Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The Bucket List
Rented the movie The Bucket List over the weekend. Starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, who as fate would have it, end up in the same ward. Both realize that they only have months to live and embark on a journey to complete their Bucket List: things to do before they kick the bucket. An unlikely friendship grows between these 2 men from very disparaging backgrounds: One a CEO of a chain of hospitals, wealthy enough to be drinking kopi luwak every day (and not even realizing how it is derived); the other a car mechanic who did not complete college due to parental responsibilities but has an impressive knowledge and voracious appetite for knowledge (he answers every damn question on Jeopardy correctly!!!)
So the 2 start to do things on their Bucket List (not in sequential order) and whatever came to mind, they wrote it down.
It was a pretty good movie and I was impressed with Morgan Freeman's acting as Carter, a poor, black grandfather who worked hard for 45 years to provide for the family. For the first time, I see Morgan Freeman playing a very vulnerable character, unlike his usual detective roles (Kiss the girls, Seven) or his enigmatic leader roles (Shawshank Redemption, Wanted). His portrayal of Carter was convincing and it struck a cord with me on many instances. I especially like the part where he rebukes his wife to go on an unknown journey with Edward, a stranger he only knew for a few weeks. His wife viewed it as him giving up on the family. He decided for once that after providing for 45 years, it was time to provide for himself. There was also a moment where he reflects on what happened between him and his wife: She didn't change, nor did he, but somehow, with all the responsibilities of bringing up the children, they somehow lost the spark somewhere along the way. This seems to be the case for most married couples these days.
Jack Nicholson's portrayal of Edward somehow gave me the impression that he was just playing himself: rich, arrogant, playboy pompous ass who finally realizes an unlikely friendship with the poor but knowledgeable Carter.
And of course, the movie sets you thinking. The first item on My Bucket List? To travel the world (Turkey, Maldives, Cambodia, Bhutan, Russia, Hawaii, Kerela, Japan... the list really goes on)
So the 2 start to do things on their Bucket List (not in sequential order) and whatever came to mind, they wrote it down.
It was a pretty good movie and I was impressed with Morgan Freeman's acting as Carter, a poor, black grandfather who worked hard for 45 years to provide for the family. For the first time, I see Morgan Freeman playing a very vulnerable character, unlike his usual detective roles (Kiss the girls, Seven) or his enigmatic leader roles (Shawshank Redemption, Wanted). His portrayal of Carter was convincing and it struck a cord with me on many instances. I especially like the part where he rebukes his wife to go on an unknown journey with Edward, a stranger he only knew for a few weeks. His wife viewed it as him giving up on the family. He decided for once that after providing for 45 years, it was time to provide for himself. There was also a moment where he reflects on what happened between him and his wife: She didn't change, nor did he, but somehow, with all the responsibilities of bringing up the children, they somehow lost the spark somewhere along the way. This seems to be the case for most married couples these days.
Jack Nicholson's portrayal of Edward somehow gave me the impression that he was just playing himself: rich, arrogant, playboy pompous ass who finally realizes an unlikely friendship with the poor but knowledgeable Carter.
And of course, the movie sets you thinking. The first item on My Bucket List? To travel the world (Turkey, Maldives, Cambodia, Bhutan, Russia, Hawaii, Kerela, Japan... the list really goes on)
