MESSAGE IN THE MOVIES
 
Seven Pounds Rated PG-13
Directed by Gabriele Muccino. Starring Will Smith, Rosario Dawson
Photo © Sony Pictures
Movie Review by Rev. Bruce Batchelor Glader
I might as well say it – I have no idea what the title of this film is supposed to mean. It’s meant to be intriguing, I’m sure, and a hint of the puzzling nature of this story. And puzzling it is.
For starters, it’s about a benevolent IRS agent named Ben Thomas (Smith) who is on some kind of mission to help people. He is not above berating those on his list, including a good-hearted telephone sales clerk (Woody Harrelson), and that’s when the film began to fall apart for me.
After all, when the Good Samaritan is a bully who literally tells you that you’re going to be helped – like it or not – something is lost in the process.
Will Smith is a good actor and Rosario Dawson (as Emily, another one on Ben’s list) gives a heartfelt performance, but both of them are trapped in one of the most pretentious, silly, and downright boring films of the year.
It’s not hard to figure out the surprising “twist” ending of the film, but it’s hard to give a care about a script filled with such ludicrous events as the purchase of a home aquarium for a jellyfish and the single-handed restoration of an antique printing press.
Seven Pounds gave my Timex Indiglo watch a real workout as I continually checked to see just how much longer I had to sit through this snore fest. Will Smith’s nonstop run of $100 million box-office smashes officially comes to an end with this movie. As Christians, we are encouraged to consider the virtue of sacrificial love, but Seven Pounds is a creepy combination of benevolence combined with a strong egotistical “hero”. Skip this movie and enjoy your holiday festivities – you’ll get seven pounds in no time flat, and have much more fun.
Pitchfork Rating: One halo . (The weirdest film of the holiday season, and also one of the most disturbing, with a positive message presented in a slow-paced, pretentious fashion.)
Two pitchforks (Some swearing, a scene of sexual activity, some dark material.)
COMMENTS!
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Comment:
"I haven't seen Seven Pounds, but after reading your review, I'm sorry for the others in your theater. It is extremely distracting trying to watch a film when people are checking their cells and watches throughout. Please be more considerate of others the next time you suffer through a boring (to you) film, especially since as a critic, you are representing a discerning movie-goer."
-Suzanne, an internet reader
"Seven pounds refers to “seven pounds of flesh.” He felt he needed to atone for causing the deaths of seven people. I think it is from Shakespeare. I also found it to be very disturbing, but I was more engaged in the movie that you were.
Also, he was not an IRS agent but was posing as one (taking his brother’s identify). I guess you didn’t notice because you weren’t paying attention by the time we figured that out."
Leslie Bauer, Westlake UMC
Both of Leslie's points are well taken. I was actually aware of both of her points (although the "seven pounds of flesh" literary reference is, I feel, pretentious and not particularly applicable to this story line).
The deal is this: If I explained either of these things, I would be ruining the film for anyone who desired to see it, since this is one of those "twist ending" movies that depends on the viewer figuring it out as the film moves along. I have made it a point in my reviews to never share information that would detract from the film's enjoyment. There are critics who don't care and give away all of the surprises. Not I.
Bruce Batchelor-Glader, movie reviewer
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