The Bucket List

One of my favorite actors is Morgan Freeman. He has this demeanor when he acts that just seems so natural and it makes me smile to see him in any role. Ever since I seen the movie Lean On Me, I have respected him and approached every movie that he was in, ready to enjoy a good movie. When I heard that he was going to be playing a leading role in the movie The Bucket List, I knew it was a movie that I needed to see.

In the movie The Bucket List, Morgan Freeman plays the role of working class mechanic Carter Chambers. Carter Chambers is a family man. He is married with 3 children. He also has a very brilliant mind. He finds joy in watching Jeopardy and knows all the answers.

Alongside him is Jack Nicholson playing the role of corporate billionaire Edward Cole. I knew he would play his role well because in every movie I have seen him in, he has made the role totally Jack and I liked them. All the actions, gestures and facial expressions showed him to be an expert at his art.

Edward Cole is rich beyond his own knowing. He has the title of owner of a hospital. When him and his associates sit in meetings, they answer to him. He is an arrogant man who has a comical side to him. I remember a scene where he was in a meeting and voted that each hospital room was to have 2 people to it. But everything changed when he starts coughing out blood, is the one in the room with a roommate and instead of following up on what he fought for, requested to have his own room.

Carter and Edward meet for the first time after they both are diagnosed with terminal illnesses. Together they shared a room. Carter is calm and with his eyes opened for what is to come. Edward is agitated and bickering. Yet somehow, they meet on common ground and become really good friends.

A teacher of Carter’s once recommended to him that he write a bucket list before he dies. A bucket list is a list of things you would like to see happen before you kick the bucket. When Edward finds the list, he suggests that Carter really follow through and together they embark on a journey. This movie reminded me a lot of the role Queen Latifah played in Last Holiday when she received information from her doctor that she was living her last days and would soon be going over the valley.

"I feel more inspired than ever, and think that I will finally achieve what I have long been wishing for: a balance of work and privacy - a harmony."
- Kylie Minogue

This movie was entertaining while also making me shed some tears because it had a lot of sad moments in it. Nevertheless, it was the hope that these brave soldiers had that made this movie really good. The list had some great things on it that they were able to accomplish. Some of the ones I really liked were laugh until you cry, do something special for someone you don’t know and to canoodle the prettiest girl in the world. They go drag car racing, pyramid climbing and sky diving. And they have a blast. It was exciting to actually see them celebrate life while it still was here.

The entire movie was on faith and family while also looking at the disease of cancer. It was sad to see how the disease affected each of the men because I’ve seen how it affected people that were in my life. And as the days progressed, I could see the youth taken away and it is an image I will never forget.

"When I can look Life in the eyes,
Grown calm and very coldly wise,
Life will have given me the Truth,
And taken in exchange - my youth."
- Sara Teasdale


This movie really makes you think. Wisdom is something that is meant to be exercised before the end. Christopher Reeves once said that "once you choose hope, anything is possible." Interesting enough, I find myself doubting in the simplest things and when you see the inspiration that this movie offers, I feel as if I must grasp that something majestic while I still can because as much as time waits for no one, tomorrow is not guaranteed.

The cancer scare changed both men’s lives. It helped them to prioritize their lives. Carter had started to resent the life he lived because of all the sacrifices he made for his wife and children. But when he turned back to love, he put his best foot forward and stood firm in love. Edward had lost touch with his daughter when he went after her abusive man. But when he finally reunites with is daughter, he meets the granddaughter he never knew he had and is able to cross off from the bucket list, kiss the most beautiful girl in the world; his granddaughter. I thought that was the sweetest part of the entire movie.

The map is not the territory.
- Alfred Korzybski

Just because we are in a certain state does not mean that the way we handle it cannot be positive. You could have all the money in the world, but could still be miserable. And the mystery still lives on; what is the meaning of life? We could stare life in the face and still not know. From the 97 minutes of this PG13 movie that I watched, I think the writer, Justin Zackham was trying to tell viewers to live for the moment. I could see it in the phenomenal direction by Rob Reiner. The men were chronically ill and approaching the pearly gates but were full of life. They got the most horrible news in their entire lives and used the importunate news to build up their faith and to see majestic things come to life.

But what I liked most was that they based the movie around "When he closed his eyes, his heart was opened." Carter and Edward were able to find pure joy in their lives. I loved the acting and the scenery. And I also liked seeing Sean Hayes playing a role other than that of his persona in the television show Will & Grace. It was good to see familiar faces playing real good roles. And there was no violence in it at all. There was a bit of cursing in it. But not so over the top that you would not want to watch around youth.

What I didn't like was seeing the men going through their medical treatments. It brought on a lot of emotion while at the same time claiming my heart, intriguing my mind and giving me inspiration. The Bucket List is a great movie.