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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dark and darker still..., 14 July 2000
Watching the trailer for this movie you would feel quite justified in dismissing it as just another cinema-by-numbers Hollywood offering, high on gore, low on IQ. Gory it may be, but to judge it on this criteria alone would be grossly unfair.This is a truly remarkable picture which grabs you from the very outset and instills a deep sense of unease while regularly shocking you to the core. Apart from being brilliantly filmed, perfectly cast and expertly directed, it has a plot that truly defies convention. The rule book for the genre is tossed aside, allowing the film to build towards the most devastating denouement imaginable. The setting is an unnamed US city in which justice and morality have become anachronisms, replaced by apathy and cynicism. Enter the main characters, Brad Pitt as the idealistic detective new to this urban hell, and Morgan Freeman as his world-weary partner. All that unites them is their task of catching a serial killer before he completes his self appointed destiny of avenging the seven deadly sins. All performances are superb, and while Kevin Spacey takes many of the plaudits for his portrayal of the killer, Gwyneth Paltrow turns in a heart-rending cameo and Morgan Freeman adds genuine moral authority (not least with the movie's memorable closing line). What unfolds is a conflict between two opposing responses to the ills of urban America, the extremism of Spacey, and the idealism of Pitt. All this in one of the most original and stylish thrillers ever made. Clever, thought provoking and dark. Buy it.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Mindful Masterpiece, 15 Nov 2002
Se7en is a profoundly insightful film which works on two levels.Firstly, as a unique criminal masterpiece set in a horror stricken city, Se7en has a chilling, contorted and convoluted plot which will challenge the minds of most viewers. Freeman's superior role and acting ability compensates where Pitt's character is purposefully wooden and undiligent, and Spacey shines as the prudent and patient winner of the story. The cinnematography is as clinical as the criminal, combining unexpected perspectives with more mainstream gotham style silhouettes and storms. Thus, on an unsophisticated level the film is outstanding. But where Se7en really survives relates to the questions and answers which are thrown up about normality, morality and rationality. Spacey's motives as the world-weary villain are surprisingly easy to digest, and accordingly there is a remarkable parallel between Morgan - the one-step-ahead- cop who is trying to make a difference in this evil environment - and Spacey - the killer who uses the irony of evil itself to make his point about the sinfulness of the modern world, albeit using a rather unique method. Of course, this is my reading of the film, and viewers will no doubt interpret freely. It is a shame that a film with so many inherent and subliminal messages will be lost on those who understandably cannot stand the voilence - a point which is evident from the review mentioning Dusteovsky (spelling wrong I expect but have read C+P), a writer who was equally if not more shocking for his time as Se7en is now. Watch, enjoy, but above all think!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
More than Seven Reasons to watch this film, 7 May 2007
Seven's quality puts it so far beyond most of the "cops on trail of deranged killer" genre that it comes out as a true jewel of cinema. Everything about seven is perfect. It is art captured on film. This movie is a bright spot for all of the stars who worked on it.
Brad Pitt never gets the credit he deserves for his acting because he's a pretty boy and the press is a lot more interested about how he and Jennifer are doing. That's a shame because he is a talented actor that isn't afraid to take chances with both the roles that he picks and the characters that he plays. That is quite rare in the A-list world. Morgan Freeman is a great actor. You can always count on him to do what he does best which is play a wise veteran that has seen it all. Kevin Spacey is another great actor that has great range and really puts life and personality into his characters.
The real talent of this movie, excluding the actors that brought it to life, is the director David Fincher and the writer Andrew Kevin Walker. Fincher's talents for making a visually stunning film are now well known and he often brings a dark patina to his work. Andrew Kevin Walker must have some incredible demons living inside him. Either that or one hell of an imagination for bringing the intricate story of Seven and the plan of John Doe to life.
John Doe's plan really is twisted and I won't be spoiling it here. Suffice to say I have never seen so evil and complicated a plan in a movie before or since. The cinematography of the film is dark but beautiful and throughout the film it is either night or raining or both except for two very brief moments. It is such an emotional movie that you can't keep from being caught up in what is happening. Do you understand and sympathize with what John Doe is doing or do you think him a mad killer that must be stopped.
Bottom Line: If you haven't had the opportunity to see Seven yet then you must at least rent it. It is so damn good that I know you will like it. The only reason you wouldn't is because you're just too damn fragile to take something this hardcore.
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