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Sat, 23 Aug 2008

Movie Review: Bucket List
Title:Bucket List (2007)
Rating:6/10

My brother and sister-in-law recently recommended that we rent and see The Bucket List. It is a show about two gentlemen which are advanced in years that are each diagnosed with terminal cancer. One man (played by Morgan Freeman) is a blue collar worker that worked repairing taxis up until the day he was diagnosed. The other man (Jack Nicholson) is a wealthy billionaire that owns a chain of hospitals, even the one where the two men meet and share a hospital room. After sharing a room with one another for some weeks time, they construct a "bucket list" - things to do before they die - and travel the world (on the billionaire's dime of course) crossing off items on their list.

Nicholson's character has a seemingly infinite supply of free time and money and leaves behind a sterile life that has no close associations whatsoever. However, Freeman's character leaves behind his wife and family to join Nicholson. Freedman's wife is especially bewildered by his actions and eventually this bewilderment gives way to frustration and anger. And really, who can blame her?! The whole notion of spending the last moments of life with a complete stranger rather than family and friends is a very curious notion and one that I could not empathize with the least. This left me completely disconnected from the Freeman character and the story itself for much of the duration of the movie.

But a few weeks into their "bucket list" journey, both men come to realize that the errand they are running is empty and wholly insignificant, especially compared to the value of the families they have left behind unattended. Freeman's character returns to his family and enjoys his last days surrounded by them. And Nicholson's character reconciles with a daughter and meets his grand-daughter for the first time.

Summary: Touching story; worthwhile message. But the setup is a bit contrived.

:: Posted by rus on Sat, 23 Aug 2008 11:59 pm
:: Filed under /reviews/movies

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