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April 13, 2009
Review - " Seven Pounds " - (on DVD) By Roland Hansen
For comments or to submit a movie review for possible inclusion on Delta Films site
please send an email to Critics@deltafilms.net
please send an email to Critics@deltafilms.net
Seven Pounds
Directed by: Gabriele Muccino
Starring: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Ealy
Ben Thomas is an IRS agent with a secret. He has, within his power and
reach, the ability to drastically change the lives of seven complete strangers.
Quietly moving in and out of each persons life, he observes how they interact
with others. He wants to make sure they are honest people, slow to anger,
truly leaving a positive impact on those around them.
If you liked Pursuit of Happyness, you will also enjoy Seven Pounds. This is a
well balanced emotional ride following the story of a man who’s looking to
redeem himself through his interaction with seven total strangers. In the midst
of the journey, he also falls in love. But, he sticks with the plan and in the
end, gives the ultimate sacrifice, so another can in turn live a long life.
“I’d like to report a suicide…”
The gripping words which in turn grab your attention from the outset of
Seven Pounds. Nothing is left to the imagination in regards as to what might
ultimately happen to Ben Thomas. But at the same time, much is left to the
imagination as we then walk with the Will Smith character through the next
few weeks of his life. The movie clocks in at close to two hours. While this is
not an action packed movie, it’s certainly a movie that keeps your attention
Directed by: Gabriele Muccino
Starring: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Ealy
Ben Thomas is an IRS agent with a secret. He has, within his power and
reach, the ability to drastically change the lives of seven complete strangers.
Quietly moving in and out of each persons life, he observes how they interact
with others. He wants to make sure they are honest people, slow to anger,
truly leaving a positive impact on those around them.
If you liked Pursuit of Happyness, you will also enjoy Seven Pounds. This is a
well balanced emotional ride following the story of a man who’s looking to
redeem himself through his interaction with seven total strangers. In the midst
of the journey, he also falls in love. But, he sticks with the plan and in the
end, gives the ultimate sacrifice, so another can in turn live a long life.
“I’d like to report a suicide…”
The gripping words which in turn grab your attention from the outset of
Seven Pounds. Nothing is left to the imagination in regards as to what might
ultimately happen to Ben Thomas. But at the same time, much is left to the
imagination as we then walk with the Will Smith character through the next
few weeks of his life. The movie clocks in at close to two hours. While this is
not an action packed movie, it’s certainly a movie that keeps your attention
throughout. There were times I wondered what exactly was going on with the plot line. Just when I thought it was a little
disjointed, the scriptwriter would drop in another tidbit of information, leading to another “ah ha” moment as he quietly worked
piecing together the puzzle of the life portrayed on the big screen.
Seven Pounds is ultimately a movie about this journey we call life. In life many things happen. Some we can control, others
we have no control over at all. It’s in the midst of the journey that we sometimes find ourselves weighted down. If need be,
how do we shed the weight of past decisions and actions, which may have harmed those around us. It’s here we discover the
focus of Seven Pounds, also described at the first of the movie by Ben Thomas as he describes his own situation…
Will smith took home the Delta's Choice Award for Best Dramatic Performance for "Seven Pounds". Smith has always been
an interesting actor for me. I watch most everything he does because I'm a fan. I must admit that the idea of him playing
another heartbroken, distanced from the world individual made me a little nervous, but this one was a home run. The
character Ben Thomas is such a mystery that you want to know what he plans to do, for others, for himself, etc. As the story
unfolds, so does his intentions and not in a really simplistic way. He's a complex person. He's intriguing.
The connection between Will Smith and Rosario Dawson is so well done and so believable. This is how it's supposed to be
done. There's a chemistry in their acting that I haven't seen in about 10 years or so. I'm not exaggerating. I haven't seen too
many films where the chemistry is genuine; kudos to the both of them.
“It took God seven days to create the world.
It took me seven seconds to shatter mine.”
