Movie Review: Seven Pounds

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I recently completed the movie Seven Pounds. To begin with, I am not a fan of the movie. I do not condone the way he plan things, but the story was beautifully written. This movie is SLOW. And trust me, when I say this movie is slow, I really mean it is SLOW! Took me a good three days to finish watching this 2 hour movie. Well, let's begin with the review. The movie begins with Will Smith making a 911 call to report a death. His own death. Then the movies shifts to recall mode. Showing the events that happen prior to his call to the 911 center. You see a man in pain. An awful lot of pain. And you are keep wondering, why is this man who calls himself Ben Thomas (Will Smith) in so much pain. A detailed synopsis can be found at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0814314/synopsis Then you realize that he is actually actively seeking out people to help. He helped his brother by giving him a lung. He helped a social working by giving her part of his liver. He helped a baseball coach by giving him one of his kidneys. He helped a cancer stricken boy by giving him his bone marrow. He helped a woman in an abusive relationship by giving her a fresh start. Finally, his last two acts of charity, he gave his corneas to a blind man and his heart to a woman with a heart condition. All this, to atone for the 7 people that died in an accident that he caused when he was driving and not paying attention to the road. 7 people, 6 people in a family and his wife. I personally feel that this movie over glorified suicide. Not something that I condone with. Personally I feel, he was given another chance to live. And he lived it good. But he could not get over the loss of his wife. And he chose to give up that chance to living by giving a chance to seven other people. A way to make atonement for his mistake that took 7 lives. I say this movie was beautifully written because, from the beginning to nearing the end of the movie, you are left hanging. Always wondering why this man is feeling so much pain. And what pain is he feeling that is motivating him to go out and help so many people but not himself. Many loose ends was tied up at the end of the movie when he finally decided it was time to kill himself in order to complete his plans. How he manages to plan his suicide so that his death can benefit others is very well thought out. Again, if you are a fan of slow movies, this is just the kind of movie for you! His motives are well-intentioned. But again, it is a movie that over glorified suicide. Something that I do not exactly feel comfortable about. But overall, a good movie to watch. Slow, but worth watching if you can sit through the boring build up to the finale.