It feels bizarre watching Will Smith act seriously and always see the dark side of the world. However, he is convincing and manages to deliver intense feelings and emotions without forcing their emergence by any means and, thus, “Seven Pounds” offers a bittersweet taste whenever things become too syrupy or too pungent.

 

Will Smith’s Ben Thomas is an IRS agent who thoroughly plans his suicide, as he is haunted by several secrets he has been concealing for a rather long time. He nevertheless tries to accomplish his mission on earth and seek redemption by helping seven strangers reach the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

The film directed by Gabriele Muccino opens with Ben Thomas making a 911 call in order to report a suicide. His own suicide. We are subsequently thrown in the past, at the beginning of Ben Thomas’ so-called salvation journey. He makes the most of his job so as to approach different people and examine their lives.

 

At first, he meets Stewart Goodman (Tim Kelleher), a man who desperately needs a bone marrow transplant. When Ben finds out that Goodman owns a nursing home and treats his patients badly, he robs the man from the chance to recover and takes away the possible bone marrow donor, who is none other than Ben himself, as we discover later in the film.

 

Will Smith’s character subsequently calls a blind telemarketer and pianist, Ezra Turner (Woody Harrelson), and tries to annoy him. As he does not succeed, we can consider that Ezra has passed the test.

 

Emily Posa (Rosario Dawson) is next on Ben’s list. Her heart is failing and because of her rare blood type, she is unlikely to find a matching donor. But Ben discovers all these and becomes fond of her after the two form a romantic relationship.

 

At this point, we are forced to return to the 911 call at the beginning of the movie. We shortly become aware of the fact that he feels guilty for the death of his fiancée and six other people. What follows is not unpredictable, it’s just touching. Carrying such a burden on his shoulders has been hard for Ben and he sees suicide as the only way to save the lives of seven people, thus paying off for the seven deaths his conscience never ceases to remind him of.

 

“Seven Pounds” is incredibly moving and in spite of the fact that the idea seems a bit far-fetched, it manages wipe out the line between reality and idealism that keeps us so awake and prevents us from getting involved in a mere story.