May 26, 2012

Video Views Pick: Seven Pounds

by Art Slavin | Published March 17, 2009

DVD Release: March 17, 2009
PG-13; 123 minutes

Ben Thomas (Will Smith) is acting very mysteriously. We meet him at his lowest point, calling 911 to report his own suicide. But we already know that he was a successful engineer with a beautiful wife and a home on the ocean. So why is he stalking a girl (Rosario Dawson) in the hospital, making nasty calls to a meat company telephone salesman (Woody Harrelson), shuffling through IRS records, getting information from the city’s child care services, watching a Latino hockey practice, refusing to talk to his brother (Michael Ealy) and making his lawyer (Barry Pepper) cry? It’s because he’s searching for worthwhile people in order to do something important for them. In spite of his attempts at remaining detached, however, his mission is muddled when he becomes romantically involved with one of his targets. Smith’s convincing performance gives depth to this tale of a man determined to give his all to make up for a tragedy he caused.

DVD Extras: Commentary; four behind-the-scenes featurettes; deleted scenes.

Go to www.morevideoviews.com/subscriptions/ to find out how to subscribe to VIDEO VIEWS magazine, featuring the month’s new releases, the top 50, a movie contest, feature columns, games, staff picks and more.