Every often in awhile I research the film that I’m about to see. Sometimes the film turns out to be surprisingly well-directed and sometimes I’m lost for words.
I knew nothing about THE BUCKET LIST before attending a private screening for the film. And I’m delighted that I made it. Otherwise I would hate myself for missing this heartfelt and inspiring film. Even though this film received rather mixed reviews from critics, it is named one of the top 10 films in 2007 by the National Board of Review. In addition it’s also crowned as the Truly Moving Picture Award in 2007, citing that it will move you to tears and laughter.
Before flocking to the theaters near you, moviegoers need to understand one thing first: What is the bucket list? It’s basically a list of things to do before someone kicks the bucket.
Starting off from the cast, THE BUCKET LIST presents Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as two complete strangers who happen to share a room in the hospital. Both have been diagnosed terminally ill with cancer. Left with six months or maybe a year to live, they travel around the world according to their To Do List. They try skydiving, racing cars, tasting caviar in an upscale restaurant, driving a jeep in the Safari, sitting on top of an Egyptian pyramid, riding a motorbike through the Great Wall and the list goes on.
They make changes on their To Do List in their journey. Toward the end they’re left with two agendas to complete: reaching the summit of Himalaya and spending time with their loved ones.
I’m not going to spoil the fun of watching films. What happens next is for me to know and for you to find out. A grown man (I believe he’s in his 40s) sitting next to me during the screening spent the last 30 minutes of the film sobbing. I kid you not. He was still sobbing when we’re leaving the screening room.
THE BUCKET LIST is not the kind of melodrama that aims to collect a bucket full of tears from the audience. However, it does make you think about what you’ve done in this lifetime, what you haven’t done, what brings you love & joy, and most importantly, whom you’ve given love & joy.
We have to thank director Rob Reiner for bringing Nicholson and Freeman into THE BUCKET LIST. It’s worth mentioning that both were born in 1937 with only six weeks apart from each other. They had to shave their heads for the characters and I wonder if they wore makeup in order to portray old age and illness.
Aside from Nicholson and Freeman, I would like to shed some light on Sean Hayes who plays the assistant to Nicholson. You may have known Hayes from his days on the popular sitcom WILL & GRACE. In THE BUCKET LIST Hayes has several moments where he and Nicholson exchange sarcasms that I either burst out laughing aloud or clap my hands ‘cuz their lines are brilliant.
As time goes by, in the film industry we will soon lose actors like Nicholson and Freeman to aging. The combination is excellent since they are such opposites from each other. Nicholson has always been very eccentric and Freeman is everyone’s favorite wise man. THE BUCKET LIST depicts the incredible friendship of two dying men and it will enlighten you with sadness, sorrow, love, joy and happiness. Take a few seconds to reflect on your life up till now and get ready to make your own bucket list!
(Release date for Taiwan: Feb.22)
