As we poured into the opening night of Will Smith's newest winter blockbuster, Seven Pounds, people scurried to catch their seats before the end of the previews. Our hearts were beating--awaiting a "thriller" which we couldn't prepare our mental capacities to comprehend...according to Will Smith's interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
We cannot give too much information for a review, otherwise we will contaminate your minds. We can, however, discuss the brilliant performances by Smith (Ben Thomas) and Rosario Dawson (Emily Posa). Smith has long been our favorite actor at The Machine, but Dawson did an eyebrow-raising job of keeping our attention through an intense emotional connection with Smith.
The filming and angles were the bomb. The director, Gabriele Muccino, did a fantastic job blending imagery from Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley to create a mystic journey. It included references to the great Monterey Bay Aquarium and the famous Pacific Coast Highway. There were also several steaming scenes between the two main characters.
Smith's performance is absolutely deserving of awards (at least the coveted Goldies). He lost about twenty pounds, as you can see, which added a new element to the film. And, although too much information can't be disclosed regarding the remarkably enticing film, Seven Pounds does not dissapoint. It follows a trend of classic Smith movies from the intricate "I Am Legend" to the message-laden "Hancock".
It challenges the perception of humanity, values, morals and self-actualization. The search for the meaning of life was a reccuring theme throughout the film. Smith's character, Ben Thomas, suffered from Post-traumatic stress disorder alongside a horrific guilt. Nonetheless, his actions prove him selfless and fully actualized. The symbolism at the end of the film is absolutely breathtaking and propels us into 2009 with clearer visions of humanity to lead us on the path toward the freedom to love.
For psychologists, this would be another great film to analyze emotional trauma and its side effects. Interestingly enough, this has been a recurring theme in Smith's films since I Am Legend. When he cries, the world believes it.
We held our breath for seven seconds and patted our chest seven times during the last seven minutes of Seven Pounds.
Jaw-dropping, mind-tingling, sensational syrupy sweet, a true drama in its own right... Seven pounds reaffirms us as...
a true aficiando of the Smith dynasty.
Check out the trailer:
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