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Seven Pounds
If Seven Pounds' goal as a film is to turn grown men into sniveling cry babies and grown men's girlfriends into tear streaked film goers desperately trying to dab their eyes before they exit the darkness of the theater, than bravo, a job well done. The film will literally grab your heart strings pull them up through your eyes and some how turn them into tears. However, if Seven Pounds' goal was to be Will Smith's and everyone else involved in the film's chance at Oscar gold, than the target might have been missed a bit.
It's not that Seven Pounds is a bad film, it's just not that great, which is a little odd because the premise of the film is immensely intriguing. Ben Thomas (Will Smith) has done something pretty horrible and he's making up for it by helping out total strangers. When the film picks up he has already helped a few people and is now just getting to know Emily Posa (Rosario Dawson) to see if she is a good enough candidate for his help. A romance between the two is kindled. We aren't really let into what his past is, or how he is truly helping everyone -- that's the film's twist after all -- but it's clear that he is wealthy, a little odd and seriously troubled.
Troubled, but kind. Angry, but thoughtful. Suicidal, but a good man. Sounds like a dream role for any actor and Smith, whose Fresh Prince acting days are starting to get harder and harder to remember, clearly pours his soul into this one. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to be enough. While this is a perfectly good performance from Smith, it isn't one of his best. His awkward Ben Thomas comes off as just that, but not in the good way. Of course Smith is such a good actor that even his bad performances are good ones, but as far as Oscar worth goes (something almost every film released now is looking at) this isn't quite there.
I will say that Italian director Gabriele Muccino and Will Smith seem to made for each other. Muccino's flat, straight forward directing is one of the great reasons the film is so very good at grabbing at your emotions. If you liked them together in the Pursuit of Happiness than Seven Pounds isn't going to hurt your opinion of either one in any way. Muccino has a way of capturing beauty in simple ways that works incredibly well in these types of films.
The rest of the cast, most of whom are on the screen for just a few minutes since Smith and Dawson are clearly the films focus, live up to their co-star for the most part. Woody Harrelson plays a convincing enough blind man, though a scene at the end that I can't explain for fear of spoiling the movie is just down right creepy. Dawson is just down right gorgeous even when she's all made up to look like she could die any day. At one point she mentions that she use to be really hot, but even with bags under her eyes and pale skin it's hard to hide her beauty. And, when the time comes, she is really the one that is going to get your water works flowing.
Seven Pounds is a story with an interesting twist at the end, a talented director and a powerful lead actor. However, it isn't a story that will stick with you like truly great films do. The twist will probably shock you, though you may have guessed it by the end, but it won't make you think too much. You'll cry, you'll feel strongly, but then you'll forget about it in a week and won't even bother to pick up the DVD. It is a good movie that misses out on greatness simply because it was never really destined for it.
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