Monday, January 7, 2008
The Bucket List
“The Bucket List,” directed by Rob Reiner, is a movie about two men dying of cancer who decide to live life to the fullest before they die. The two veterans playing the lead roles provide solid performances although Jack Nicholson too often lapses into typical Nicholson mugging for the camera rather than acting. Morgan Freeman, as always, is totally believable as Carter Chambers, an auto mechanic who shares a hospital room with billionaire Edward Cole (Nicholson). After undergoing painful chemotherapy and then creating a ‘bucket list,’ things they want to see and do before they die, these two men decide not to waste any more time. First they try skydiving followed by racecar driving. During their visits to the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids, and the Great Wall of China, they discuss such issues as God, faith and religion although not in much depth. And they discover that it’s the personal things in one’s life that have the most meaning. There is nothing profound in Justin Zackham’s script; “The Bucket List” is not intended to be a treatise on the meaning of life. The pleasure in this movie comes from the camaraderie between the two men. And although the ending is a little too sentimental, you leave the theater with the feeling that you’ve seen a worthwhile movie. And nary a drop of blood was spilled. (1/7/08)
I enjoyed "The Bucket List." Maybe it was because I watched it with my family on Christmas Day (family tradition where we watch a movie to end the old year or start the new year.) Of course, my reason is more likely that I fall into that age group over 35 which the movie from all indications has found its target audience and expected box office receipts.
ReplyDeleteThe Movie Pro review claims there is no underlying theme to the meaning of life which I agree. However, to appreciate the movie one would have to admit about having their own list either actual or kept in the back of their minds. Afterall it is human nature to keep lists: shopping lists, don't forget lists, when kids leave home lists, what to do when I retire lists, etc.
Although Nicholosn and Freeman are not two of my favorite actors; they are stong individual leads and the characters they protrayed, Edward Cole and Carter Chambers,were believable; not always lovable. From my female point of view there was just enough sentamentality to make the movie acceptable and cause this viewer to take a brief moment to mentally add to her list.
"The Bucket List" was about how one rich man sought to complete his last requests with a fellow companion and learned a few truths about himself while gaining a soul mate in the end.
There is a message to this movie - savor the present because the future is waiting in ambush. And because you may not have tomorrow, you must live life today.
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