Seven Pounds [DVD] [2009]

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 and those related to 7 people to discintegrate and now feels compelled to make amends.

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.

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.

This is an exceptional piece of cinema. The film is so beautifully filmed, with performances that resonated for days. All hail Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson and Barry Pepper for thier wonderful utter emersion in thier roles.

The movie is a slow burner, it does take a while to get going but that builds the story correctly, and makes the final denoument a giant among all I have seen. I simply dont have the superlatives to express my love for this film. Watch it, emotionally commit to it, and you will be taken on a sad but beautiful journey.