Review: Seven Pounds (2008)
Seven Pounds
2008
118 minutes
rated PG-13
Seven Pounds is the very definition of a 'noble failure'. It is exquisitely acted and occasionally compelling. It is the very kind of film that 'they just don't make anymore' and I am glad for its existence. But, taken on its own merits, it has one key flaw: it is structured as a mystery and the film waits almost till the very end to show most of its cards. As a result, we are cheated of the emotional drama that the characters would be going through if we were shown all of the details along the way.
A token amount of plot (no spoilers): Ben (Will Smith) is an IRS agent who has been investigating several strangers, probing into their lives for reasons not revealed. Along the way, he hits it off with one of his 'targets', a woman with a failing heart (Rosario Dawson, in one of her very best performances). As he gets closer to her, he realizes that he is putting his plan in jeopardy, a plan that apparently (according to the opening scene) involves his own suicide.
While many viewers will guess the ballgame sometime in the first act, such knowledge lends the film a pathos that it lacks for those who simply follow the story as given. Basically the majority of the film has Ben encountering, interrogating and occasionally challenging various subjects to see if they are worthy of his grand desire. The always welcome Bill Smitrovich (from The Practice) appears as a kids' hockey coach, while Woody Harrelson is terrific as a blind pianist (Harrelson had quickly become one of my favorite character actors, with fine work in The Prize Winner Of Defiance Ohio, The Walker, No Country For Old Men, the underrated Semi-Pro, and Transsiberian).
And Will Smith himself seemingly undergoes a physical transformation and does surprisingly potent, occasionally subtle work as a desperately sad man with very little reason to live. Smith has finally become an actor of substance, as this is his fourth terrific performance in a row (following The Pursuit of Happyness, I Am Legend, and Hancock). If nothing else, Seven Pounds works as an acting treat.
I am inclined to defend it simply because many of the criticisms seem more about punishing the great and powerful Will Smith than about judging the merits of his latest project. David Poland of Movie City News correctly noted that if this were a foreign film with a lower budget and no big stars, it would likely have received rave reviews when it reached our shores. And while I defend the acting and the concept, I cannot defend the structural execution, which takes a potentially wrenching story and renders it slow, occasionally boring, and just out of emotional reach for no reason other than to play 'gotcha' with the audience.
As for the moral questions brought up by the film, there can be some debate as to whether the film is meant to be a tragedy or an ultimately uplifting tale of redemption. The choices made by certain characters will have their detractors, but there is no law saying I must agree with the decisions made by individual people in a story in order to enjoy said film. Let's just say I was far more saddened at the climax that I was uplifted.
On that note, when the pieces do fall into place, the film finally takes the emotional turn that it should have had from the get-go. Like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the final moments are incredibly moving. And like that disappointing piece of Oscar bait, a stunningly powerful final scene cannot make up for the aloof and somewhat cold narrative that precedes it.
In the end, I recommend eventually seeing Seven Pounds for the acting and the questions that it will provoke. It is a challenging and thoughtful film, and the fact that it doesn't quite work does not diminish the fact that something like this was attempted by a major studio with the biggest star on the planet. As I said above, it is a noble failure and I acknowledge its failure and its nobility in equal measure. And yes, the title does make sense when you think about it.
Grade: B-
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Scott i usually love your reviews, but have to say while i agree this movie completely missed the mark, i also found their 'noble intentions' to not only miss the mark but be completely misguided.
as a publicist of spiritual movies, i was intrigued to see this movie but am not sure how folks are finding it so inspiring and full of messages of love and life.
suicide is suicide, and i'm not sure if there's another single action on the planet that is more vacant of love and spirit. perhaps killing another. how is everyone overlooking the fact this is a movie that glorifies and worships the act of suicide?!?
we've all made mistakes, and we've all done things we'd like to take back or be able to balance - but hopefully we've all also had the experience that self-forgiveness and learning to love oneself and all those around us - DESPITE our mistakes is the greatest and truest act of courage - the act of a true spiritual warrior.
Scott if you are interested in a movie that is truly spiritually inspiring - do review 'Spiritual Warriors' - spiritualwarriors.com. i'd love to hear what you have to say ...
Yo Scott I'm an indie filmmaker can u review my film
Spiritual warriors
www.spiritualwarriors.com
"SEVEN POUNDS" has generated a lot of discussion on the 'net in recent weeks. Its themes of suicide, love, redemption, and hope among others, seem to have struck a chord with a lot of folks.
Personally, I LOVED the film. "SEVEN POUNDS" hit me on so many levels, that I don't even know where to start in talking about it. I saw this film, "REVOLUTIONARY ROAD" and "THE WRESTLER" in less than a week. Only "SEVEN POUNDS" has remained on my mind.
Scott, I will say that I can't understand the "SIXTH SENSE" approach that you and others have taken towards this film. I didn't get caught up trying to look for any clues. Or considered this film a "mystery" of sorts. I just got caught up in the psychological emotion of it all. From beginning to end.
And I can't understand why the reviews I've read speak nothing of the chemistry between Smith and Rosario Dawson. I never thought much of Dawson. But I fell in LOVE with her in this movie. As a guy recently separated, I was practically crying because the chemistry between the actors felt so natural real. I haven't seen romantic chemistry like that in AGES!
And Scott. You are absolutely right about Will Smith. Dude has matured as an actor so much since his "FRESH PRINCE" days. I hope the critical/box office drubbing "SEVEN POUNDS" is getting doesn't deter Smith from expanding his acting horizons even further.
