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werner-29
Reviews
Seven Pounds (2008)
Intense, yes - but in part overdone
Overall, I'd second most of the reviews being posted here. It's emotionally dense, it's intense, it's serious - with a short chuckle here and there to alleviate the emotional stress being put upon the spectator - and all in all it is a thought worth pondering: To find redemption through personal sacrifice that feels grave enough to make up for loss caused to others.
The one big problem I tend to have with Hollywood productions in general is that there comes a point, where you get the feeling: "Enough already!" The same happened here: Will Smith's character goes to comparable extremes in redeeming the harm he has caused, but does he really need to become a Santa Claus impersonation in order to be authentic? What I'm referring to - hopefully without giving too much away - is that part in the movie, where he goes about fixing that sophisticated machine (I won't say more, those of you, who have already watched it, will know what I'm talking about). I mean, c'mon - did we really need *that* in order to get the picture about him going out of his way to help others? I don't think so and had I been in a different mood that day, this one particular shot would have rendered the movie totally useless and implausible to me.
I still come up with a high rating, mostly for the fiercely convincing performance of the actors, where I'd have to name Will Smith before all others: He is being 100% credible, though I don't mean to disregard Rosario Dawson's performance or any of the other more prominent characters.
My conclusion: Still a good flick, yes. But Hollywood: Please stop taking us for fools! Not all of us need to get things rubbed in our faces in order to get the picture, o.k.? Thank you.
Havana (1990)
A well-deserved gigantic failure - but why?
I've seen it at the movies when it was released - it captured me! I bought the DVD some ten years later and I've watched it about 3x so far - and with every time I've watched it, it got worse. I haven't quite managed to put my finger on it as to the "why?" I mean, the ingredients are there: Great, experienced actors with an impressive track record and delivering great performances, a great location, the material/historic backdrop feels authentic and should make for some additional drama in its own right, music by - come on! That's GOTTA count for something - Dave Grusin, an experienced director and a great book. But something's completely - I mean COMPLETELY! - off about the whole thing... It "feels" like coffee that's been sitting in the pot all day, like veggies that have been simmering for a hair too long, like whipped cream that's been in the sun for a few seconds too long... shall I go on? But why? WHAT exactly is it? Is it the timing? I'm thinking, it must have to do with the timing and pace of the flick, every line of dialog feels just shallow and almost empty and in a way corny, when they deliver it. Maybe Redford tries to hard to be all cool about this, maybe Olin wants to come across as Latina too hard, the entire thing feels as if everyone had overeaten and was tired from that when coming to the set... It's a shame... the material COULD have made for another classic much along the lines of its famous precursor. But in the end, it all feels like wanting to replace Coca Cola by Pepsi - not the real thing and totally dispensable... The box-office failure is totally deserved in my view...