How Hollywood Views Middle America

Actually, the director Alexander Payne was born and raised in Omaha, NE. And in the book, Warren Schmidt lives in the Hamptons, I believe (a NY investment banker instead of an insurance actuary). As Payne did the script adaptation as well, your hypothesis kind of falls apart.



I wish I was a headlight on a northbound train. I'd shine my light through the cool Colorado rain.

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Absolutely destroyed.

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When in reality, Manhattan and L.A. are full of fake people; middle america is full of real people.

I've lived in both big cities and small towns. Both have their share of shallow and phony people (albeit they show it in different ways), and both have their share of authentic people. Those who go around saying "all big city people are fake, pretentious wannabes" are just as ignorant as those who go around saying "small town Americans are dumb rubes."

Good movie dispite the fact it was obviously made to make the REAL america look shallow.

When Schmidt writes his first letter to Ndugu, he vents years or decades of pent-up frustration. In spite of a life spent getting along and keeping up appearances, there's obviously more to Warren Schmidt than a flat caricature. In spite of having a completely different life and background, I could still identify with the character, and so could many other people.

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