JPF Home Page Forums Creative Arts Forums Acting, Theater, Film and TV Forum "G-A-C" Review: "THE BUCKET LIST"/J. Nickleson/M. Freeman

Well-Directed by Rob Reiner, this wonderful "Buddy Tale" covers the last year in the lives of 2 terminally-ill men. Justin Zakham wrote the Script, & deserves a "Bravo!"...

Both are behind this study of 2 Quite-Different Personalities dealing with the Short-Termed "Inevitable". Jack Nicholson plays Edward Cole, Billionaire Hospital-Owning Tycoon, who has his Doubts about a "Hereafter", & has chosen to not say "Goodbye" to his one offspring from several failed marriages. Morgan Freeman plays Carter Chambers, a Hardworking-Mechanic, who'd dreamed of Success after College, only to get his then-Girlfriend (Beverly Todd, as Virginia Chambers) pregnant, "Did-the-Right-Thing", & the Sizable Family-that-Followed precluded his ever-returning to College.

Both end up sharing a Hospital Room together..(Hilariously)..& discussing Final Plans in the Making. Both are given under a year to live. Freeman's got a list he'd started on...a "(Kick-the) Bucket List"..Dreams he's thus-far been unable to fulfill in his lifetime. Nicholson, a Billionaire, (with no one to mourn his passing) takes an interest in helping Freeman fulfill these wishes..(& avoid the Morbidity of just Waiting-To-Die among Family & Friends) & off they go in a Voyage of Great Discovery...in Search of "What's Meaningful."

If You're an Older Viewer, the Movie's a Great "Wake-Up Call." If you're Younger, I still think you'll find it "Inspiring Entertainment."

I'm inspired to give it a "9-Outta-10" because I've enjoyed Both These Guys' Work over the years, and neither they nor I am getting any younger. For 2 Gorgeous Hours, we ALL can get away on Jack's Jet...see the Pyramids, Taj Mahal, Wall of China (& More..so Much More!)...& Discover What Life's Kinda All-About.

Better-Late than-Never, & I hope ya catch The Flight! (Nice Acting by Sean Hayes, too..as Cole's Glib, Often-Fired Admin-Assistant, Thomas!) If he doesn't Mist-Ya-Up, you're dead already!

JMO...Keep or Sweepit!
Big Hugs,
Stan

Interesting.. this is the first positive review I have read on this movie. It looked really awful to me and I am a big fan of both. But the cliche's shown in the trailer alone made me stay far away from this. I am guessing it will be pleasant to watch on cable in a few months.

Thanks for the review!

Brian

I am amazed that no one has mentioned the song 'Live like you were dying'...The song even mentions 'sky-diving' for Pete's sake.

I was more than a little peeved in late 2006, when I heard Mr. Freeman talking about starting to work on this film. It had some similarities to my humble screenplay(which I started around the turn of the millennium BTW)in which a main character has terminal cancer....On the other hand, Hollywood loves concepts that are similar to other successful films, so maybe it's not such a bad thing.

But I agree with Brian, after all the commercials, I decided to wait for the DVD....And Stan, since I haven't seen the movie, I probably shouldn't comment, but my question is, WHO is the Antagonist? What 'Forces' are there that work against them doing everything on the List? With the Nicholson character being a multi-gazzillionaire, it seems that the suspense factor might be lacking?...Mighta been much more fun if he had also found out that all his money had been evilly absconded with and they had to actually struggle to accomplish their goals.

Jes' wonderin'

Midnite

HiDee Big Bro!

At the end of all this Entertainment, ya sit there & Wonder if these agin' Actors actually VISITED all these Fine Places they headed off-to. (What a great Excuse-To...it's In The Script, & In The Contract!) SOME, I'm sure, was shot in Blue-Screen & Digitally-Inserted. (Think it's now against the Law to climb the Pyramids..so One Scene for sure's "Fudged" a bit.)

I, for one, ended up feelin' all-Elderly & WISHED we could just Hat-Up for a big bitta Travel..like we keep working towards! DID write up a Personal "Bucket List" of things I'd like to Accomplish..after we saw the Flick.

& Yeah, I ended up REAL Glad I've (Probably) got More Than ONE "Last Year" to get it all Done In!

Probably Just the One Scene where Former-Athiest Nicholson's doin' a bitta Preachin' in a Pretty Full Church is worth the Admission Price. (But he even tops This Scene..when it comes to Compassion-Learned.)

I'd have given this Flick at least a 5-or-6 for merely bein' "Just Another Buddy Flick"..but the 2 Old Farts made it into An Adventure Flick, With a Heart, with the help of Fine Writing, etc.

(And I'd have given my right tit to have one of those Fords under me on that Racetrack..racin' Ol' Jack to the Finish Line..!)

Dunno IF the Gals'll like this as much as We Guys..BUT the Writer DID factor in "What Would THEY Think" rather-well into the Plotline.

JMO..of course!

Best Wishes Big Bro!
Big Guy-Hug,
Stan

G'Mornin' Bro Bob!

I'd saw the Early-On Antagonist is The Hospital...Then, In-Remission, it's Time-Itself. Freeman's Wife right off the bat becomes Something To Alter Their Travel Plans....via a Major Guilt Trip. The Dynamic Duo also gets-thwarted in an attempt to climb the Himalayas...(Wrong Time of The Year..Gulp)..but Director "Bookends" this in a VERY Effective Way to make the Film Soar by the Credit Roll.

And I'm a Sucker for Last Minute "Twists" I never saw coming. Nicholson's Character goes "Out" doin' One Last Totally-Illegal THING that's SO IN-Character, it's both Hilarious AND Spiritually-Uplifting.

