Se7en

One thing that I tend to admire about certain movies is the fact that they leave the audience thinking about the film once they left it. When everything is spelled out for you, there is no thinking, it is for your pure enjoyment in the time you are watching the film. I do recognize that movie genres like comedy, almost always have to do that because jokes are always straightforward, and if they aren't, they aren’t good. Dramas are a different story.

Se7en, starring Brad Pitt as David Mills, a new recruit on the police force, and Morgan Freeman playing the successful detective William Somerset get assigned to a murder case that is thoroughly baffling them. After the first few crime scenes they visit, they discover the killer is basing his murders off of the seven deadly sins; gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, pride and lust. Expecting a few more to complete the killer’s game, they make it their mission to find the murderer, which proves a daunting task, as there is no trace of anything linking the murderer to his victims.

There is one word to describe the plot line, and that is unoriginal. Focusing on a topic that is, albeit interesting, it is also uncreative. The concept could have been inspired by the seven deadly sins, but then made into the filmmaker’s own concept.

The director did an excellent job at leaving nothing to discuss or think about. Everything was spelled out, even the reason as to why the murders were done in the first place. One thing that was blatantly obvious was the fact that the movie was about the seven deadly sins. Anybody can guess that from seeing the movie poster, or the first two crime scenes. However, the director decided to take it a step further, making sure that we knew that fact, by spelling out which sin it was at each crime scene, and why the killer choose that particular person to murder. It’s overkill, if you ask me, and something that the audience could have figured out without the filmmakers help.

As for the actors, Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman are two well-known, accomplished actors, and most of their work is memorable and of quality material. Pitt, acting in such movies as the iconic Fight Club, the Oceans trilogy and the more recent Inglorious Basterds, he has proved his skill at transforming into whatever character is called for. Freeman on the other hand, is well known for the recent Batman movies, and the classic Shawshank Redemption, making his mark as a dramatic actor. As for this film, however, the two made bad choices, as the characters played were dry and lackluster. They were typical detective characters, the one that is sick of his job, and the other that is eager to prove his ability to his coworkers. The script allowed the audience to touch the surface of their lives, without going any deeper. Actors as good as they are couldn’t make the characters work.

The killer on the other hand, which had, at the most thirty minutes of screen time, held the best character, and acted with the most conviction. Being played by Kevin Spacey, who also did such films as American Beauty and 21 this was no surprise. His character showed the maniac that was needed for the role; every line was executed with an ease and detached style of a true sociopath. He saved the film from being a complete catastrophe.

Bland characters, blatant explanations, and the cliché plot line kept the film from being better then it could have been. Maybe a few less murders and explanations, and a better script and plot could have made it near perfection.