When two of the best aging Hollywood stars - Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman - get together, the outcome cannot disappoint. Even when touching on one of the most sensitive issues around aging - death and dying - these two amazing actors are able to provide a humorist and humanist view on life, aging and death.
This is a 2007 American comedy-drama movie, directed by Rob Reiner. The plot is quite simple: two - very different - aging men meet in a hospital. One (Nicholson) is a white billionaire, and the other is a blue-collar, Afro-American mechanic. It turns out that both of them are diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Despite the huge differences in their personal backgrounds and personal tastes - their common fate and time together in the same hospital room - brings them together as they develop a unique friendship. They eventually decide to go together for a journey to fulfill a "bucket list" before "they kick the bucket". Or in other words, they decide to try to do all the things they've wished for (and the fact that one of them is a billionaire - can make this happen). From this point the movie basically follows their joint journey making their personal dreams come true.
Naturally, the plot has some twists and turns, as we learn more about the life histories of both men, their families and unique stories. Overall, I really enjoyed the movie and I encourage you to watch it - as it is very entertaining, joyful and sometimes also very funny.
From a gerontological perspective, the movie provides a nice perspective on death and dying, and the psychological processes people go through once facing their end. More importantly, it provides a glance on other important gerontological topics such as the significance of family and informal care at the end stages of life and the importance of a coherent life narrative once facing death.
While not at the top best of the gerontological movies list - this is a highly recommended gerontological movie, which can serve as a good starting point to many discussions in the field.
2007
USA
Director: Rob Reiner
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc3mkG21ob4
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