Seven Pounds: Review By Solar XI

Gabriele Muccino is widely recognized for his collaboration with Will Smith in the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness. The film received many positive reviews as it was based on the true story of a man named Chris Gardner. Will Smith and Muccino bring another classic film of they way life is one big place as we may all intertwine with one another.

Seven Pounds centers on a man named Ben Thomas (Smith). Thomas is an IRS agent who appears to be a loner in all aspects of his life. He owns a beach house and, as a pet, a jellyfish. Thomas' life revolves around the guilt of a car accident in which he caused that took the lives of seven people including his fiancee Sarah (Robinne Lee).

Rosario Dawson plays Emily Posa. Posa is first seen in the film when she asks Thomas to hold the elevator door for her while at the hospital. When she is checked out of the hospital, she sees him again and he tells her he must audit her. On another occasion he tells her he will freeze her assets and give her six months to pay the amount of money she owes. Over the course of several weeks she becomes his love interest even though she may die because of her enlarged heart.

Woody Harrelson plays Ezra Turner, a blind meat salesman. When Turner first appears, he is verbally ridiculed by Thomas over the phone for being blind, not eating pork (or meat-cannot remember) and not having sex. Turner only appears for a few scenes in which Thomas watches him. Michael Ealy plays Ben's brother. Ben and his brother seem to have a rocky relationship but when in contact they mention their love for one another. Ben usually hangs up on his brother as mostly they contact through telephones.

The film gives a deeper feel on depression and what it feels like to have a guilty conscience. Muccino is able to express that, along with Smith's acting ability to bring Ben Thomas to life wrather than just read off paper. Everyone feels as if they have hit rock bottom in their life which is why people might be able to identify themselves as a "Ben Thomas".

Smith's portrayal of the character is another form of his role as Chris Gardner. Of course Will Smith has mega amounts of popularity stemming from rap days that virtually carried into his The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air days, but Smith brings extreme amounts of pain that saddens you to the point where you cannot imagine a way to help Ben. Smith reaches the top when you realize you can't stop Ben at this point in his life. That kind of acting is remarkable and can only be accheived by a few actors.

I was never into Rosario Dawson's films until I saw Dito Montiel's A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints. It was at that point I realized she was extremely talented which is easy to come by in films. Dawson has mass appeal to herself and is by far one of the best actresses I've seen. Prior to seeing this film, I saw Eagle Eye and didn't see her much as a federal agent with minimal action scenes but she pulled it off and I was impressed. Dawson is amazing in Seven Pounds. The make-up applied to her face was done superbly as she did come off as being simply sick.

Most characters in the film are seen only momentarily but play a major part in the climax of the film. For instance, Barry Pepper plays Dan, Ben's childhood friend and is aware of Ben's plan. Pepper is seen for a few scenes but plays a major part in Ben's life.

Muccino aces this feature with his slow shots of Ben seeing visions of his fiancee and a point in time where his life was happy. Moments of just showing Ben alone make you feel sorry for him but is where Muccino excels the most. When it comes to the near-romantic scenes between Emily and Ben are well done. It's a reflection of us all when you meet someone you dream of spending your life with. You finally see someone who's distant from life entirely and you finally get a glimpse of his happiness and with the tone of the film you wish it would last him forever.

Seven Pounds is an outstanding film and original masterpiece. I wish to see more film collaborations with both Gabriele Muccino and Will Smith. This film should only be viewed by a mature audience.