DVD Review: The Bucket List
Oscar Winners Freeman and Nicholson Team Up in Feelgood Comedy
Sep 16, 2008
Seasoned filmmaker/director Rob Reiner has always had an eye and talent for manipulating emotions for the pleasure of his Kleenex-wielding audiences, what with past hits such as When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, Stand By Me, and The Sure Thing, among others.
It comes as no surprise that he would pull the same strings once more, by tackling the difficult topic of one's own mortality, with some well-meant comedic moments of levity. Reiner has managed well enough, with his latest piece, The Bucket List.
Essentially a moral tale of how to live life to the fullest as if each day were your last, The Bucket List takes a humoristic look at two diametrically opposed individuals, and how they slowly start to bond, despite having lived very different lives.
Synopsis of The Bucket List
Based on a clever script by writer Justin Zackham, The Bucket List tells the story of Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) and Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson), who couldn't be more different from each other; one is an erudite blue collar car mechanic with a strong taste for history, the other is a powerful billionaire magnate. Both learn that they have aggressive cancers, that could possibly spell the end for them within a year. Through an ironic twist of events, both end up in the same shared hospital room during their rounds of chemotherapy, since Edward Cole's company specializes in privatizing hospitals, and has a strict policy of "Two patients to a room, no exceptions".
Soon both men start discussing their differences and points in common, until the day where Edward sees Carter working on a "bucket list", essentially a list of things to do before dying, or kicking the proverbial bucket. Suddenly inspired by this idea, Edward offers to bankroll this plan, in ensuring both of them do all the things they always wanted to do before their last day. Given their grim prognosis, both men check out of the hospital, and seek out various thrills (namely, car racing and skydiving), and sights (around the world, that is).
The result is this heartwarming comedy, which openly yet honestly teaches us that life is to be savoured each day, as you never know how much time you have a head of you.
The Cast of The Bucket List
It goes without saying that the odds of a successful product are highly increased, when the film's two leads are Oscar winners for acting. That being said, the chemistry between Freeman and nicholson is unmistakeable, and they work well off each other in pretty much every scene. When they're not making us laugh to tears, they remind us of our own mortality, in cautious yet humanistic ways.
Will & Grace alum Sean Hayes, an actor usually known for his hyperactive antics on the small screen, offers a subdued yet memorable performance as Edward Cole's manservant Matthew, who Jack Nicholson's charater never quite seems to call by his real name, a recurring joke in the film.
DVD Features of The Bucket List
The DVD is remarkably light on extras, with a brief interview with screenwriter Zackham, about the idea behind what became the final script. Also, a music video for John Mayer's "Say". The lack of extras isn't so much a surprise, given the movie's theme. Unlike action vehicles, it's hard to discuss the subject of mortality, and convert it into worthwhile extras.
All in all, The Bucket List is a worthy piece, a good therapeutic film for people who have lost loved ones, and felt the pain of loss. While it can be somewhat someber at times, Rob Reiner does a great job in balancing said sadness with very humorous and uplifting scenes, making this movie a different kind of feel-good film.
8.5 out of 10, for heartfelt laughter and tears, with a purpose.
 |
