The Bucket ListDescription
You only live once, so why not go out in style? Thats what two cancer- ward roommates, an irascible billionaire (Jack Nicholson) and a scholarly mechanic (Morgan Freeman), decide when they get the bad news. They compose a bucket list things to do before you kick the bucket and head off for the around-the-world adventure of their lives. Sky dive? Check. Power a Shelby Mustang around a racetrack? Check. Gaze at the Great Pyramid of Khufu? Check. Discover the joy in their lives before its too late? Check! Under the nimble direction of Rob Reiner, the two great stars provide the heart and soul, wit and wiles of this inspired salute to life that proves that the best time of all is right now.
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"You measure yourself by the people who measure themselves by you," says the quietly wise Carter Chambers, played with gravitas and grace by a Morgan Freeman. In Rob Reiners moving, often hilarious film
The Bucket List, all sorts of people measure themselves against the two heroes, Chambers and his hospital suitemate, Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson). But as Cole finds, having spent his entire life building a Fortune 500 company, none of that much matters when cancer, the great equalizer, pays a visit. The film traces the adventures of the two unlikely friends, who meet in a hospital cancer ward, each given six months to live. The "bucket list" of the title refers to a lifelong list of goals that a teacher of Chambers once advised him to compile--and achieve--"before you kick the bucket." Soon the two are off on what may be the last grand adventure of their life, vowing to tick off as many goals (skydiving, race-car driving, seeing the wonders of the world) as they can in the time they have left. What starts as a medical melodrama becomes a road trip, yet the mens mortality realities are never far from thought. The two leads give impressive performances, and remind the viewer of just how few American films focus on the lives and loves of senior citizens. Nicholson even manages to lose his persona in his character, much as he did in
About Schmidt. Theres a lovely John Mayer tune, "Say (What You Need to Say)," thats perfectly matched to the films clear-eyed view of life: What does one person leave behind as his true legacy? --
A.T. HurleyRate Points :4.0
Binding :DVD
Brand :Warner Brothers
Label :Warner Home Video
Manufacturer :Warner Home Video
MPN :WARD024013D
ProductGroup :DVD
Studio :Warner Home Video
Publisher :Warner Home Video
UPC :085391139881
EAN :0085391139881
Price :$19.98USD
Lowest Price :$10.06USD
Customer ReviewsKick "The Bucket List" Rating Point :1 Helpful Point :1 The new Jack Nicholson & Morgan Freeman buddy picture is downright depressing. Indeed, the Warner Brothers trailer for "The Bucket List" made it look like a hilarious combination of "Grumpy Old Men" meet "Odd Couple" in a cancer ward. The Oscar-winning actors play an Abbott & Costello pair of charismatic cut-ups with cancer. Unfortunately, this warm fuzzy frolic about two terminally-ill old-times that tear off for one final fling is predictable, preposterous, and ultimately pathetic. This is the kind of movie that would make a hospice nurse snicker out of one corner of his or her mouth. No disrespect intended to hospice nurses.
Our elderly heroes loiter for the first thirty minutes in a hospital, the next thirty on a round-the-world, fun-in-the-sun, travelogue thrill ride, and the last thirty minutes taking forever to die. Ironically, billionaire hospital magnate Edward Cork (paunchy Jack Nicholson of "Anger Management") has never been sick a day in his life. He parlayed his fortune out of privatizing health care facilities. Two beds for each room, he stipulates early in the opening scene, he doesnt operate health spas. No sooner has Cork declared this dictum than he lands in one of his own hospitals with six months to live. When he awakens, Cork demands a private room. Not possible, his right-hand man Thomas (Sean Hayes of TVs "Will & Grace") admonishes him. Corks choice of a private room, Thomas points out, would undermine Corks own dictum about low-cost hospital facilities. Thankfully, Jack Nicholson doesnt moon us like Tom Hanks did in "Charlie Wilsons War." Of course, what movie about chemo patients would be complete without the star in his hospital gown puking in a toilet?
Auto mechanic Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman of "Unforgiven") suspects that he has his own tumor when he discards his last cigarette. Unlike the quadruple divorced Cork, Chambers has been happily married to his high school sweetheart for 45 years with two financially successful grown-up sons and a daughter. The boys have made him a grandfather while his daughter has become a world-class violinist.
Cork and Carter wind up in the same room but they arent made for each other. One day, Carter scribbles out an inventory of activities on a yellow pad hed like to do before he kicks the bucket. Generously, Cork offers to foot the bill for their adrenalin-laced adventures. Our heroes behave like overgrown adolescents. They parachute from planes, careen around in race cars, climb the Great Pyramids, and motorcycle the length of the Great Wall of China. Lastly, they share the laugh of their lives when they discover Corks premium coffee derives its unique flavor from the digestive tract of an exotic tree cat that feeds on them.
Nicholson and Freeman together arent enough to redeem freshman writer Justin Zackmans contrived clowning about friendship, death, and dying. Were none the wiser for watching this platitudinous pabulum. "The Bucket List" qualifies as another loser from director Rob Reiner who once made good movies such as "When Harry Meet Sally," "The Sure Thing," "Stand By Me," and "The Princess Bride." Lately, he has been dishing up dreck like "North," "The Ghosts of Mississippi," "The Story of Us," "Alex and Emma," and "Rumor Has It."
