurine that was rolling around on the roof. Fade to black.

[–] nutsberryfarm 11 years ago

...he opens up a putt putt course.

The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.