The Bucket List (2007)

Two terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die.

Director:

Rob Reiner

Writer:

Justin Zackham

Stars:

Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Nicholson	...	Edward
Morgan Freeman	...	Carter
Sean Hayes	...	Thomas
Beverly Todd	...	Virginia
Rob Morrow	...	Dr. Hollins
Alfonso Freeman	...	Roger
Rowena King	...	Angelica
Annton Berry Jr.	...	Kai
Verda Bridges	...	Chandra
Destiny Brownridge	...	Maya
Brian Copeland	...	Lee
Ian Anthony Dale	...	Instructor
Jennifer Defrancisco	...	Emily (as Jennifer DeFrancisco)
Angela Gardner	...	Female Administrator
Noel Gugliemi	...	Mechanic (as Noel Guglielmi)

Storyline

Corporate billionaire Edward Cole and working class mechanic Carter Chambers have nothing in common except for their terminal illnesses. While sharing a hospital room together, they decide to leave it and do all the things they have ever wanted to do before they die according to their bucket list. In the process, both of them heal each other, become unlikely friends, and ultimately find joy in life.

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Plot Keywords:

list | hospital | friend | billionaire | dying | 

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Taglines:

When he closed his eyes, his heart was opened

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language, including a sexual reference

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros [France] Warner Bros. [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 January 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Antes de partir

Filming Locations:

Alpes-Maritimes, France

Box Office

Budget:

$45,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£602,248 (UK) (15 February 2008)

Gross:

$93,452,056 (USA) (30 May 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Zadan / Meron Productions, Two Ton Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Carter is a mechanic. Morgan Freeman in real life worked as a mechanic in the US Air Force

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Goofs

When the car pulls up at Edward's daughters house, the crew, trailer and camera are all visible on the side of the car.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Carter Chambers: Edward Perriman Cole died in May. It was a Sunday afternoon, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky...

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Crazy Credits

There are no opening credits.

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #19.9 (2010)

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Soundtracks

"It's Alright"
Written and Performed by Wade Hubbard

User Reviews

Good and decent tag team effort from two legendary veterans(Nicholson and Freeman) that teaches us about life friendships and touches our emotions and feelings.

"The Bucket List" is certainly a sentimental favorite that as a viewer touches your emotions and has you hoping for finding a friendship in the end, even though the film is funny and somewhat unrealistic. The performances from Jack and Morgan as expected are top notch, and I personally like Rob Reiner's direction of showing how an unlikely and odd friendship develops between two guys on their way out of life by doing the things they've always wanted. The "Bucket List" in many respects is a good happy fairy tale that most ordinary folks would dream about before they die, yet the character types played by Nicholson and Freeman make it so believable.

Jack Nicholson is billionaire hospital CEO administrator Edward Cole who as a grumpy and aging four time divorced playboy finds he has terminal cancer. With Freeman a character that's much different a blue collar working class auto mechanic named Carter Chambers who's a loving family man with a wife and kids and on the side a beloved history buff and trivia enthusiast yet he discovers his fate of having terminal cancer. Upon meeting in the same hospital room they share at first it's a cold and tough bonding only later to grow into a friendship by journey and discovery. The concept is thought up by Chambers by making a list called "The Bucket List" of things to do before we die. Oddly opposites agree the journey starts. The adventures include the heart pumping sky diving, auto drag racing, and trips to exotic locations and foreign countries. Many scenes like the mountain tops and pyramids seem unreal, yet are carried on by the witty and funny lines from Jack's character.

Most important aside from the journey and discovery of friendship and caring by travel and adventure a special bond is formed. Each has learned before they meet the end they have made each a better person that cares they both found what's important in life thru one another. "The Bucket List" isn't really a tear jerker, yet it's story of two terminal cancer patients provides the need for compassion as the viewer feels pain during the early scenes and you are certainly touched by the way the characters emotions grow by friendship you as the viewer feel your emotions have taken a good friendship journey. Finally this film is made even better by the performances of the two veteran legends Nicholson and Freeman. I highly recommend anyone view "The Bucket List".