As already mentioned, this is not an action packed movie. No, this is more of a thinking movie. Seven Pounds enables us to
step back and take a look at our own lives, as we ask the question - How are we effecting those around us? - The genius of
this movie is also tucked away in a brilliant script. I applaud the filmmakers for not burying the incredible dialogue and script
writing found in Seven Pounds with music. Even when music is mixed in, it’s added gracefully and with purpose. When you
combine this, with the incredible acting abilities of Will Smith, it’s definitely a winning combination for the movie-goer who’s
looking for more than just blow-em-up-action-flicks.
In the end, Seven Pounds is a movie which engages a full range of emotions. While Pursuit of Happyness really tugged at
your heartstrings, Seven Pounds strikes an incredible balance between joy, laughter and tears. Not only did we leave the
movie touched by the compassionate life of Ben
Thomas, but hopefully along the way also learned a
little about ourselves and the importance of positively
impacting those around us.
While we are saying Seven Pounds is family-friendly,
keep in mind this is a movie dealing with some serious
content. We’re saying it’s family-friendly for the PG-13
rating. But, because of the genre, this is a movie
younger teens may not be interested in.
"Seven Pounds" is a movie about life and how our
decisions in turn effect not only us, but those around
us. While Ben Thomas is a hero of a certain type,
he’s not the superhero your kids may be expecting.
disjointed, the scriptwriter would drop in another tidbit of information, leading to another “ah ha” moment as he quietly worked
piecing together the puzzle of the life portrayed on the big screen.
Seven Pounds is ultimately a movie about this journey we call life. In life many things happen. Some we can control, others
we have no control over at all. It’s in the midst of the journey that we sometimes find ourselves weighted down. If need be,
how do we shed the weight of past decisions and actions, which may have harmed those around us. It’s here we discover the
focus of Seven Pounds, also described at the first of the movie by Ben Thomas as he describes his own situation…
Will smith took home the Delta's Choice Award for Best Dramatic Performance for "Seven Pounds". Smith has always been
an interesting actor for me. I watch most everything he does because I'm a fan. I must admit that the idea of him playing
another heartbroken, distanced from the world individual made me a little nervous, but this one was a home run. The
character Ben Thomas is such a mystery that you want to know what he plans to do, for others, for himself, etc. As the story
unfolds, so does his intentions and not in a really simplistic way. He's a complex person. He's intriguing.
The connection between Will Smith and Rosario Dawson is so well done and so believable. This is how it's supposed to be
done. There's a chemistry in their acting that I haven't seen in about 10 years or so. I'm not exaggerating. I haven't seen too
many films where the chemistry is genuine; kudos to the both of them.
“It took God seven days to create the world.
It took me seven seconds to shatter mine.”
As already mentioned, this is not an action packed movie. No, this is more of a thinking movie. Seven Pounds enables us to
step back and take a look at our own lives, as we ask the question - How are we effecting those around us? - The genius of
this movie is also tucked away in a brilliant script. I applaud the filmmakers for not burying the incredible dialogue and script
writing found in Seven Pounds with music. Even when music is mixed in, it’s added gracefully and with purpose. When you
combine this, with the incredible acting abilities of Will Smith, it’s definitely a winning combination for the movie-goer who’s
looking for more than just blow-em-up-action-flicks.
In the end, Seven Pounds is a movie which engages a full range of emotions. While Pursuit of Happyness really tugged at
your heartstrings, Seven Pounds strikes an incredible balance between joy, laughter and tears. Not only did we leave the
movie touched by the compassionate life of Ben
Thomas, but hopefully along the way also learned a
little about ourselves and the importance of positively
impacting those around us.
While we are saying Seven Pounds is family-friendly,
keep in mind this is a movie dealing with some serious
content. We’re saying it’s family-friendly for the PG-13
rating. But, because of the genre, this is a movie
younger teens may not be interested in.
"Seven Pounds" is a movie about life and how our
decisions in turn effect not only us, but those around
us. While Ben Thomas is a hero of a certain type,
he’s not the superhero your kids may be expecting.
