I have reviewed the latest Will Smith drama Seven Pounds.
There are critics who say that this film is painfully slow for most of its running time. You can count me in that group as well. In my review, I attempt to describe, without spoilers, the experience of watching this film from beginning to end.
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4 comments:
I'm just sitting down to write my own review of this film. I'll read your review after I finish my own. I try not to read other critics' reviews before writing my own.
Cool. I can't wait to see what you thought of it. :-)
My review was submitted on Tuesday but I think my editors have been out of the office or something for the holidays. It should be posted soon.
I will provide you with a few comments, though. (Warning to those who haven't seen the film: SPOILERS INCOMING!)
1. The film worked very well for me for several reasons, one of which being that I figured out the ending about a fourth of the way into the film. I realized early on that Ben was killing himself and giving his heart to the Rosario Dawson character. Realizing that it was easy to pick up on what his whole plan was and why he was doing certain things. It became clear that he was going to give his eyes to the Woody Harrelson character for example.
2. I reject your criticism that the film should have given equal attention to each recipient of one of Ben's gifts. It's not necessary and it's better for the film to establish one primary relationship.
3. The film doesn't work as a drama because it's not a drama. In my review I talk about how one can interpret it as a spiritual parable with the Ben character acting in the role of Christ. It doesn't work as drama because it's such an unbelievable story with an unbelievable protagonist. It does however work effectively as a variation on the Christ myth. If you go in with that approach -- expecting or accepting a spiritual parable instead of a drama -- you're likely to be much more satisfied, as I was.
David,
I've read your review at the WTHR site. Regarding your comments...
(WARNING: SPOILERS FOLLOW)
1. I wasn't able to guess the ending as quickly as you did. Believe it or not, I had assumed the first scene to actually precede the next scene. In other words, I had thought it was a failed attempted suicide, and the things Will Smith did after that were meant to move on from that. I did figure that the news clipping of the car accident had something to do with his emotional state, though it still felt very mysterious after that point. Overall, you were a lot more keen than I was.
2. Maybe the film doesn't have to have equal screen time for everyone, but maybe more screen time for the miscellaneous five beneficiaries would have been nice. You know, like two or three scenes per character, not just one.
3. This is perhaps the reason why our reviews disagree. It had never occured to me to look at the film from a spiritual standpoint. And maybe I would have liked the movie more had I done so.
Overall, it's nice to get an alternate view, because this movie really seems to divide the critics. It does appear that one's perspective can make a real difference.
Thanks for sharing. :-)
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