Seven Pounds [Blu-ray] [2008] [US Import]

As someone who works in a rental store I am regularly subjected to people's opinions of films, and recently this one has been the top whinging point. The general complaints are that it's slow and hard to get through, and that the story line is confusing and cluttered.
I however disagree enormously! It's true that the first half of this film is structured in such a way that it does make it a little difficult to follow and figure out, however do you really think this is an accident? It's built like this to keep you hooked and guessing and when the point comes in the film where everything clicks it's exciting!
The story follows a troubled man, Ben Thomas (Played by Will Smith in possibly his greatest role yet) an IRS officer. From the beginning of this film you are left guessing what kind of a person he is, it starts with him abusing a bling man over the phone, but then being aparently disgusted by his behaviour. We then follow him as he does huge favours for aparently random people in need.
As the story evolves we come to realise, through flashbacks, that Ben was involved in a car accident and feels responsible for the seven deaths it resulted in, and you twig pretty soon that this is why he feels the need to better seven strangers' lives.
Complicating his plans however, Ben falls in love with one of the strangers, Emily (Played by Rosario Dawson) a young woman with a heart condition that without a transplant doesn't give her long to live.
He's left with the decision to stay and love her, but change his plans, or help her an alter their future together hugely.
This is a beautiful but heartbreaking film, which has stayed with me for days.

I bought this blind, only saw the trailers at the cinema and on TV but am I glad I did.

I've read criticisms of this film that its plot line is too obvious.
But my view is those who think that have missed a trick here.

How often in life do we see what's coming for us, our family, children, friends but know we can't interfere but only feel the pain?

This film to me is about those feelings, its about that Tim (Will Smith) has caused his life to discintegrate, caused pain to those related to the 7 lives his actions cost and now feels compelled to make amends by helping 7 strangers.

At first the clues are scattered around the film but before long they become clear and you know what Tim is trying to do but that is the point once you stop working out the ending of the film you start watching the emotions that run through it.

The most telling part in the film comes after Will falls for one of his chosen beneficiaries and then goes to see if there is anyway they can survive without his help, the answer and the look on Smiths face to me is the fulcrum of the film and only serves to make the emotions of those who benefited from Tim's desire to rebalance the world more intense.

This is a bittersweet film helping all of us to see and share those mixed emotions that come from the scenarios that play out in this film.

I've now watched this a few times now and the intensity and feeling grows with each viewing, a strong and emotionally stirring journey to a destination we all reach in time.

It's quite difficult to review `Seven Pounds' without giving any of the story away but it stars Will Smith in a more serious role than his usual blockbuster outings, this time as Ben, an IRS agent who is depressed and guilt-ridden about mistakes from his past. He sets out to make amends by helping seven strangers. When he meets Emily (Rosario Dawson), a beautiful woman with a heart condition, he falls in love with her, thereby complicating his plans.

I had read a lot of average reviews of this so wasn't expecting much but I actually really enjoyed this film. The acting from the whole cast was excellent, particularly from Rosario Dawson who played the woman suffering from a heart problem and also from Woody Harrelson who played the blind guy, which I think is actually one of the best performances I've ever seen him in. Will Smith is also very good and plays a lot more darker character than he usually does, which really showed off the extents of his acting talents. The story was a little hard to follow at first (I had no idea what was going on for the first hour of the movie, to be honest) but once it is explained later on it does all make sense and becomes a very rewarding watch.

Overall this isn't the best film I've seen this year but is definitely one I'd recommend watching. It is quite down-beat but is equally heart-warming near the end, so is well worth sticking with if you don't "get" it straight away.