Although the concept of the movie is very emotionally touching, by the first hailf hour I had already figured it out. It wasn't towards the end of the movie where I actually felt sympathy for the character.
Thank you Mr. Mendelson for not giving away too much of the movie for those who may not have seen it yet. It seems as though from some of the previous posts some didn't understand your intent on leaving some of the key plot elements out.
I couldn't disagree with this review more -- this movie was a breath of fresh air -- a hollywood movie with a bit of an independent streak. I am glad the writer didn't structure the film in the traditional hollywood manner where all the information is laid so plainly before us.
As a writer, I figured out the movie in the first 20 minutes, [there were a lot of clues if you pay attention -- his peculiar behavior, the opening 5 minutes where we see papers that read: These people fit your profile, the stalking of sick people] but it was still a thrill to see it develop through "Ben's" action. I adored the mystery in the narrative and the conclusion of the love story [although, I was pissed that he committed suicide].
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As I said in my review, the film works better if you do figure it out early. As for me, I figured most of it out from the previews, and then the rest during the first act. But just because I caught on early doesn't mean that the film makers chose the best route to tell their story.
Now, to be fair, it is possible that I am reviewing a movie based on the different choices that I would have made, rather than subjectively judging the choices that were made. That's one of my big 'no-no's in film criticism (critique the movie you saw, not the movie you wanted to see). So if I can concede that I may have done that, I must also state that I still find the film, as it was structured, to be worth seeing, warts and all.
I think we agree more than you think. We both recommend the film, it just worked for you more than it worked for me. And it IS a breath of fresh air, the kind of film that should be made by the big studios more often. For another 'film that the studios just don't make anymore', you might enjoy The Weather Man.
Uh, Scott? It doesn't seem like you actually watched the movie. Your statement that "Ben (Will Smith) is an IRS agent..." is totally incorrect. Those who actually paid attention would know that Ben steals his brother's credentials and pretends to be an IRS agent. That is why his brother asks him if he took anything of his while he was visiting. You should proably watch it again Scott, because it seems like there are some poignant parts of the movie that you've missed. Just a suggestion.
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I was trying to avoid a spoiler, thank you very much. Said info is not revealed till close to the end of the movie.
Scott
great review.....I do also think it was too damn long.
The movie was very well done, and I see some folks complaining that they had to spend time figuring things out...well...sorry you weren't spoonfed the entire plot. Sorry you has to use your braincells a bit here...yeesh.
As for calling the movie a "noble failure", I say hold off a second. It's only been 9 days since it was released, and the current box office take of $54 million is only one million less than the total movie's budget. By tomorrow, the movie would have turned a profit.
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I was referring to the film in an artistic sense, not a box office one. Box office wise, it will be (wrongly) written off as a rare Will Smith flop, despite the fact that no other star could have gotten a film like this past $30 million, let alone a likely final gross of about $80-$100 million.
Scott
Will Smith is always Will Smith, in every movie he's ever done. Don't kid yourself.
You want to see a phenomenal performance, see Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler".
No, Will Smith actually is able to act and portray different characters despite claims of the contrary. No, he is not one of this generation's great actors but he is a genuine movie stars with genuine acting chops. All he lacks are great scripts and great directors to work with (for the most part).
Congrats for Rourke return and yes he is a superior thespian than Smith. However the woulds give to his career were self-inflicted. He was screwed up for the longest time, he was abusing drugs he was a menace to his loved ones and he became unreliable as an actor. Should I pat him on the back for getting his life together?
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Rourke was quite good in The Wrestler, but I couldn't help the feeling that he was basically playing himself, and that much of the accolades were for his attempt to reboot his acting career. But said acting career was done in by self-sabotage, and his 'comeback' shouldn't be placed on a higher pedestal than other performances by actors who took better care of themselves. I feel the same way about Health Ledger. His work as The Joker was phenomenal and would have likely gotten acclaim regardless, but much of the critical buzz revolved around him inexplicably dying before the release. I'd feel better championing the same performance given by a man who wasn't so irresponsible as to accidentally (?) kill himself, leaving his daughter without a father and completely wrecking Michelle Williams' life by turning her into an unwilling paparazzi magnet.
Really? We must be seeing different movies.
If someone cheats on you, you shouldn't run back to them. Will Smith has cheated on me about 60 times.
What's that about a thousand monkeys with a thousand typewriters?
I would say "yes" to this film, but it was "too long." In the first half there wasn't only the usual over-lingering-posing-as-emotional-depth, but foolish shots totally pointless and confusing. The worst, the pointless scene following the back of the star's head as he walked down a hospital hall. It went on so long I began conversing with myself whether this is really a horror movie and something is going to jump out at him.
If you have not seen it already, rent "A Pure Formality". Similar mortal theme.
NOT my idea of a Holiday release movie.I wish I hadn't seen it.
Very depressing and sends out the wrong message that suicide is somehow noble.
And giving your life for the one you love? How is that about nobility?
The suicide part was about love. The rest was about being a hero. Something Smith is familiar with.
Sorry KILLING YOURSELF is just plain wrong. No matter what the reason.
I agree wholeheartedly with this review. The movie is well acted but you spend the majority of the movie trying to figure out what is going on, and what Will Smith's character's motivation is. As such you are reluctant to be sympathetic to him and his sometimes abrupt actions until you can figure out what he's up to. By the time the ending explains everything, you feel like you wished you had known what was going on from the beginning.
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