The movie begins as mysterious suicide reporting made by an anxious man Ben Thomas(Will smith) to 911 under unknown reason. It is instantly clear that the movie addresses matter of life and death, but the mortality that the story has to say can't be revealed. Ben who acts as an imposter IRS agent by stealing his brother IRS badge visits a variety of people to find people with special needs. His contradictory character of being merciless when insulting and criticizing a blind man and later him being helpful to rescue an elderly woman in a nursing home confuses you where the direction of the movie was going. From that point on, you see the order of the unexplained and a little puzzling events unfolding and leading us to the final minutes of the story.
A flashback throughout the movie reveals that Ben Thomas, will Smith, was in a terrible car accident that he caused and took seven lives including his wife. Ben's outlook on life changes with the accident. This tragic memory haunts Ben, and his grief compels him to seek out and test the character of seven individuals to see if they are deserving of gifts(his organs) he wishes to give them. In this way, he hopes to atone for the seven lives he ruins. Along the way, Ben Thomas falls in love with Emily Posas, who has a rare blood type and needs a heart transplant which requires his own life. The movie more focuses on three strangers where he changes and improves thier rare situations.
His search and helping people starts with Ezra(a blind call center worker). Ben calls Ezra to try and yell and make fun of his blindness in order to make him upset. But Ezra was calm and tried to be helpful throughout the conversation. Ben was impressed by his response and decided to help him. The other individual he went and talk to was Connie Tepos, who has two kids and was brutally beaten by her boyfriend. Ben signs the deed on his beach house over to Connie so she can escape with her kids from her abusive boyfriend. Then Ben finds a girl (Emily) who has a heart disease. When he starts to get to know her, he learned that her heart disease was getting worse and has to wait for a heart donor or she will die before a heart becomes available. Ben kills him self allowing other seven people to be saved. The movie ends with people finding out Ben was their donor.
The movie focuses on Ben's redemption through the giving of his important organs to different people. Ben finds peace and lost his feeling of guilt through his love and relationship with Emily. Ben didn't die for nothing, the people who helped started a healthy life because of him. There are so many lessons to learn from this movie. Ben's deed will leave almost anyone with sympathy at the end of the movie. I feel like the most important and central message of the movie is for us to think deep down into one's own life and discover for what purpose we are here on this world. Does something tragic has to happen as what happen to Ben for us to be aware of our surroundings and knowing people in need and providing some help? The physical act of giving is the one part of the story which was shown in the movie on fulfilling one's personal purpose on this earth. Even though the movie has a sad ending it leaves you satisfied seeing other people lives changed.
Kathleen:
ReplyDeleteI remember the first time I watched this movie and how I could not wrap my head around exactly what was going on. The point you made about Ben redeeming himself through giving away parts of his physicality really struck me. Ben felt like he need to do what needed to do to save the lives of others who he felt were more worthy than he was. In a way, he is leaving the world yet staying a part of it through the lives of others. His redemption was his life and his life was used to redeem others.
I never saw that movie before, but I felt sorry for Ben when his life was taken away ever since he got into a car accident which causes his wife’s death. That’s why he did what he had to do to save other people’s life. I like the way you were describing how Ben protects people from being sick and harm and how much you gave us a message of caring for one another instead of thinking about yourself. My theory about Ben is that he did not want to become an ungrateful person and he was still carrying the guilt over his wife’s death. Moral of the story, if you don’t care about anyone else but yourself, people will think you’re selfish.
ReplyDelete-Kendra ZeMenye
This movie is very interesting. It takes tragedy and turns it into a tragedy that saves lives. Ben's guilt lead him to his death, but it also led him to his redemption. This causes me to believe that when it comes down to it, life is full of choices. Those choices create a cause and effect reaction that can lead to consequences or rewards. In this case I believe Ben's actions led to both. By giving away his life and worldly possessions he saved the lives of 7 others, but in the end the guilt still caused him to take his life.
ReplyDelete-Alan Donoho
Wow. I have never seen this movie, but I nearly cried reading this in front of a bunch of people in a coffee shop. It really makes you think about life and death, but also the power of grief over people. I don't think Will Smith needed to take his own life to do good, but it makes you think. It made me think about the brevity of life and the finality of death. Death is something that is so painful to think about, but it is inspiring to think that you can do things in your life to impact the people around you. Great post!
ReplyDelete-JJ Leath
DeleteWeini,
ReplyDeleteSeven Pounds is one of the most emotional movies of all time. The idea of guilt consuming an individual such as Ben is unbearable. Even as the audience, we experience the burden of guilt and what it can do to someone. One of the most important topics you discussed in your post were redemption and accountability. Ben held himself accountable for all of their deaths and it was this accountability along with guilt that drove him to give away his belongings and organs to others in an effort to clear a guilty conscience. Death as a payment for guilt or in exchange for peace and clear conscience can be very subjective. The weight of his guilt is definitely felt by the audience.
-Aly Hernandez
I think that this movie holds an impeccable moral value! So much so that I am totally convinced that I am going to watch this movie in my leisure time. The moral gratitude displayed by Ben is worth acknowledgement. It is also a great moral theme to be displayed to the masses also.. hopefully the rest of the world strives to be like Ben.
ReplyDelete-Kyra Moore
While reading your synopsis of this movie, I couldn't help but to feel somewhat connected to Ben in his situation. Ive always felt a sense of bewilderment when it came to the impressions I leave on people. As you described, Ben takes it upon himself to seek out these people in which he impacted to correct his wrong doing. I couldn't imagine being in a situation in which the mortality of 7 individuals rest in the palms of my hands. Truly, makes one value the short time we have on this earth, and how other individuals shape who we are.
ReplyDeleteKyle Gardner
This movie sounds great! I am a fan of Will Smith. I like that you mentioned how it tugs your heart in different directions and that you're unsure of how it will end up. I also like the part you mentioned about being confused about Smith's character for criticizing a blind man but then being helpful to an elderly person. It sounds like this character might be in a grey area when it comes to morality. I think your blog post is an excellent review and does a good job highlighting some parts of the movie. However, I think that it could benefit from a more specific focus. Maybe spend a paragraph summarizing the movie and then introduce a thesis including themes you'll focus on about the movie. I had a hard time with this in my blog post, but it's something I got feedback on that helped me.
ReplyDelete-Bailey West
I am glad you selected this movie to blog about! Although I vaguely remember this movie, I definitely remember the outcome of selfless man that gave his own life to save others. I also vaguely remember that the tittle Seven Pounds was the reflection of the heart weighing an average of seven pounds. I can remember the warm feeling after viewing this movie and I can relate to how you feel. I too feel that people should be more selfless and be aware of people in need. I strive to be the pest person I can be. . .this movie enforces the act what I strive to be. Good selection!
ReplyDelete-Rob D