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Most would agree that a tragic film such as this will somehow carry it's own weight, yet Seven Pounds seemed to leave me profoundly depressed and wishing that the story would somehow leave me uplifted. The film somehow fell short in delivering a redemptive message it set out to do. Will Smith proved himself as a solid force to be reckoned with in the industry and has impressed me in many other wonderful films. His character, Ben, is a very lovable guy that seems to have entered into a period of enigmatic crossroads in life. Given his desire to be helpful, it doesn't seem fit that he would pose as an IRS agent to deliver up some kind of blind love for redemption. When a freak accident killed seven people including his wife, he really did search, but found no answers. Although you might think it was a flashback to some other point in time, Ben was a very successful engineer with a high paying job. When his trouble began, his brother, who was with the IRS, allowed him to use his identity and pose as an IRS agent long enough to track down potential beneficiaries of his live organs after his preplanned suicide. I'll be the 1st to say damn! In Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Shilok the Jew, wanted a pound of flesh in payment for nonpayment. This leads us somehow to the thought within the play where we get the speech about "the quality of mercy is not strained, but dropeth like the gentle dew from heaven upon the place beneath". Therefore, we get the old adage, "An Ounce Of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure." The anger & frustration that Ben feels when he finds that his empathy and compassion towards someone in uncertain health circumstances is betrayed is very believable, although, if he feels any compassion towards those people at all, he should soon become aware that all of us are not going live a perfect life and that desperate times can lead people to desperate measures. His pact with his friend and his quest to end his life and somehow prolong others is a noble challenge to take on, however, he should leave this kind of work to Almighty GOD. Even so, Science seems to deliver many blessings to those in need, however, the real tragedy is that man created science in order to compensate for his fall from grace(sinlessness). The tragedies in this film are quite intense and make us aware that we are not immortal, yet we somehow are made to feel that Ben is trying to discern the reasons why good things happen to bad people while bad things happen to good people. There were nice touches left here and there within the main body of the film that pushed you to love this guy regardless of his inner drive to be some kind of angel or GOD's supersaint. We knew he was disturbed from the start of the film, but didn't really know why. In my opinion, it would have been a much better film if the director had left off the first scene. That way we would not have had any idea where his character was going. The jelly fish death leaves us thinking, "How could you die and still be fresh". Well "Not because he was the Fresh Prince", but this has to do with just the neurotoxins of the brain. Many of the supporting actors compliment this film, such as Woody Harrelson playing the part of a physically challenged individual who has lost his sight. I'm going to give this film a 4/5 for originality due to the reality of sudden and definite tragedy in all our lives. IF YOU LIKE MY REVIEWS, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW BY VOTING.THANKSRead full review
Seven Pounds is a 2008 film, directed by Gabriele Muccino. Will Smith stars as a man who sets out to change the lives of seven people. Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, and Barry Pepper star. The film was released in theaters in the United States and Canada on December 19, 2008, by Columbia Pictures.Seven Pounds is based on a script written by Grant Nieporte under Columbia Pictures. In June 2006, Will Smith joined the studio to star in the planned film and to serve as one of its producers.[1] In September 2007, director Gabriele Muccino, who worked with Smith on The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), was attached to direct Seven Pounds, bringing along his creative team from the 2006 film.[2] Smith was joined by Rosario Dawson and Woody Harrelson the following December to star in Seven Pounds. Filming began in February 2008.[3] Most of the film was shot in various locations around Los Angeles, Pasadena, California and Malibu, California. Points of interest used in the film include the Travel Inn in Tujunga, California, the Colorado Bar, The Huntington Library, The Sheraton and The Pasadena Ice Skating Rink all in Pasadena, as well as Malibu Beach in Malibu.[citation needed]Read full review
Features Actors:Will Smith, Rosario Dawson,Woody Harrelson,Elpidia Camillo,Quintin Kelley,Judyann Elder Running Time:123 Min. Rating:PG-13 Ben Thomas (Smith), passing himself off as an IRS agent to perform seven random acts of kindness as a sort of penance. He still plans to take his own life anyway, because he's eager to join his dearly-departed spouse in the great beyond.Smith stars as a suicidal widower wracked with guilt over killing his wife in a car accident while fiddling with his Blackberry. Ben goes to great lengths to make sure his beneficiaries are worthy of his blessing. Another fly in the ointment is the seemingly-inappropriate romance which unexpectedly blossoms between him and Emily (Dawson), the sexiest, terminal heart patient. Among the other charity cases are Ezra (Woody Harrelson), a blind telemarketer who keeps his cool when Ben berates him; Connie (Elpidia Camillo), a battered woman too afraid of her violent boyfriend's outbursts to leave or press charges; Nicholas (Quintin Kelley), a sickly kid in need of a bone marrow transplant; Holly (Judyann Elder), a social worker with cirrhosis of the liver, etcetera. You get the idea. Another great memorable performance by Will Smith, one that will have you thinking long after the movie has ended.It will make you want to be a better person.Hope this helps you decide.Thanks for reading! :)Read full review
Will Smith (the Pursuit of happyness, I Am Legend) stars with Barry Pepper (Best known for his performance as Roger Maris in *61), Rosario Dawson (Eagle Eye, Death Proof), and Woody Harrelson (Best Known for his performance in the hit TV show Cheers) star in this thought provoking story of a man on a mission to redeem himself for his past sins. Smith pretends to be an IRS agent in order to get information and get close to 7 people whom he feels are deserving of a special gift that will change their lives. This performance by smith is much like his roles in The Pursuit of Happyness and I am Legend where we see a more serious side. The character is tragic, yet everyone who sees this movie will understand the pain and the suffering that he is experiencing. I rate this movie a 5 of 5 and recommend it to anyone who likes an Excellent movie performed by an excellent cast.Read full review
This movie came highly recommended to me as a lover of a good movie, but came off deeply disturbing. Will Smith is a brilliant actor and did a splendid job here as usual. The story is what was disturbing to me. As a Christian, in this day and age, I should not be surprised. The premise of the story is a man eaten up with guilt and remorse who sets out to redeem himself before committing suicide. Suicide should never be glorified and if we could redeem ourselves then we wouldn't need a savior, would we? The entire movie sets the stage for the final act of his own demise. The steps he takes and the people along the way are the groundwork he lays for his redemption. I regret watching the movie except that I can now be a vocal opponent of it and have the history of the story to back me up. It is certainly not appropriate for younger viewers. It is a very dark, and deeply depressing movie. If I were siskel or Eibert, I'd give it two thumbs down.Read full review
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