This movie made me angry and sad and frustrated. It kept me stressed, confused and in anticipation throughout the entire film.
Seven Pounds is one of those stories that begins at the end, but doesn’t reveal the outcome until the end.
It opens with Will Smith who plays the character Ben Thomas, sitting in a hotel room calling 911 to report a suicide. When the 911 operator asks who the victim is, Ben says it is he. At this point you’re automatically asking ‘˜Why!’
Next you see Ben at work as an IRS agent, going around checking up on a list of people he has. He fits the stereotype of an IRS agent. He’s cold and ruthless, going to people on the job and even to check up on Emily Posa (Rosario Dawson) while she is being treated at the hospital!
What really unnerves me at this point is when he calls Ezra Turner (Woody Harrelson) at his work as a telemarketer where he sells dog food over the phone. Ezra is blind, and Ben taunts him by telling him how beautiful flowers and things are around him. Ben continues to harass Ezra and berate him, apparently for no reason. Ben mocks him for being a vegetarian blind man that sells dog food. He asks Ezra if he’s even ever had sex, if he’s ever seen the ocean, or does he even know what color the ocean is?
Ben is ruthless in his verbal attack and one cannot help but think what a cruel bastard this man is, attacking this sweet innocent blind man!
Still, Ezra is courteous and remains calm. He answers that the ocean is blue but is surprised and confused when Ben continues with his tirade. Finally, Ezra respectfully thanks him for calling and ends the rampage.
When Ben pays a visit to cardiac patient Emily (Rosario) and starts in on her with IRS case and the money she owes the government, she is spunky and smart and holds her own.
Ben pays her several more visits to discuss her case while simultaneously coming to her aid as she struggles with her health problems. She is a little puzzled at why an IRS agent is working and behaving the way he is. Never the less, she accepts his business card and agrees to call him if the IRS contacts her.
A short while later, Emily’s heart weakens and she collapses and is rushed to the hospital. Looking for some one to talk to in her despair Emily reaches out to Ben from her hospital bed late at night and he extends himself in giving her support.
Meanwhile, encountered Ben interacting with his brother and there seems to be some dispute happening between the two. Likewise there is an untold situation between Ben and his best friend. Ben still comes off as being somewhat harsh and ruthless as he tells them to be strong and not let him down, to do what they said they’d do!
We remain uncertain of what these situations are all about until the very end of the movie.
Meanwhile, anticipation is steadily building. Ben has been stressed and appears to be holding something back from all of his clients as he goes to discuss their cases with them. By this time we are seeing more and more that he is not really a bad guy, however, there does seem to be something untoward taking place with Ben.
The end of this moving is horrific and heart wrenching as all the pieces come together. I find what the character does selfish and disgusting and at the same time inspiring and commendable. It calls for self-examination and finding that few of us could measure up and do what this man did.
