Monday, April 28, 2008

The Bucket List

The Bucket List is an interesting movie. The film has three distinct parts: the beginning, where both characters are in the hospital, bonding; the middle, where both characters are gallivanting around, chalking up a lifetimes adventure tourism in a few months; and the end, where both characters come to terms with their own humanity.

The first part and last part of the movie definitely work, although the hospital scenes are more disturbing than funny. The last reel is particularly good, providing the emotional heart of the film. There are some running gags that pay off rather well, most notably Jack Nicholson's character's coffee preference. Regular readers of Rockhoppers Daily Grind know all about Kopi Luwak coffee.

The film kind of flounders in the middle. The adventure tourism is overshadowed by unresolved medical and emotional difficulties, and the cinematography is uninspired, to say the least. Otherwise, the film is well acted (duh), and has high production values. I'm giving it a Shot in the Dark. If the DVD has a lot of features, particularly full commentaries, it will be quite interesting.

Movies on Whidbey Island.

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