Producers: Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, James Lassiter, Will Smith, Steve Tisch

Director: Gabriele Muccino

Writer: Grant Nieporte

Stars: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Ealy, Barry Pepper, Andy Miller, Elpidia Carrillo

CREATIVE QUOTIENT
The opening scene has Will Smith call 911 to say: “There’s been a suicide.” “Who’s the victim?” the operator asks. Ben, the character replies, “Me.” The movie then goes into flashback, showing Ben — a Los Angeles IRS agent — investigating the moral fibres of strangers. First, he finds that a local doctor (Tim Kelleher) with health problems. Then, he talks with Ezra Turner (Woody Harrelson), a blind pianist who works as a ‘phone operator. There’s also a poor Hispanic woman named Connie (Elpidia Carrillo), a victim of her husband’s violence. They all get something from Ben, but they just don’t know it yet. Ben also runs into Emily Posa (Rosario Dawson), a lonely woman with a serious heart condition that may kill her unless they find a heart donor soon. The two hit it off quickly and begin an unexpected romantic fling. At this point, the film transforms into a lackadaisical romance, only to pick up in the last few reels, as Ben’s Good Samaritan caper is revealed, climaxed by a chillingly well-shot death sequence wherein Ben is stung to death by a jelly- fish.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
Grant Nieporte must be lauded for this warm but taut drama that is saved from becoming melodramatic by skilled handling by director Gabriele Muccino. Will Smith delivers his best performance since Ali. The actor has come a long way since Prince Of Bel Air and Men In Black. Seven Pounds is proof of his maturity as an actor. In his most emotional role to date, he tackles the drama with finesse and doesn’t go over-the-top. Another performance to be noted is of Woody Harrelson as a blind man.