I just got done watching this film, and honestly...I just needed to sit for a moment and process. Which I love, I love movies that leave you sitting in your seat with your thoughts and emotions for a bit after the movie is over. But damn. This movie is heavy.
So let's get into it.
First of all, there's the opening credits. I was watching, and I was like "...that sounds like Closer by Nine Inch Nails..." And it was. And that was an interesting artistic choice that I very much enjoyed, as I loved that song when I was little (which is kinda messed up, but you know when you're a kid and you don't understand the lyrics).
Quick aside: I fucking loved the movie. But this review isn't going to have any exclamation points in it. It's just not that kind of movie. Now, back to my review.
So this movie has a run time of two hours and six minutes, which can be daunting sometimes, but this movie didn't feel that long at all, which points to good pacing and no scenes that felt out of place or unnecessary. The story follows two detectives in a big city (not sure if the city is ever specified): the experienced, cynical detective Somerset (played by Morgan Freeman), and his new, naive but enthusiastic partner who recently transferred to that area, Mills (played by Brad Pitt). These two characters are tasked with catching a serial killer who picks his victims and lays out his crime scenes to reflect the "seven deadly sins" motif (hence the movie's title). I feel like this sort of set-up is something that's done often- depraved, religiously-based murders in the big city being investigated by two reporters with very different personalities/experience level. So I thought that I would be able to see things coming. But oh, no.
I really can't say too much without spoiling the entire movie, but even when I thought I had the twist ending figured out, but the movie sort of laughed at me and took me on a completely different ride. which is awesome. I feel like the movie could have been predictable, but it defied my expectations. The character development and chemistry between Somerset and Mills was also enjoyable, and by the end of the movie, they very nearly completely switched their outlooks on their work and life itself (in my opinion at least, I guess the level to which the characters changed is somewhat up to the interpretation of the viewer).
The villain of the movie is played by Kevin Spacey. I realized that there has been a great deal of controversy surrounding him as of late, and I'm not even sure how public opinion of him stands at this point. However, when worst comes to worst- terrible people can still be very talented and effective actors. