Film
Movie theaters, reviews and showtimes in New York, plus articles, trailers and more
- Home
- Box Office
- Listings
- Trailers
- Features
Bookmark this page- Edition:
Seven Pounds (2008)
Director: Gabriele Muccino
Movie review
From Time Out New York
Sure, data collection on the average American has reached unprecedented levels, but we seriously doubt that anyone compiles all the information necessary for IRS agent Ben Thomas (Smith) to carry out…whatever it is he’s trying to do in Seven Pounds. The nature of the plot, in which Ben confronts various individuals in places like hospitals and golf courses, is best left unrevealed, since for a while, the movie gets significant mileage out of its sheer WTF factor. Why is Ben berating a blind call-center employee (Harrelson)? Would an IRS agent really join the woman he’s auditing (Dawson) for a dog walk? What’s with the poisonous jellyfish? Did someone lace my popcorn with mescaline?
Unusual in that it has succeeded in guarding its secrets from mass marketing, Seven Pounds is otherwise a prototypical gimmick movie: All interest rests in the big twist, which you may well guess on your own. (If you do, much tedium awaits.) Still, even by the standards of gotcha flicks, Seven Pounds seems especially somnolent and pretentious. Smith struggles valiantly to remain compelling while keeping most facets of his character secret, but the romance between him and Dawson moves so slowly, it’s a miracle they don’t fall asleep on camera. A question: Why pounds?
Author: Ben Kenigsberg
Time Out New York Issue 690/691: December 18 - 31, 2008
User reviews of this film
-
- Sue said...
- Posted on Nov 14 2009 19:28 One of the best films I have seen for a very long time, Will Smith just gets better as he works his craft through the years. It's obvious more and better is going to come from him.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Chris said...
- Posted on May 25 2009 01:48 Well, the movie is more frustrating than touching, It tries very hard to be a movie that "touches the soul," but it stays disconnected the entire time. Pretty much a waste of time. I love movies that are emotional that I can connect with, where the characters and their interaction is believable but this one tries too hard and completely misses.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- t masivo said...
- Posted on Jan 20 2009 13:02 take some tissues! girlfriend used half a box!! quality film great acting
- Report as inappropriate
-
- S Pearce said...
-
Posted on Jan 19 2009 13:58
Shylock, a central character in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, famously demanded a "pound of flesh".
I don’t know; what’s the point in reading a review by someone who can’t even spot such an obvious reference. Maybe it’s time for Ben to change his day job. - Report as inappropriate
-
- neil said...
- Posted on Jan 16 2009 07:10 critics have killed this movie yet while it is a little slow to get into, it is a tue classic and will be recognised, real lump in throught material 5 stars
- Report as inappropriate
-
- jackson said...
- Posted on Dec 31 2008 23:14 Beacuse the human heart is 7 pounds
- Report as inappropriate
-
- sergio said...
- Posted on Dec 28 2008 21:59 Is there a book ? because the movie was good
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Evandro said...
-
Posted on Dec 21 2008 12:51
I don't understand why TimeOut gave only 2 stars...the movie is fantastic...the story touchs deeply...the sequence of flash-backs and the way you find you what Ben wants to do and why is perfect...
Sometimes I don't understand some film rating...my rating is 12 in a scale of 0-10. - Report as inappropriate
-
- phil parker said...
- Posted on Dec 18 2008 08:15 Why pounds? Check out Merchant of Venice-Shylock
- Report as inappropriate
-
- mrthoth said...
- Posted on Dec 17 2008 17:28 Why pounds? Because, taken together, that's what his "gifts" to the people in need weigh. Yuck.
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Gabriele Muccino
Cast: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Ealy, Barry Pepper full cast
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 118 mins
US Release: Jan 1 2009
Most popular on this site
Features
To the letter
Forty years later, Costa-Gavras's Z still brims with fury.
Mind over matter
David Cronenberg reflects on a most bizarre body: his own corpus of work.
Fool's gold
Can an Oscar win lead to a cursed career? Here are five stories of postaward professional meltdowns.
We are the championed
Terrorists and teens abound in this year's "Film Comment Selects."
A history of violence
Matteo Garrone's kaleidoscopic Gomorrah wallops you with Italy's crime crisis.
True romantic
James Gray exchanges urban amorality for amour in Two Lovers.
Playing in the dark
MoMA salutes pianist Stuart Oderman's 50 years as the one-man sound of silents.
Junk bonds
Cast and crew recall the making of the classic NYC drug drama The Panic in Needle Park.
What do you think?
Post your review now