Given his status as one of Hollywood's greatest icons, Jack Nicholson has been picky as to what roles he commits to. Rather than shell out mindless Hollywood drivel for a huge paycheck, the 67-year-old, three-time Oscar winner has taken the road less traveled, acting his age in good films.

And bless him for it. Not since his last Academy Award-winning film, "As Good As It Gets," has the actor seemed so immersed in his work. That says a lot about a man who made history in films such as "Easy Rider" and "The Shining."

In "About Schmidt" Nicholson plays Warren Schmidt, a recent retiree who becomes increasingly bored with his mundane life at home. Schmidt feels old, and it shows. He plods silently around the house. He barely speaks to his wife. He experiences separation anxiety from his old job. The man is bored out of his mind and looking for purpose to his life in the monotonous farmland of Nebraska.

When he decides to sponsor a Tanzanian child, prompted by an Angela Lansbury infomercial, Schmidt views it as a way of finding purpose. Along with monthly checks, he is asked to send a letter with some personal information.

Schmidt is quick to lay out his problems on paper. He complains about aging. He complains about his wife, asking, "Who is this old woman living in my house?" He complains about his daughter's (Hope Davis) impending marriage to a sweetly dimwitted waterbed salesman (Dermont Mulroney; picture a balding Steven Seagal with a mullet and bad facial hair). Mostly, though, he just complains about a life he sees as wasted.

When his wife unexpectedly dies, Schmidt realizes he has taken life for granted and sets out to Virginia in an RV to prevent his daughter from marrying the wrong man. A good portion of the film focuses on Schmidt's road trip across the Midwest as he contemplates the triviality of his existence, visiting old haunts and reliving memories lost. In a particularly touching scene, Schmidt visits a tire store on the land that was once his childhood home, pointing out his bedroom to an apathetic clerk.

"About Schmidt" spends a good portion of its running time addressing the pains of loss, both of a loved one and time. The film is a quiet meditation about life in general, focusing on people's tendency to not utilize the small amount of time we're given. Because of this, many will find the film a bit boring (it is) and its narration cheesy, but the film has so much heart that it's impossible not to sympathize with Schmidt.

When it rains, it pours, and the poor man sacrifices so much that it's hard not to like the grumpy old bastard as he receives blow after emotionally devastating blow.

Surprisingly, the film is not completely depressing. Mulroney offers some much-needed relief in his sparse scenes, nervously spitting out his moronic dialogue the way Keanu Reeves does by accident. Kathy Bates is great as Mulroney's foul-mouthed, sexual firecracker mother. And Schmidt's narration, voiced-over and drawing from his letters to the Tanzanian sponsor-child, offer some very funny insights into the drab character.

But make no mistake, this is Nicholson's movie. Writer-director Alexander Payne (of the wickedly funny and stylish "Election") avoids getting flashy with camerawork and allows Nicholson to run the show. His performance makes this bittersweet, albeit flawed, drama a film to remember.

If you liked this, you may also like: "Nobody's Fool" with another old pro, Paul Newman, playing an everyman in suburbia.

Suggested Viewing: Don't expect anything exciting. If you're looking for a contemplative drama, you've found it, but the subject matter merits a shoulder to cry on.

Overall: 3.5

Acting: 5

Directing: 3.5

Script: 4

Cinematography: 4

Musical Score: 3