The tear-jerking titans that Nicholson and Freeman play possess far too much stamina and energy as former chemotherapy patients to perform their daring feats. The skydiving scenes are the genuine item,with Nicholson and Freeman clearly in the air above th earth, but the racing scenes suffer from obvious back-projection footage. What? They could sky dive from several thousand feet for real, but they cannot drive like hellions for a quarter of a mile?
Make "The Bucket List" the last movie you ever see!
Poetic and full of tears Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0 Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, need I say more? In the beginning were introduced the sweet voice of Morgan Freeman narrating while shots of the Himalayas flash on screen. We see a lonely climber who will also be at the end of the film.
Freeman is absolutely outstanding as Carter Chambers. Carter is a mechanic who for 45 years has greased up his arms working to give his children and wife. Nicholson is a rich tyrant named Edward Cole whos only joy in life it seems is to make money and cause hell to the people around him. Yet, they meet up in Coles hospital, both being treated for cancer. One night Carter creates a "Bucket List", yet throws it on the floor. Cole picks up and Carter tells him the story of how his Freshman Philosophy teacher asked them to make a "Bucket List" Things they wanted to do before they died. Ironic how it comes into play now? So funded by Coles millions and both of their desires to do more before their deaths, they go on the adventure. Skydiving, racing sports cars, going to France, and going on an African safari are among some of the things they do. And to keep from potential spoilers, Ill stop here.
Overall "The Bucket List" isnt a movie in the traditional sense, you take a lot more away from it than your average run of the mill comedy/drama. Its tearful (dealing with death is never easy), its inspiring, and perhaps at times a little tacky. However its a great movie and I would recommend it to anyone.
A BEUTIFULL touching story about dying Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0 Lets face it,were all going to die,and "THe Bucket List" has a message for all of us.Why do we stop speaking to our family for years for some stupid reason?Why are we scared to try everything in life that is offered to us?"The Bucket List"touches your heart and soul,and even though you know what the ending is,Its a wonderfull one.Just be prepared to cry,laugh,and think about your own life,and how you want to live it,plus,Jack Nicholson is in it.
Dont Kick It Before Watching It Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0 We probably all theoretically have that list of things that we all hope to accomplish before we meet our fateful end here on Earth. Whether the list include tangible sort of goals like run a marathon or climb a mountain or somewhat more intangible things like being a better person or contributing to society, the reason as to why we might choose to list such items is to sort of set some goals in the life that passes us by so quickly.
Often times we might not take seriously the list of things to achieve until it is too late. We might be caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life that removes our focus from what might be a priority and what might not be. There are times when we might fail to start addressing the things that might be classified as goals until "everything else" is done.
Directed by Rob Reiner, The Bucket List is a humorous yet somewhat philosophical film that maybe even for just a few seconds reminds us that maybe there is more to life than just the rigmarole of our professional lives. In a society that is driven by numbers, results and expectations, a failure to step back every now and again could indeed push each of us to our passing in a more expeditious manner.
The Bucket List gets its name because it is one mans listing of things that he hopes to accomplish before he kicks the bucket.
Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) is a mechanic by trade but perhaps a professor by knowledge and action. Carter seems to know just about every fact there is to know about just about everything. A Jeopardy wizard, Carter is satisfied with his life as a mechanic but cannot help but wonder if decisions that he made perhaps could have forever changed the life that he lives.
One day while working in his shop, Carter comes out to find that he has terminal cancer and likely does not have much time left to live. Though he has sort of found his peace with the diagnosis, Carter does try some experimental cancer treatment in an attempt to give not just himself but his family some more time.
By matter of circumstance, Carter ends up becoming hospital roommate with Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) who is, interestingly enough, the owner of the hospital where the two are staying. Edward has made his fortune in the health care industry owning and operating hospitals. His business approach to health care has always been more about the dollars and cents more than it has been about providing quality health care.
But when Edward comes to find out that he too is on a quick path to death due to a cancer diagnosis, as well, Edward finds a new perspective on life. His friendship with Carter is a unique and interesting one that at times is about nothing more than playing gin while at other times it is all about personal and emotional issues the two might be sharing.
Sean Hayes plays the role of Thomas, who is Edwards right hand man and does it remarkably well. There is the right level of cynicism directed back at the boss that truly makes the dynamic between the two shine.
Needless to say, the two friends each start to look at the things that are on their joint bucket list and wonder whether or not they will be able to accomplish many of them before they pass. As the absurdity of some of the tasks grows so does their friendship that really was like a phoenix that rose from the ashes of being nothing more than hospital roommates.
What makes The Bucket List such an enjoyable film is really the message that it gets across. Though certainly it is meant to be watched partially as a comedy, there is also the right amount of a sort of deeper meaning to the film that makes it a complete film. Freeman and Nicholson are the ideal actors for the parts that they were cast for and it is clear to see why they were chosen.
The Bucket List is an amazingly well done film that is certainly worth while to add to your own bucket list of movies to watch. After all, it could help to shed some perspective as to your own daily living.
The Bucket List Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0 This is by far the best movie of the year. Heartwarming, funny and serious all at the same time. The interaction between Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson is as classic as Paul Newman and Robert Redford. This is a must see.
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