It's rare to encounter a movie this unassuming that manages to renew your sense of optimism about humanity and existence itself. Released in 2006, “10 Items or Less,” written and directed by Brad Silberling, tells the story of an older performer who’s fallen on hard times (Morgan Freeman) as he prepares for a small independent project after four years without work. He crosses paths with Scarlet (Paz Vega), a spirited cashier at a supermarket in a Latino neighborhood of Los Angeles. Recognizing something special in her, he resolves to assist her while also preparing himself for his role. The film’s storyline bears resemblance to 2003's "Lost in Translation." The character name is meant to evoke Scarlett Johansson, but that shouldn’t deter you from experiencing this understated treasure because the personalities are quite distinct and there are other subtle differences. For example, Morgan Freeman’s character (listed simply as “Him” in the credits) embodies a sense of vitality compared to Bill Murray's more cynical portrayal in "Lost in Translation." Furthermore, "10 Items" isn’t steeped in sadness; and the female lead isn’t innocent or excessively sweet like Johansson’s Charlotte in "Lost.” It is a compact film—the end credits appear just ten minutes after the sixty-minute mark—and therefore lacks the complexity of “Lost,” and doesn't elicit quite as much emotion, but it feels more uplifting and ultimately encouraging. The movie has a running time of 1 hour and 21 minutes and was filmed in Brentwood, Los Angeles, along with Carson, which is located to the south. GRADE: A-

Source on TMDB