Review of Seven Pounds (2008) by Fastidious P — 21 Aug 2011

Wow... I feel completely out of touch with the critics on this on.

It's been a few days since I saw Seven Pounds and I'm still mulling it over. Will Smith is a true superstar in every sense of the word, and I don't think I'm going out on a limb by calling this one of his finest performances. It's a far out concept, but it's Smith's total commitment to the role that keeps the train on the tracks. You can tell he has complete faith in his director - a trust that only comes from working with someone multiple times.

Speaking of the film's concept...

This appears to be one of the major sticking points for many critics. Yes, it is out there, but is it really anymore outlandish than, say, a man running around dressed as a bat? Or a boy who can communicate with dead people? Because those are outlandish concepts, played straight, that the critics really loved. The general audience certainly enjoyed this movie, so I think this is yet another case of movie critics acting like sheep and aimlessly following each other over the cliff.

My opinion: Cinema is one of the greatest artistic mediums we have as humans, for it allows us to explore radical ideas - ideas we never would or could pursue in reality. When they're done well, as with Seven Pounds, it makes for an experience you can't quickly shake. All involved should be commended for embracing such risky material and pulling it off.