Michelle SweeneyReview - Seven Pounds
January 4th 2009 07:11
The film opens with Ben Thomas making a 911 emergency call requesting an ambulance. The emergency - a suicide. The victim - he is! Introduced to us as a suicidal (first scene) and unhappy man (second scene) the film plays out in a non-linear fashion.
Cut to a list of candidates which clearly states on the note that they are people that Ben does not know. Ben proceeds to contact one of the names on the list, Ezra Thomas, a blind vegetarian meat salesman played spectacularly by Woody Harrelson. He attempts to get him into a conversation with the sole purpose of trying to upset him, the reason at this stage, not being apparent. Ben obviously upset by this conversation shouts out seven names - the names to which the seven pounds refers to and we see the names again flashed upon the screen for our benefit clearly representing seven people who have died.
This is where the film begins to let me down. As a somewhat intelligent filmgoer I am of the opinion I don't need the plot to be written out on the screen as obviously as this in order for me to get it. Also as one who studied theatre at university, I couldn’t fail to notice the Shakespearean reference of the pound of flesh from The Merchant of Venice to which the movie title refers to. I felt it would have been a much more interesting experience if the plot was kept hidden for longer as it seemed to be in conflict with the aim of the movie.
Cut again to Ben inside the IRS office accessing personal details of the names on his list. He then proceeds to contact these people one by one getting information that he requires. Less than 20 minutes into the film it becomes clear that Ben is looking to help people but only if they themselves are deserving of help.
Well intentioned, heart felt and a great concept but unfortunately not enough to be a great film.
Voyage Review: 3/5
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Comment by Michelle Sweeney
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What a letdown... The trailer looked so good... O well, all trailers looked good... and i thought Will Smith would be a good judge of the script! (Pursuit, the Hero film, etc)
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