Seven Pounds
For critics, a movie like “Seven Pounds” will get points off for manipulation, formula, and- Lord help me- gross sentimentality. Confession- they have a point. But they also will likely forget that audiences generally don’t care about such things if they see a piece of themselves in the film. Confession- I’m inclined to go with the audience on this one.
It also helps that this film stars Will Smith, who is now to this decade what Tom Cruise was to the last one. And that is? Unstoppable. In box-office terms, he’s the equivalent to printing money right now (even in a lesser film like this summer’s “Hancock”). And in any genre, from sci-fi (“I Am Legend”) to comedy (“Hitch”) to drama (“The Pursuit of Happyness”). With the current economy not being kind to Hollywood, however, even Mr. Smith might not be invincible.
Seeing “Seven Pounds” however, his second collaboration with “Pursuit of Happyness” director Gabriele Muccino, I think he’ll be just fine. And in a lesser year for actors, I’d even bet on being an Oscar front-runner for his fragile and magnetic performance as Ben Thomas, an IRS auditor scarred by a tragedy, which killed seven people. Now, he’s trying to atone. Torn by guilt over his part in the tragedy, he is looking for seven people to try and help so that he can make things right. Among the candidates include a young woman (Rosario Dawson, sunny and lovely) with heart issues, a blind man (Woody Harrelson), and a young mother (Elipidia Carrillo) in a rough relationship. But he has to know that they’re deserving of such kindness. His brother (Michael Ealy) and a long-time friend (Barry Pepper) are there for him in his time of need in ways even they don’t necessarily understand.
What drives people to do good things? Other films have explored the question with more subtlety and mystery than Grant Nieporte’s sometimes heavy-handed screenplay does, but it’s beauty lies in the way its characters find little ways to be kind to one another. A bit of encouragement to ask a woman out. Pulling the weeds from someone’s yard. Offering help even when people refuse. Sometimes it’s in big acts of life-changing opportunity, which is what Ben feels like he must offer the people whose lives he enters. When you feel the weight of having hurt people, changed lives, trying to make things right is difficult. Forgiving yourself is harder to do. The film’s preview is effective in what little it says in how the film goes about its business, much like its main character, who realizes that actions speak louder than words. The way he finds peace is heartbreaking, but ultimately inspiring in how strong an impact he has in these people’s lives. Smith- who continues to get better and bolder as an actor- makes you believe it every step of the way.
And if you’re wondering about the title- I’m imagining it’s the weight of a human heart. This film makes you feel the weight of it every step of the way.
