Watch: Seven Pounds
If you're like me, you would had had William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice as the literature text of choice for your O' Levels in 1994. This movie is not exactly like that.
Spoilers ahead.
This movie starts in the end/middle of the story. You get flashes of what actually happened throughout the movie. While I get the gist of the story 15 minutes into it, it still was a good ride. I was gladly surprised at one other twist near the end but more because I wasn't paying attention to it.
The acting was good. I believed Rosario Dawson when she said she wanted to run. Woody Harrelson was an odd choice but he performed well when he did, bad teeth notwithstanding. Will Smith's angst is rather paint-by-numbers in a way, but he's definitely much better than the last I saw him in Men in Black II. Guess he really, really, really wants that Oscar.
My favourite bit of the movie was when Dawson and Smith's characters hum to Minnie Ripperton's Loving You. I thought their reaction to it was genuine and made me do likewise.
The choices for music were interesting. They didn't overwhelm the movie like some movies do. They used Muse's Feeling Good and as with all Muse songs, they're all damn good. Check out a live version of the song below.
Click to viewIn all, I enjoyed the movie more that I thought I would. I'm glad they showed the end, with no fade-to-black when they could. And I did bawl my eyes out. What can I say, I cry easily at movies. So watch it if you have a chance.