And, cliche's & all, it totally misted me up. (I readily-admit, it helps to be Over-60..to get Misted Up when both Central Characters "Buy-The-Farm" in the Final Reel...but they were SO Alive in all the Footage-Prior/ I think every agin' male wants to either be DeNiro or Nicholson on any given day.)

And..my guess is about 75% of the Folks who View this Flick WILL sit down & write themselves SOME Kinda "List"...of what you think IS important to DO in what Years Ya Got Remaining.

Yep, the "Concept" IS kinda Cliche..."My Name is Earl" has already got a Hit offa the "List Concept"... But I think the Movie (as it HAD to) elevates the bar a bit on What Should Be On that List. Nicholson's Mega-Loot sure DOES Help...but even Orphan Annie needed Daddy Warbucks to keep her plotline a-hummin' occasionally.

Gotta Scoot...& yes, I did reflect on Similarities of "Live Like You Were Dyin'" to this movie... LONG before McGraw had his hit I'd told La Femme that IF I ever got a diagnosis of "Terminal", I'd take up sky diving. "Nothin' to Lose"..& If I slipped up, no further Waiting for The Inevitable. (The Perfect Gettaway!)

Good Luck with Your Script, Amigo...& Hope it's still coming along strong!

Best Wishes,
Big Guy-Hug,
Stan

the movie made me cry and realize life is to precious too. and to have fun in life and what bring me joy too.

G'Mornin' Pink Person!

As an Award-Winning JPF Lyricist once penned, what's important is "The Dash Between The Dates"...

I once penned a Comedic Take on Life we put into a Gospel Melody (That really Kicked-Butt) titled "I Didn't Ask to Be Sent Here, Brother" that in-essence, cast The Singer as a Prisoner who had NO Idea WHY he was sent here..."But I'm not seekin' No Early Release/In fact I'm a-Hopin' for a Little More Time" was the Last Chorus Couplet.

I'm truly Amazed that Some Folks don't find Life Fun & Challenging Enough. (Guess they should take up Songwriting..eh?) ;-)>

Real Glad to have Someone who ALSO watches Movies & Responds to 'Em!!! They're SUCH a Major Creative Enterprise..(& WAY Riskier than Songwriting to TRY to make Money-At...) But..maybe after I've mastered the 3-Minute-Movie, I'd take a shot at a 2-Hour One I've had in mind for Years. (After..heh..I learn all about Screenwriting...prolly take Another 25 Years to figure it out/doubt I've got that long before Senility's made a Visit.)

But...yeah...let's add "Screenplay" to Da Bucket List here...heh-heh!

Again, Thanks for Your Kind Visit, & hope all your Writings continue to Bring Ya Joy!

Big Hugs,
Stan

[quote="TampaStan" Good]

They're SUCH a Major Creative Enterprise..(& WAY Riskier than Songwriting to TRY to make Money-At...) ....

Awe man, Stan, ya waited 'til now to tell me this?....Fecus!!!

.... prolly take Another 25 Years to figure it out/doubt I've got that long before Senility's made a Visit.)....

From a lot of films I've seen, senility might be a plus...:-)

Midnite

HiDee Bro Bob!

Hey, I never really STUDIED Filmmaking..I just went & SAW the results, year-after-year.

I never really USED to study Songwriting/Distribution/Promo/Touring/Contracts/etc....UNTIL I got Into the Songwriting Game..back maybe $150-200K-ago, starting in the '80's.

My very first GLIMPSE into Moviemaking was when the COCOON Movie shot in St. Petersberg..I made $1100 renting my Art Nouveau Floor Lamps to Set Director Jim Duffy..who invited me to see 'em shoot for a day. Got to see the Pool Scene being shot...helped push "Pods" around in the Pool...talked with cast & crew, Watched Ron Howard in-acton. "Those Palm trees over there are Fibreglas" said Jim...cost (I forget How Much a Day).. This Lucky Radiologist had his whole yard Rented for The Shoot...got the entire yard re-sodded..Ou,door Swimmin' Pool had a Pool House constructed over it with a Canvas Roof that was adjustable for Lighting-Let-In. Waterfront was SO shallow they constructed 1/2 a Boat & staked it there for the Boat-Gettaway scene... Etc/Etc...Motor Home-Trailers about 6-7 blocks long parked Out Front...Clusters of Folks On Da Payroll ALL Over Da Place, with a gaggle of Rent-a-Cops coverin' The Perimiters.

Jim later took me thru L.A.s Paramount Back Lot & Prop House(s) next trip I took West. Incredible Investment there...land alone for the Prop House was $3 Bil.!

So..yeah..it's slowly become Apparent to Moi that Movies are a Much Bigger Investment...Bigger Risk, too...but it sure must be a Large Thrill when Weekend One brings in $30 Mil, & with luck (& talent) you can get that little house on the Hill (etc.) by the Very Next Weekend. Jim & Partner Ted Lake (Fantasy Island sets, etc) sold their Sherman Oaks Digs & retired to a small Island off Maui. (Not BAD for Doris Day's former Gardner, eh?) ;-)>

But heck, I'm still, at heart, just a "Lowly-Songwriter". I GOT my little Retirement House on the Flatlands already-equipped..(& 2 Others, now Re-Zoned Commercial..to make da First (& Last) Million.)

So...for Further "Fame & Fortune" I'm waitin' on Hardworkin' Guys-Like-You to put some of my Songs into Movies...so maybe I CAN Make Enough to CONTINUE learning "The Movie Biz"...

Sorry if my Ignorance was Showin'...heh-heh! But..the average Guy-On-The-Street has NO idea what goes on behind every Successful Song OR Movie...JMO, again.

Thanks for Your Kind Visit/Buttwhack/& Includin' Onea My Babies in Your Next Script! Forever in Your Debt,
Big Guy-Hug,
Ol' Stan