The Best Movies of Alexander Payne: Reviewing His Films and Their Reactions
Alexander Payne is one of the unique filmmakers of our time. In addition to being a brilliant director, he’s also an accomplished writer and producer. Many of Payne’s movies have critically acclaimed performances and themes, yet very few people have seen them. That’s completely understandable. While his movies are slightly more accessible than most arthouse fare, they’re rarely sold in mainstream theaters. For that reason, you’ll likely have to seek them out on DVD or streaming services. But when you do, you’ll find arthouse cinema at its finest. Here’s a list of Alexander Payne’s movies, some background information about each, and the best reactions to
About Me (2007)
About me is a documentary-style biopic about the life of Jack Nicholson. It’s set in the early ’90s and follows Nicholson as he makes a comeback in Hollywood. It’s not a biopic per se, but it’s loosely based on the early years of Jack Nicholson’s life. During the making of About Me, Payne and his filmmaking partner Jim Taylor visited Nicholson regularly and interviewed him. The result is a biographical portrait of one of the most prolific and unique actors.
About Schmidt (2002)
About Schmidt is just about a perfect movie. It’s a perfect comedic rendering of a man (John Travolta) who decides to reinvent himself in his 40s. He does this by moving to a small town and assuming a character’s identity from his past. If you enjoy watching people reinvent themselves, About Schmidt is a movie you should watch. But Beyond that, About Schmidt is also a very smartly written movie with a heartwarming story at its core. We don’t often see movies as accessible and intelligent as About Schmidt.
Citizen Ruth (1996)
Citizen Ruth is a biopic about a women’s professional baseball league. It focuses primarily on one of the league’s players, Ruth Graham (Laura Dern). Dern also directed and wrote the screenplay for Citizen Ruth. Dern is probably best known for her Oscar-winning performance in Wild and her role in the TV series Twin Peaks. Citizen Ruth isn’t just a great sports movie; it’s also a great character study of a woman.
About a Mother (1998)
About a Mother is a comedy about a man (Edward Norton) who starts a therapy group. The first session involves Norton playing a patient who is convinced he’s a fictional character in a novel. It’s a hilarious exploration of the boundaries of therapy and the nature of fiction. About a Mother is an excellent comedy with a bit of heart behind it.
Conclusion
That should do it for your best films on Alexander Payne’s list! Whether you watch them as a whole or pick just one to watch, you’re in for a treat. Each of these films is worth your time and will strike a chord with you. We’ve got a quick and easy guide below if you’re unsure where to start. In the meantime, let us know what you think of Payne’s films in the comments below!
Alexander Payne is one of the unique filmmakers of our time. In addition to being a brilliant director, he’s also an accomplished writer and producer. Many of Payne’s movies have critically acclaimed performances and themes, yet very few people have seen them. That’s completely understandable. While his movies are slightly more accessible than most arthouse…