Seven Pounds - Movie Review

I had this one figured out about 2 minutes into it. Will Smith stars in this film as Ben Smith or so he says. The opening scene is him calling 911 telling them of a suicide and then goes on to say it's his own. I wasn't really sure why he was doing what he was doing, but you do find that out eventually.

The film also stars Rosario Dawson, who plays Emily Posa a woman who needs a heart transplant and has a rare blood type so the chances are slim of this happening. There are seven individuals who Ben is setting out to change their lives in a major way.

So he forms a very strong releationship with Emily and takes good care of her. She falls for Ben as well and tries to get him to open up, but he doesn't want to talk about his past.

There is a woman who he gave part of his liver and then a lung for his brother, after that he tests the people to see if they are worthy of what he plans to give them, which is life. He plans to give a doctor bone marrow, but the doctor turns out to be a bad man and he finds a boy who he can help.

He tests a many Ezra Turner, played by Woody Harrelson, calling him names and pushing him to see if he is a good man. Ezra is blind and is waiting for an eye transplant.

So as you can see, Ben is doing all these things for others, but the one thing I couldn't figure out is why? Was he dying, did he do something? That was the mystery to me as I already knew from the opening scene what he was going to do.

So as you find out late in the story, his brother finds him and as it turns out his brother is an IRS Taxman named Ben and Ben is really Tim. Tim caused an accident that killed his wife and others because he was reaching down and reading his Blackberry while driving his car.

So he feels this is his way of giving back to save for the lives he lost.

It really is a sad movie and I think that as you see him develop the relationship with Emily, you wonder is he going to be able to give his life to save hers. In the end he does and it really makes it sad.

I really thought it was a good story. The movie was a little long at times and drew out some things, but in the end it was to put the whole story together. I enjoyed this movie, well worth seeing for sure.

Not sure it's Oscar worthy, maybe Rosario Dawson, but even Will Smith played a someone dry basic role. If he were to get a nomination I would give it for Hancock over this one.

The film is directed by the director of Pursuit of Happiness and it plays out a lot like that movie in the drama, etc..

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Hancock - Movie Review

Hancock is the new Will Smith film coming to theaters on 07/02/2008, Fourth of July weekend. The film was originally written by Vincent Ngo and was modified by Vince Gilligan to fit it into the Hollywood market. The film was directed by Peter Berg, who also directed Friday Night Lights, The Rundown & The Kingdom, he also had a career as an actor playing in a lot of B movies. I think Aspen Extreme was probably the best movie he was in :-)

Hancock is a superhero with a bit of a twist. He's a sloppy drunk superhero who really doesn't give a shit about being what he is. He feels alienated because he is the one and only superhero. He can't relate to anyone, so he drinks a ton. When he does rescue people he does it without any regard to public property and cost the taxpayers about $9 million. Now everyone in Los Angeles wants his head. So after saving Ray Embrey's(Jason Bateman) life, he sees an opportunity to change things around for Hancock. Ray is a PR executive that has been trying to get companies to promote giving unsuccessfully so this becomes his ticket. Rays wife, Mary, is played by Charlize Theron. From there I will just say the story goes.

I thought the movies did a good job of pushing the limits with it's comedy and has some really good action scenes. The movie starts off very funny and has you laughing for the better part of the first 40 minutes and then it changes a bit, but still holds some comedic value after. I really enjoyed the film and even though they made some major changes from the original script, I think they did it right.

I've read a few of the critics reports and many gave it ** to **1/2 for the most part. For me it was better than that. I really enjoyed it for the full 92 minutes.

Rating: 4 out of 5