Seven Pounds

I had the distinguished privilege of being at a test screening of Seven Pounds over three months before its scheduled release date in late December. It has already begun generating Oscar buzz, but I will give you the straight scoop.

Seven Pounds follows an IRS agent named Ben (Will Smith) who is trying to atone for a tragic accident that he feels personally responsible for, by committing random acts of kindness to strangers who happen to be on his caseload. The story is a little more complicated than that, but without spoiling anything crucial, that is the premise.

Will Smith will be nominated for an Oscar for his performance, without a doubt. The filmmaker (Gabriele Muccino - the Pursuit of Happyness) and film are another story altogether. Granted, I viewed a rough cut, and with the audience response, I am sure that some major cuts will be made including some of the more pivotal scenes in spoiling the twist. Smith is harrowing in his performance, no humor at all - just the shell of a broken man trying to find his personal salvation through others. The dark undertones of the story take a little bit away from the performance, but despite what you think of the film itself, Smith is still a beacon of brilliance.

Rosario Dawson is the love interest, and although she holds her own, there is something that doesn't seem quite right about her playing this role. A conversation about her heart condition came up afterward and there were some lingering questions. Woody Harrelson is a bright spot among an otherwise unremarkable supporting cast (Barry Pepper was awful and should be cut altogether). He receives a minimal amount of screen time, but it is powerful, particularly the seemingly out of place phone conversation with Smith near the beginning of the film.

There are a few minor flaws, which may still be addressed before the film is rolled out for general audience. The first is that there are a couple of plot twists that the viewer suspects way too early on and are simply anti-climactic when they come to fruition. The second is the ending. Once the pivotal climax occurs, there is too much reflection and the final sequence drags out unnecessarily. On a brighter note, the choice of pet that Will Smith owns is probably the most original and interesting seen in film in recent memory. There is one image that stays in my mind even after the plot of the film and the dialogue fade.

It is not a bad movie by any stretch of the imagination, in fact, with some surgical editing, it could be a very good one. I just think that the themes and story are too dark and depressing to end up winning statues in March. Smith is exceptional (again) and I look forward to seeing the final cut on DVD next year. 8/10 (with optimism for some final editing).