46. Warren Schmidt in About Schmidt (2002)
Who could of imagined Nicholson taking on the role of droll, suppressed Warren Schmidt; a man who explores the stresses of retirement whilst sporting a hideous comb over? But a suitably restrained Nicholson is both funny and touching in this Oscar nominated portrayal.
47. Great Screen Chemistry With The Ladies
Perhaps it's due to an absent, dysfunctional father or being brought up by women, but Jack is best when eloping with the ladies on screen. Look at the chemistry with Faye Dunaway in
Chinatown, or ex-wife Anjelica Huston in
The Crossing Guard or Diane Keaton in
Something's Gotta Give - this man is quite capable of giving his female co-stars a chance to shine when he wants to. Just don't let the men get in the way!
48. Frank Costello in The Departed (2007)
Who else but Jack could take on menacing Irish crime lord Frank Costello in Martin Scorsese's typically violent Oscar winning film
The Departed? Just when you though Nicholson couldn't surprise us no more he had the energy to turn a septuagenarian truly fearful. Frank can charm you as easily as he can kill you and there are many classic 'Jack' moments to savour - Jack 'smelling a rat' , slinging a handful of coke at a couple of prossies while ordering "don't move till you're numb!" or pretending to jerk off with a black dildo in a porn house. Then there's tyrannical Jack beating on another character's plaster cast or shooting a couple in the back of the head on a beach whilst observing "She fell funny!"
49. Good At Marking His Own Territory
To emphasise the point here's Nicholson quite literally doing just that in Wolf. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDZx7DBKzPY
50. Has Retained His Integrity
Jack's reputation precedes him. And while there have been numerous affairs, liaisons with younger women, a few hostilities with directors and an incident with a golf club, none of it has done his career any harm and he still remains one of the most respected talents in the business.