“A
heart-warming, funny and enthralling
comedy, The Bucket List not only stars
two Hollywood greats, but also the
magnificent and beautifully filmed
scenery as a billionaire and a mechanic
embark on the adventure of a lifetime
to follow a dream before they ‘kick the
bucket’...” HOISTED BY HIS OWN PETARD, sanctimonious corporate billionaire Edward
Cole (Jack Nicholson: The Departed, As Good As It Gets) finds
himself uncomfortably sharing a hospital ward with calm, selfless and intelligent
working-class mechanic Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman: Batman Begins,
Seven) in the brilliant comedy film, The Bucket List.
At first the two men — the loud and obnoxious Edward and the gentle and
accepting Carter — are at loggerheads, contemptuous of each other and enduring
long silences. But The Bucket List brings them together — the list
of things they would most like to do and places they'd really like to see before
they kick the bucket. And it is at this point that they realise that they do
have something in common, other than the seriousness of their medical conditions.
Sizzling from the moment the two wonderful veteran actors hit the screen, The
Bucket List is a funny and human story of two people from vastly different
backgrounds who get together towards the end of their lives in a most remarkable
and fantastic way — and go on a magnificent journey of discovery across
the world.
In a frenzy of ecstatic recklessness, Carter and Edward get up to all sorts
of shenanigans — including tackling heart-pumping race car driving (and
so what if the Shelby 350 gets trashed); sky-diving (you can only die once!);
climbing the Pyramids; and an African lion safari (where you might get eaten
but you won't be beaten). They also experience Stonehenge, motorcycling along
the Great Wall of China, Rome and the majestic Taj Mahal in India. Until they
finally fall under the spell of the dramatic snow-covered mountains.
Carter and Edward also find out more about each other's lives and develop a
greater understanding of each other — leading to the desire to help one
another resolve their problems. Carter gave up a University education —
and his chosen career as a history professor — to devote himself to his
wife and family but he is, at the age of 66 and after 45 years of marriage,
unsure of his feelings towards his still-lovely wife, Virginia (the angelic
Beverly Todd); Edward has been too busy making money — something he has
been doing from the age of 16 — to try to heal a rift with his only daughter,
who refuses to see him or speak to him.
The comedy is sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious; and there are many great
one-liners. When Edward's assistant, whom he chooses to call Thomas (the exceptional
Sean Hayes: Will & Grace) asks him how he would like his death handled,
Edward tells him to do it as if it was his own. Thomas responds with: "Like,
leave all my money to my assistant"!
The Bucket List is deeply touching and sensitive with an edge of sadness,
some clever observations and fine dialogue. But it is primarily an uplifting,
reassuring story of friendship and the discovery of one's own identity. The
film is Directed by Rob Reiner (A Few Good Men, When Harry Met Sally)
and Written by Justin Zackham. The Director of Photography is John Schwartzman
ASC, with Music by Marc Shaiman.
Full credit goes to the terrific performances from Jack Nicholson and Morgan
Freeman, supported by a great cast that includes Alfonso Freeman as Carter's
son Roger; Rowena King as Angelica; Rob Morrow as Dr Hollins; Anton Berry Jr
as Kai; Verda Bridges as Chandra; Destiny Brownridge as Maya; Brian Copeland
as Lee; Ian Anthony Dale as the Instructor; Noel Guglielmi as the Mechanic;
Alex Trebek as Himself and the appealing Taylor Ann Thompson as the 'most beautiful
girl in the world'.
• The Bucket List is available now
on DVD and Blu-ray (released 7 July, 2008), courtesy of Warner Home Video. Running
Time: 93 minutes | Certificate 12 | Price RRP: DVD £15.99/Blu-ray: £26.99.
Special Features
DVD: John Mayer Music Video Say | Writing a Bucket List (Screenwriter
Justin Zackham addresses the evolution of The Bucket List and his upcoming book
in which he reveals celebrity bucket lists | Running Time 5.33) | ROM link to:
Tied, additional Scenes/Jack & Morgan: All Seriousness Aside.
Special Features
Blu-ray: John Mayer Music Video Say | Writing a Bucket List (Screenwriter
Justin Zackham addresses the evolution of The Bucket List and his upcoming
book in which he reveals celebrity bucket lists (Running Time 5.33) | The
Bucket List Trivia Pack | Rob Reiner Interviews the Stars: part 1: Jack
Nicholson/Part 2: Morgan Freeman.
"Freeman radiates Zen calm and wisdom; Nicholson tears up the screen with a
performance so huge that it barely fits into the screen" — The Times
"Armed with a sharp script peppered with acid one-liners… Director Rob Reiner
finds lashings of comedy" — Daily Star
"Sizzling from the moment the two veteran actors hit the screen, The Bucket
List is a funny and human story of two people from vastly different backgrounds
who get together towards the end of their lives in a most remarkable and fantastic
way — and go on a magnificent journey of discovery across the world" —
MotorBar
“A
heart-warming, funny and enthralling