The Bucket List
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 A Film for Grown Ups In a time when most movies are aimed at teens, and those who wish we still were teens, The Bucket List has immense appeal to folks who have gone through the losses of loved ones and have accepted their own futures as finite. Although the odds are slim of finding a comrade in dying -- and one with unlimited wealth, the premise of the film: to list and act on the things we want to do before kicking the bucket, is real. There is much to learn here. And you will find yourself laughing and crying -- sometimes at the same time. When this film ended, the theater audience broke into spontaneous applause. Making the most out of your last months Saw this one in the theater. This was an excellent film with acting greats Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as 2 older gentlemen, both diagnosed with terminal cancer. They meet when they become hospital roommates through operations and chemotherapy treatments (and heads in the toilet bowl). They are an unlikely pair of opposites who find consolation within the tender caring sides of each other. Jack is a billionaire, previously married 4 times, currently single, and estranged from his one child, a daughter. Morgan is a family man, married with children and grandchildren. Jack is a little outspoken and wild. Morgan is like a quiet southern gentleman. They become great friends in the hospital and decide to make a "Bucket List" (a list of things to do before they kick the bucket). So, with Jack's money and Jack's personal assistant to make all arrangements, and Jack's private plane, they take off to do all the things on the list. Although in content it is certainly sad, it is also uplifting that they get to live the rest of their time doing some very special things as well as bonding in a beautiful loving friendship. There are lots of laughs, too. This movie will have you both laughing and crying as you go through the final months of the lives of these two men. On a side note, I can understand if you are leery of seeing a movie about 2 men dying of cancer. I was a little uneasy about the subject matter myself, since I lost my 53 year old mother, 64 year old father, and 40-year old brother to cancer. But I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and was glad I watched it. And, of course, the acting job was superb. I even took my 15-year old granddaughter to see the movie. I asked her what rating she would give it, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being outstanding. She gave it a 9 ½--and I certainly agree!  The point is, you should not have to have a Bucket List. This is a movie on a topic that is nothing new. Two old guys with a limited amount of time, make a list and while accomplishing things on the list discover a friendship among other things. Morgan Freeman's outstanding voice makes for a riveting narration, the movie is predictable but well directed. What I took from this movie is that you really should not need to have a "Bucket List". If one can find balance in one's life and utilize every day wisely, I guess one will be a content person always. If one can live by the US Army's theme "Be All that You Can Be" every single day, I think one would have lived life well. Overall this is a great movie but not one that you would find interesting the second time over. Best Movie I've seen in years. For several years now, Hollywood has been producing basically crap and calling them movies. They even had a writers strike and no one noticed a difference in the quality of the movies and television. I had pretty much given up on Hollywood to produce anything good and original. The Bucket List is a wonderful exception. My Fiance' and I went last Saturday to see the movie and had the most enjoyable and emotional two hours. We laughed, laughed til we cried, and cried. Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman had a chemistry that would take the movie to an entirely new level. I won't spoil the story for anyone, but I will be buying a DVD for myself, and several more to give as gifts. Be safe and well. | |||||||||||||
