The actor/director combination of Will Smith and Gabrielle Muccino who brought you The Pursuit of Happyness join forces again. Smith plays Ben Thomas, an IRS agent whose existence is so numbing his state borders on suicidal. First though, he seeks redemption for the wrongdoings of his life, a task he intends to fulfil by changing the lives of seven deserving strangers. Everything changes though when he falls in love with one of those recipients (Rosario Dawson). Woody Harrelson co-stars as a blind pianist who also comes in for the Good Samaritan treatment, while Connor Cruise, the adopted son of Tom and Nicole, gets his first big screen role too.
I apologise, we feel bad, but there's no trailer available. ~Ed.
The first act of Seven Pounds is a riddling hodgepodge of non-linear narrative that attempts to create a sense of mystery. It’s also something of a first - how often is it that a film reviewer can sit through the first thirty minutes of a mainstream movie and not understand what’s happening?
I yawned all the way through the disjointed and dramatically unsatisfying middle section as every underwritten and confusing scene passed, with a hunch that this was headed for the absurd. Eventually those suspicions were confirmed, after two hours (they felt longer) of waiting. You will never hear of a dramatic premise so ridiculous and downright morally dubious. I can’t give anything away here (that’s by no means an incentive to see this drivel) but let’s just say there’s a jellyfish involved.
That’s right – this is all very, very silly stuff. Harder to swallow, however, is the expectation that we should be emotionally moved by this tripe. Has Will Smith, who also produced this, lost his mind? These filmmakers must be operating under the assumption that audiences are stupid, because this is a pious, manipulative, morally repugnant, laughably bad excuse for a drama. One star added for decent production value and a likeable Rosario Dawson.
By Andrew Hedley, Flicks.co.nz
This is a maudlin movie. You know the sort of diminished sentimentality that you find most often in American chick-flicks. However, I still enjoyed it! It is a wonderful watch if you like to enjoy the journey. Music, if you like the tunes used, fill the gaps - literally intermezzos. And colour or the lack of it is used to emphasise the emotional condition of the main character. Nicely done. Avoid this if you like "truth" movies that draw you along with the storyline or the characters. This movie is a contrived "falsity": you cannot engage in the first half because it is too hidden and the second-half is a bit convenient. Perhaps that's why 'D F Stuckey' (see review below) sees a "glaring problem" that does not exist as this is not a movie about a tax man. Maybe D F Stuckey didn't watch the last 15 minutes or got that impression from the trailer!?
Why is it that the younger generation of today seem only be fully entertained by reality and/or massive action? Although I do have to concede that the initial explanation of this drama's storyline was a bit 'mysterious and clouded', especially at the beginning of the movie, the topic and situations were a little different and some quite thought-provoking. No bombing, explosions or killing, no bad language, or escape from improbable, mind-numbing violence, just entertaining, a little romantic, and with an 'unexpected' ending. I liked this movie!
The movie is a complex mess of bad direction and surprisingly bad acting from Will Smith. Dawson steals the show with a solid performance in from Woody. Very missable tale of self destruction and how guilt can make a man illogical.
i just needed to watch it all the way through to see what the bloomin heck this movie was about. Will smith right? had to be good... had to GET BETTER. nothing of the sort unfortunately
Had us going for the first part and we were ready to leave an hour in without a bad taste in our mouths. But there was more....and omg it did go on. Looks like something someone who no longer lives in Australia would make wearing there rose coloured glasses. Over acted and too PC. Loved Nullah but he too was a bit cliched. Just got irritating and laughable.
Some people will find it emotionally manipulative. Some people like to be emotionally manipulated. I do, when it's done well.
A collage of strong scenes, dull bits, good filmmaking and a dissatisfying emotional payoff. A laudable attempt to tackle heavyweight subject-matter that ends up just being heavy weather.
Seven Pounds is the very definition of a 'noble failure.'
The film's Italian director does achieve in his second American outing a pleasing blend of Hollywood professional sheen and European sensitivity to character details and nuances.
The most transcendently, eye-poppingly, call-your-friend-ranting-in-the-middle-of-the-night-just-to-go-over-it-one-more-time crazily awful motion pictures ever made.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 15th Jan 2009.
Release date: January 15th 2009.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
