The Bucket List brings together two actors (Nicholson and Freeman) who had made countless number of movies, living legends of their time, on the big screens for the first time. Directed by Rob Reiner, the story follows two terminally ill men embarking on a final road trip with a list of things to do before they die. They gamely shaved their heads for the movie.
Blue-collar mechanic Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) and billionaire hospital magnate Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) meet for the first time in the hospital room. They become reluctant friends at first as they undergo respective chemo treatments for cancer. Carter is a gifted amateur historian, answers questions on ‘Jeopardy’ with absolute ease and family man who had dreams of becoming a history professor. A dilemma in his youth, simply put "broke, black, and with a baby on the way" did not pave the way for his ambitions and he stuck to his job at McCreath body shop ever since. Cole, on the other hand, is a corporate tycoon cum eccentric loner, who enjoys nothing more than tormenting his personal servant, Matthew whom he calls Thomas (Sean Hayes).
When both are diagnosed with terminal cancer, Carter begins scribbling a "bucket list," or things to do before "he kicks the bucket." After hearing he has less than a year to live, Carter wads it up and tosses it on the floor. Cole finds it and pushes Carter over the edge by suggesting things like seeing the world, sky diving, "fun things" with an unlimited budget as he is very wealthy. Despite the protests of his wife, Virginia (Beverly Todd), Carter eagerly agrees to it. The pair then set off in an around-the-world vacation, embarking on race car driving, sky diving, climbing the Giza Pyramids and going on lion safari in Africa. Along the way they discuss faith and family, we learnt that Carter has long been feeling less in love with his wife and Cole is deeply hurt by his estrangement with his only daughter, who disowned him after he "took care" of her abusive husband. 
The Bucket List
1. Witness something truly majestic
2. Help a complete stranger for a common good
3. Laugh till I cry
4. Drive a Shelby mustang
5. Kiss the most beautiful girl in the world
6. Get a tattoo
7. Skydiving
8. See the pyramids
9. Get back in touch with (daughter)
Cole sneakily hires a prostitute for Carter, who has never had sex with another woman than his wife but when Carter realizes it, declines. He finds that the love he had for his wife is still strong and asked to return home. In gratitude for helping him, he tries to reunite Cole with his daughter but Cole angrily storms off. Carter blissfully returns home as a new man to his wife, children, and grandchildren. However, the family reunion was short-lived as Carter suffered a relapse and is rushed back to the hospital. The cancer has spread to his brain and he needs surgery. Cole visits him there and they share an important moment together where Carter reveals the origin of Kopi Luwak. They share a good laugh and Carter crosses off "laugh till I cry" and insists Cole finish the list without him. Carter dies on the operating table. When Cole delivers a eulogy at his funeral (I cried), he finally found the strength to face his daughter. Much to his surprise and joy, she not only accepts him back into her life but she also introduces him to the grand-daughter he never knew he had and he crosses "kiss the most beautiful girl in the world" off the list.
Cole goes on to live till a ripe old age of 81 years old. When he finally passes away, he has his ashes placed inside a Chock Full o' Nuts coffee can, alongside Carter, on the top of Mount Everest which Carter mentions that Cole would have liked, as it was against the law. When Matthew completes this, he crosses off the last item on the Bucket List (witness something truly majestic) and places the list with them, closed the small black box and reburies it in the snow.
The story is moving and opens you into the inner-most thoughts of the terminally ill. Watching these two great actors deliver their lines at the highest level of their craft is nothing short amazing, leaving me breathless and in awe. Ratings in this case is useless, just go watch it and really feel it!
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