Seven Pounds (Muccino, 2008) - new Will Smith film

[NoirFan]

IMDB synopsis, with mild spoiler tagged:

Ben (Will Smith) is 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

Spoiler:

with a heart condition,

he falls in love with her, thereby complicating his plans. Woody Harrelson also appears as a blind pianist who befriends Ben.

Director: Gabriele Muccino
Writer: Grant Nieporte
Release Date: 12/10/08

That admittedly superficial synopsis seems rather sentimental, though Smith won acclaim for his work in Muccino's last film, The Pursuit of Happyness.

[chris_sc77]

I dont like will Smith (and have never seen the Pursuit of Happiness.) but I am in love with Rosario Dawson so dont know. I'll have to wait and see a trailer.
It certainly sounds like a mainstream PG-13 version of 21 grams.

[Solid Snake PAC]

21 grams lite..yeah, that's what I thought too.

[RichC2]

Sounds more like Autumn in New York crossed with Pay It Forward than 21 Grams to me.

[NoirFan]

Seven pounds = 3,175.15 grams

[Solid Snake PAC]

Hell it reminds me of Ikiru....is that what this is somewhat? BTW...you have to watch Ikiru, great film.

[NoirFan]

Trailer from YouTube:

[NiCK Crush]

Looks interesting.

[Yavin]

My first thought: What is the weight of Will Smith's ego?

[KillerCannibal]

I wonder if this will be the first film to break Big Willie's $100m record-streak? Looks okay, but not something I'm very interested in seeing.

[Zen Peckinpah]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

Seven pounds = 3,175.15 grams

In other words, it needs to be better than The Dark Knight, No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood, and The Departed combined in order to outdo the emotional weight 21 Grams has.

[fumanstan]

For me, Will Smith is pretty much watchable in everything he's in. I really dug Pursuit of Happyness, so I'll probably watch this.

[Brack]

Originally Posted by chris_sc77

I dont like will Smith (and have never seen the Pursuit of Happiness.) but I am in love with Rosario Dawson so dont know. I'll have to wait and see a trailer.
It certainly sounds like a mainstream PG-13 version of 21 grams.

I'd check out The Pursuit of Happyness. Not great, but Will is great in the role.

I was anti-Smith for a minute, but I really think he's trying to make quality stuff. That's until he makes Bad Boys 3 any how.

[Tarantino]

Love Will Smith, so I'm sure I'll see this at some point.

= J

[NoirFan]

Brief clip

[emachine]

This looks good. I enjoyed the Pursuit of Happyness, so I'll give this a chance since it's from the same director. I also prefer Smith in dramatic roles over comedic roles.

[awil1026]

Originally Posted by Brack

I'd check out The Pursuit of Happyness. Not great, but Will is great in the role.

I was anti-Smith for a minute, but I really think he's trying to make quality stuff. That's until he makes Bad Boys 3 any how.

Yea, Will was fine in Pursuit, but I thought the movie itself was quite mediocre.

I probably won't be seeing this.

[PopcornTreeCt]

If you guys want to know what it's all about...

Spoiler:

"Seven Pounds" refers to seven astronauts that were killed when the shuttle came back and exploded in the atmosphere. Smith's character was a NASA engineer who blames himself. He helps out 7 random people the best way he can, including donating organs to the people that need them. The film ends with him killing himself.

[RichC2]

Director Gabriele Muccino seems to think he's in Ingmar Bergman territory, but he's actually made the longest, most dour episode of My Name is Earl imaginable.

[NoirFan]

Variety review:

A movie that, like “The Sixth Sense,” depends entirely upon the payoff for its impact, “Seven Pounds” is an endlessly sentimental fable about sacrifice and redemption that aims only at the heart at the expense of the head. Intricately constructed so as to infuriate anyone predominantly guided by rationality and intellect, this reteaming of star Will Smith and director Gabriele Muccino after their surprisingly effective “The Pursuit of Happyness” is off-putting for its manifest manipulations, as well as its pretentiousness and self-importance.

[fumanstan]

Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt

If you guys want to know what it's all about...

Spoiler:

"Seven Pounds" refers to seven astronauts that were killed when the shuttle came back and exploded in the atmosphere. Smith's character was a NASA engineer who blames himself. He helps out 7 random people the best way he can, including donating organs to the people that need them. The film ends with him killing himself.

Thanks for the spoiler, I was curious myself.

[The O]

Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt

If you guys want to know what it's all about...

Spoiler:

"Seven Pounds" refers to seven astronauts that were killed when the shuttle came back and exploded in the atmosphere. Smith's character was a NASA engineer who blames himself. He helps out 7 random people the best way he can, including donating organs to the people that need them. The film ends with him killing himself.

That's only halfway right.

Where did you find this spoiler?

[fumanstan]

Damn it, mislead by PopcornTreeCt again!

[mdc3000]

Reviews on this are TERRIBLE (It made it onto Lisa from EW's worst of the year list)... I hated Pursuit of Happyness, so I think I'll steer clear.

[JPRaup]

That spoiler is not really right. The movie is not really good either.