Seven Pounds: Review By SupermanEmpire

This was a film I had absolutely no intention of seeing. When it came out the critics completely obliterated it. Please don’t get me wrong, I don’t always listen to the critics but there were other films I wanted to see and the hate for this film didn't put it on top of my “must see” list, more or less it got put on an entirely different list if you get my drift. When I saw it on the shelf at Blockbuster for ten bucks I thought What the heck, I’ll give it a shot. Now I’m not what you would call a huge fan of Will Smiths, an average one at best. I watched the Fresh Prince as a kid, liked Independence Day, Men In Black, I Robot and a few other flicks he’s done including a film called The Pursuit of Happiness. The director of that film Gabriele Muccino also directed Seven Pounds so that was enough incentive for me to give it a go. I gotta tell you I’m sure glad I did, because this film was a one-two punch to the soul, a total shocker. I don’t usually let sappy storylines, or romance laced films break through my “BS” barrier, but this film for whatever reason got through. It has a message yes, but I wouldn’t call it a “message” film. Concepts are things thrown around Hollywood circuits, some are good, some are cliché, others are terrible, and occasionally some are refreshingly original. Seven Pounds was the latter of that group. It’s a strange and ironic parallel, but I haven't seen a film ending as shocking and against the normal fray of standard cinema as Seven Pound’s since the movie Seven (I told you it was ironic). At the end of Seven my jaw hit the floor, at the end of Seven Pounds my spirits hit the floor. The film paces itself in an increasingly popular style of a “start at beginning

with the end, and explain the beginning by the end.” I’d have to say that this pacing style being applied to this particular film had me scratching my head at times, but slowly it all came together and made altruistic sense at least. They may have been able to go a different way with the flow and application of the story’s concept, but it works. Will Smith turns in a powerful performance as does his gorgeous co-star Rosario Dawson. Another surprise performance in this film was that of Kingpin fame, Woody Harrelson. Smith really goes all out as a haunted and determined man on a mission. What mission exactly is the question that drives the films story, and no I’m not going to give away any details. Figuring out the film and seeing it through to its crushing climax is something I believe every viewer should experience. Some not knowing how to take the film may turn a nose to it as hokey, shallow, message driven fodder. I would fundamentally disagree on every point, but the small portion of me that’s a cynic (aren’t we all) would understand how they got to such an opinion of Seven Pounds. I dared to open myself up to the films power, and it was equally effective as both a quality piece of original entertainment, and deep meaningful work of drama. I would recommend Seven Pounds, I just wouldn't recommend watching it at the start of your day. This is the kind of film you want to watch at the conclusion of your day.