Seven Pounds

Rated: PG-13 for thematic material, some disturbing content and a scene of sensuality
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Dec 19, 2008 Wide
Starring: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Barry Pepper, Michael Ealy
Director: Gabriele Muccino
Screenwriter: Grant Nieporte
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Synopsis: Academy Award® nominee Will Smith reunites with the directors and producers of The Pursuit of Happyness for the emotional drama Seven Pounds. In the film, Smith plays Ben Thomas, an IRS agent with a fateful secret who embarks on an extraordinary journey of redemption by forever changing the lives of seven strangers.

There’s an old saying that says, “ We plan, God laughs.” We can plan our lives and take as many precautions as we deem necessary to remain safe from harm, but there are going to be times when God sees fit for tragedy to strike our lives or our planning just fails and we‘re met with an unfortunate fate. Who we are and what we do in those moments really begin to unravel the tale of who we truly are. All it takes are a few seconds to change the course of our lives, yet are we going to still love, hope, understand, dream, accept and have compassion for this life we’ve been given?

As fallible human beings, we all make mistakes. Of that we’re clear about. We hurt, lie, gossip about, turn our backs on and even deceive people along with a multitude of other sins. Both intentional and unintentionally. Compelled to repent, how far will we go to be redeemed? How far is too far? Who decides? And will repentance be enough?

In the new movie, “Seven Pounds,” Will Smith stars as Ben Thomas an IRS agent, who’s concluded that life is not worth living. The film opens with Ben making a 911 call to report his own suicide. Then it tracks back in time to let us in on how we got here. His suicidal frame of mind has him going through life seeking redemption for some wrongs he’s done in his past. A tragic accident has Ben driven to drastically improve the lives of seven complete strangers. After which, he feels the price will be paid in full.

He’s come to terms with his life being one of loneliness, seclusion and self prescribed pain. As loving and empathetic as he is with everyone else, is as hard and abrasive as he is with himself. He is dark and sad all the time; he wears it on his face throughout the film. You immediately begin to feel his pain and feel sorry for this broken man. Feeling cut off and unable to relate to the very thread of humanity he desires to help, Ben seeks the redemption of these people to have what he perceives as peace.

Ben’s concept to locate these seven people is accompanied by definitive rules and his plan almost comes across a bit selfish. How could that be if he’s trying to help others, you might ask? Because he intends to help them; drastically change their lives, refuses to become personal with them and then walk away.

His plan seems fail proof as he goes through his carefully detailed list of names: Ben Thomas, Holly Apelgren, Connie Tepos, George Ristuccia, Nicholas Adams, Ezra Turner( Woody Harrelson) and Emily Posa. Nothing could alter this plan. That is until he finally meets with Emily ( Rosario Dawson).

Emily is suffering from congenial heart failure and she will die without a transplant. Slowly but surely, without trying, she becomes the healing balm for Ben’s pain and with all of his defenses down, Ben and Emily fall in love. He now becomes consciously selfless. Whenever Emily looks up he’s there; he’s always around. He finally sees a glimmer of hope in life.

Against his rules, Ben allowed himself to be drawn in by Emily’s resilience to survive, live on her own, and she’s a free spirit despite her soon coming fate. He knows the depth of her condition, but he watches as she responds to quite the opposite of how he’s responded to his tragedy. She can still laugh and dream about a better and healthier future. Ben has refused anything that resembled hope or a future.

The love story between Ben and Emily draws you in and takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. Ben tugs at every moment for another breath of life and is resisting the commitment and real pain that is required to love someone else, while Emily, a survivor, realizes how much of a burden she may soon become on someone else, needs Ben, but refuses to appear weak.

As Ben’s younger brother, Michael Ealy seems almost erratic as he tries to contact and connect with his brother. He can’t figure out the disappearing acts and the evasive behavior of his older brother. Ben is avoiding his phones calls and when they finally catch up to one another, Ben ditches him. We don’t see Michael enough, but he does have a significant role in the film and each time we do see him we see how much his role matters.

Woody Harrelson, although not seen often in the film either, portrayed, Ezra Turner an amazing blind concert pianist. Ezra, who is very sensitive, feels shut down because of his blindness, but has a heart ready to dive into life. You are captivated by his calmness and peace about life. Harrelson almost seems out of place in a film such as this because this is not a side of Woody, we’re used to seeing, but in this role he is terrific.

Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan, Flags of Our Father) plays Dan, Ben’s lawyer and oldest friend. He’s actually closer to him than he is to his younger brother. We watch Dan’s suffering as he tries to come to terms with an intense struggle within that has him deeply conflicted spiritually, emotionally, and professionally. He is seeing the torment that his friend is going through and wants to honor his request for help, yet it means he has to sign this covenant to orchestrate the most difficult task he could ever imagine.

In “Seven Pounds” Will Smith shows us once again why he’s Hollywood’s gift. There seems to be an amazing mark on this man’s life and as he fearlessly walks in the shoes that God has given him, he consistently proves over and over that his talent is not man-made, but God-given. As an all around brilliant and charming man, it is such a passionate stretch to see him full of anguish, anger, hopelessness and a loss of control, but that’s great acting for you.

Ben’s story is our story as well. It’s about our life journey and how we handle each and every aspect of that journey. This brilliant film delves into life, death, love, faith and redemption. If your heart can take the reality, you must see this film.