| Seven Pounds (2008) By Cherish Hamutoff Published December 22, 2008 Will Smith’s star vehicle, directed by Gabriele Muccino (The Pursuit of Happyness), takes the audience on a ride to discover the answer to the question: seven pounds – of what? Acting as an IRS Agent, Ben Thomas (Smith) chases redemption while dramatically impacting the lives of seven carefully chosen strangers. Is this movie - which is cloaked in secrecy from the title to the trailer – worth its weight? Biblical in it’s intentions, Seven Pounds references the Old Testament’s law of “An eye for an eye” and Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice’s “pound of flesh.” In a forced storyline, bits of a mystery are gradually revealed as we follow Ben Thomas’ (Will Smith) journey toward redemption. I found myself not a little annoyed at the mystery that was forced upon this film. The beginning gives away the ending without revealing too much; Ben Thomas (Smith) is first seen in a bathtub, on the phone, saying, “I’d like to report a suicide,” and when the operator asks “Who’s the victim?” Thomas responds, “I am.” The following story is one of an extended flashback to get us back to the beginning, or ending. One of my myriad gripes with this film was Smith’s choice of how to portray his character – it felt like he was trying too hard to be likable. His moments of outbursts (ex. when Emily (Rosario Dawson) asks if he’s ever been in love) felt pushed because there was nothing real behind them; he was just a likable, happy, kind guy with not a care in the world, oh, except for that aforementioned “secret.” It was not surprising to later learn that the director and Smith had altered the script; Thomas had been a harder character – he was angry, impenetrable, focused, on a journey, and not very likable…until he redeems himself at the end. Funny, that movie I may have enjoyed. This film, I saw an actor trying to be likable, and thus did not believe his actions. The rest of the cast pulled off heartfelt performances. Although feeling slightly manipulated, I found myself falling into the romance between Ben Thomas and Emily (Rosario Dawson). She played vulnerable and strong with the best of them, and their tender relationship made the film watchable, and at moments, engaging. Their love scene (marked with a heavy handed score of sentimental notes and a deeply sour one), and their post-coital scene were the bit of redemption we were hoping for – not the act which shortly follows. In choosing his actions (clawing for his saint-like status), Thomas actually comes off the opposite of self-sacrificing, and his selfish end is twisted into a selfless act. And I was manhandled into sympathy in the closing scene featuring Dawson and Harrelson. I hate to admit it, but I was moved, damn it. I must credit Dawson and Harrelson for pulling the wool over my teary eyes. All in all, though the script was implausible and worked against the point it was trying to make, and Smith didn’t work in this role for me at all, there was some good acting in this piece, there were some poignant scenes, and there were moments I was lost in the romance. I wouldn’t recommend this movie to anyone, but I wouldn’t give it a Razzie. Rated: PG-13 Running time: 123 minutes Directed by Gabriele Muccino Written by Grant Nieporte Starring: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Ealy, Barry Pepper |