Scratch That Film Off “The Bucket List!”

Rob Reiner is known for his relationship-based films, such as The Princess Bride, Sleepless in Seattle, and The Bucket List. He has this amazing talent for writing different points of views from both genders that make one think. One good example of this is Reiner’s film “When Harry Met Sally”. If you've seen it, then you know that Harry is opposed to intimacy, while Sally loves it. The dichotomy in their developing friendship throughout the movie and their talks about relationships is very insightful. Anyway, “The Bucket List” is a film about two terminally ill men who travel the world, completing their "bucket list" while talking about life.

Jack Nicholson plays Edward, the very wealthy owner of the hospital he becomes a terminally ill patient in. Morgan Freeman plays Carter, a terminally ill mechanic, who lands in Edward's hospital room. They don't like each other at first. Each has contrary personalities. Edward is a snobby brat, and Carter is a down to earth family man. What's great about the opening of the movie is that the first third of the film takes place in the hospital room where the two men get to know each other. The movie didn't just jump right into the "bucket list" portion of their journey. It slowly got there, while the audience got to know the characters individually and then as their friendship developed. What a great script!

As you may guess, they bust out of the hospital and travel the world on Edward's dime (or many many many dimes!) to skydive, race Mustangs; you name it! They talk about life, faith, and their past. Wounds are brought up, relationships are repaired, and there is much soul searching. The script is a bit contrived sometimes, but it's the heart to heart talks these two men have that are the real meat of the film.

There’s a key scene near the end of the film that explores Edward's journey with faith. Edward had no faith of his own. He believed in money, in the natural order of the world. Carter knew there was something more, that there were things going on that cannot be seen. Beyond that, what Carter believed wasn't clear. The writers probably were being careful not to be too preachy, but that was a major downside. It was never apparent exactly what Carter put his faith in- whether it was a higher power, God, or Buddha. The discussion was good, but lacked that specificity in what gave Carter the will to not become bitter, angry, depressed, etc. In any case, the discussion was good in pointing out the differing world views of the two friends as they faced death. Their worldviews were key in how they lived their lives- Edward as the high spender who trusted in his money, and Carter as the hard worker who “had faith.”