10 Items or Less (2006)

As Good As It Gets

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

RELEASED IN 2006 and written & directed by Brad Silberling, "10 Items or Less" is a drama about an aged has-been actor (Morgan Freeman) who researches for an indie gig after a four-year dry spell. He meets a spitfire checkout clerk named Scarlet (Paz Vega) at a supermarket in a Latino community of Los Angeles. Impressed by the young woman, he decides to help her while psyching-up for the role. The plot is obviously borrowed from 2003's "Lost in Translation." To key you off, the girl is named after Scarlett Johansson. But don't let that keep you from seeing this minor gem because the characters are very different, plus other nuances. For instance, Morgan's character (simply called "Him" in the cast list) reflects the "joy of living" (joie de vivre) as opposed to Bill Murray's amusing curmudgeon in "Lost in Translation." Moreover, "10 Items" is less melancholy; and the girl isn't naïve and overly sweet like Charlotte (Johansson) in "Lost." It's a small film, with the end credits rolling a mere ten minutes after the hour mark, and so it lacks the depth of "Lost" and isn't as moving (at least as far as pulling your romantic heartstrings), but it's more heartwarming and overall inspiring. THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour 21 minutes and was shot in Brentwood, Los Angeles, and nearby Carson (to the south). GRADE: A-

I have seen '10 items or less' before, but I watched again today as it was my birthday. I wanted to see the kind of movie I appreciate the most: emotionally touching, life-affirming and dealing with human relationships. '10 items or less' never disappointed me in this respect. It doesn't have much of a plot; it doesn't need it. It's the human contact that makes the film special. I loved all the little silly and funny things Morgan did when meeting other people, and the way he picked up Scarlet. She was lucky to meet him as he decided to help her gain a new perspective on her life. Morgan encouraged her to go to an interview for a job she dreamed of and supported her all he could. Scarlet was able to talk about her concerns with a real actor who knew that life was about playing roles. Pick a role you like and have courage to play it. I was pleased to see Morgan take joy in the human interaction. The film can certainly make you get a more relaxed approach to life and give you ideas how to make it more interesting and enjoyable.

I have to admit that for the first half hour or so of this movie I was basically lost. There had been some mildly amusing humour, but at best a barebones plot and a general sense of pointlessness that was on the verge of making me think that I was wasting my time. Then - for no apparent reason - I suddenly realized that I was enjoying this. There was no blinding moment of realization and no suddenly dramatic scene that grabbed me. In fact nothing very exciting happens in the entire movie. It was as if I just all of a sudden realized that the movie was meant to be largely pointless - and that in its very pointlessness was its charm.Morgan Freeman starred as an unnamed actor who finds a “little project” to jumpstart his career. He's going to play a supermarket manager, and spends the day in a neighbourhood supermarket to research the role. While there he meets and bonds with Scarlet (played by Paz Vega) - a cashier who wants more out of life. He helps her prepare for a job interview as if she's auditioning for a role, while she introduces him to real life. It's truly funny watching “him” (for that's how the character is identified in the credits) be overwhelmed by a visit to the local Target store.Freeman and Vega were great together, with a strange but completely believable sort of combined romantic but father-daughter chemistry. If you feel lost at the beginning, stick with this. In the end, it turns out to be a delightfully charming movie. 7/10

I believe a lot of people down rated the movie, NOT because of the lack of quality. But it did not follow the standard Hollywood formula. Some of the conflicts are not resolved. The ending is just a little too real for others, but the journey the rich characters and long list of supporters provide is both thought provoking and very entertaining. Even the cinematography is excellent given the urban setting, the directing also is excellent and innovative.This is a 10 in my book, this movie will take you places the normal and expected Hollywood script will not. They took some risks and did a few things different. I think it worked well, I am purposely trying to avoid any direct references to the movie because seeing it for yourself is the best answer, not accepting someone else's interpretation.