Seven Pounds is a 2008 film, directed by Gabriele Muccino. Will Smith stars as an IRS man with a fateful secret who embarks on an extraordinary journey of redemption by forever changing the lives of seven strangers.

I was never a fan of Will Smith because I don’t like action movies – especially the ones that have a fake science fiction or a thriller feel to them. This was the first time I saw him act in a drama, a movie without guns or fight scenes, and I think he can do better. Will played the subdued character somewhat okay, although at some points in the movie, his expressions made me laugh: simply putting a sad depressed face is not enough in this day and age.

When I heard the title of the movie, it reminded me of Shylock, the Jewish money lender from Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice, in which Shylock demands one pound of flesh as a loan repayment penalty from his rival. This movie does nothing of that sort, although it does involve transfer of human organs.

The movie starts with a suicide call and nobody knows what’s going on until scenes from the main character’s recent past are revealed one at a time. I must say that the basis of Will Smith’s drama of repentance is extremely flimsy – had they shown this at the beginning of the movie, I would have watched the movie at 2x speed. At some points, I did wonder if the movie was based on selfless generosity or mere egotism. Romance, there’s Rosario Dawson, was probably added as an afterthought and it makes no rational sense (but then some would argue that love is irrational).

I won’t further spoil the plot for those who will hopefully watch the movie – I would say that the movie is emotionally satisfying but intellectually shallow. There are very very few movies that make my eyes moist, and this was one of those.

¶ Blogged by Priyank Thatte