The Bucket List (2007)

'Time flies' is a trite phrase, which actually makes sense only when you realize that you are at the end of the life and there won't be another chance to do what you haven't done. It's not within our power to stop the time flow, to go back for the restart, as well as it's not in our power to protect ourselves from life-threating illnesses.

Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) is living a common life of an ordinary auto mechanic and as it usually happens his relationships with his wive are being far from smooth. He is very intelligent, calm and peaceful. Just to contrast him there is Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson), a man of huge wealth, rather arrogant, nervous, self-assured and rude. He is the owner of a range of hospitals and is known to popularize the idea of a room for two, meaning that there should be two beds and two patients in one room. Could he ever imagine that one day he would stuck in his own hospital and would have to share his room with another patient. Both men were diagnosed cancer and both of them had little time left to spend the rest of the life the way they want. With Cole's money they decided to tour the world and make their even most foolish dreams come true, but what really made their trip so unbelievably amazing was their friendship.

I'm afraid to overdo with adjectives but I still think there can't be too many of them when it comes to actors' performance. There is a stereotype that Jack Nicholson mostly plays the roles of filthy toads and this film just prove it. But what is peculiar for this picture is that Nicholson here does have a change of heart caused by his friendship with Freeman. It broke my perception of Nicholson I've adopted from his latest projects. Indisputably, he is a star actor.

Actually the same can be said for his co-star Morgan Freeman. What I like him for is his natural way of playing wise, honest and amiable characters. And this films is an excellent addition to him collection of greatest roles played. Carter created a unique atmosphere, cloaked in intelligence and reasonableness. It was hard to imagine these two actors working together so well, now it's impossible to imagine them be separated. If one of your criteria for a good movie is an acting skill, then The Bucket List must be your choice, because here you will find it fantastic!

Another aspect about this movie that shouldn't be omitted is the dialogues. There is a humor to laugh and there are some problematic questions to make your cry. I enjoyed sarcasm and criticism delivered by Cole and his relations with his valet, or rather a servant, Thomas (Sean Hayes). Also there are many issues to tease your brains. This movie is far from being flippant and I would rate it the best of this year and the one that should be in the list of favorites.