Monday, February 18, 2008
For Valentine’s Day Lisa and I went out to eat at Ruby Tuesday at the Philadelphia Premium Outlets and then went to see The Bucket List.
If you haven’t seen it, The Bucket List is the story of corporate billionaire Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) and working class mechanic Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman), two guys who have nothing in common except for their terminal illnesses. While sharing a hospital room together and both learning they have little more than six months to live, they decide to leave experimental treatments behind and do all the things they’ve ever wanted to do while they still have time.
Two scenes in the movie really grabbed me.
First, about 2/3 the way through the movie the camera catches both of them sitting atop an Egyptian pyramid in Giza. Morgan Freeman’s character begins describing the Egyptian view of the afterlife and tells Nicholson that ancient Egyptians believed that in order to get into heaven they had to answer two questions: First, did you find joy in your life? Second, did you bring joy to the lives of others?
In the second, Freeman has just died and we see Nicholson’s character attempting to make contact with his estranged daughter whom he has not seen in years. The camera is outside in the front yard and captures the two talking in the living room, not allowing us to hear the dialogue, when down the steps walks a beautiful little girl, his granddaughter, whom he has never met nor presumably knew existed.
His face is drawn to her as he bends down, introduces himself, hugs her and gives her a kiss. Later, as every eyes welled up in the room, we see him emotionally scratch off his Bucket List, “Kiss the most beautiful girl in the world.”
If you haven’t seen it, The Bucket List is the story of corporate billionaire Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) and working class mechanic Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman), two guys who have nothing in common except for their terminal illnesses. While sharing a hospital room together and both learning they have little more than six months to live, they decide to leave experimental treatments behind and do all the things they’ve ever wanted to do while they still have time.
Two scenes in the movie really grabbed me.
First, about 2/3 the way through the movie the camera catches both of them sitting atop an Egyptian pyramid in Giza. Morgan Freeman’s character begins describing the Egyptian view of the afterlife and tells Nicholson that ancient Egyptians believed that in order to get into heaven they had to answer two questions: First, did you find joy in your life? Second, did you bring joy to the lives of others?
In the second, Freeman has just died and we see Nicholson’s character attempting to make contact with his estranged daughter whom he has not seen in years. The camera is outside in the front yard and captures the two talking in the living room, not allowing us to hear the dialogue, when down the steps walks a beautiful little girl, his granddaughter, whom he has never met nor presumably knew existed.
His face is drawn to her as he bends down, introduces himself, hugs her and gives her a kiss. Later, as every eyes welled up in the room, we see him emotionally scratch off his Bucket List, “Kiss the most beautiful girl in the world.”
The last lines of the movie, narrated in Freeman’s majestic voice, captured it all. Speaking of Nicholson’s character, Freeman says,
“When he closed his eyes, his heart was opened.”
So was mine as I walked out of the theater.
That was a movie worth every penny.
3 comments:
I agree. I enjoyed this movie very much . . one of those that you draw inspiration from over and over if you let yourself. glad you enjoyed it, and the time with Lisa.
How about a spoiler warning next time?
Sorry dude! Didn't even think of it!
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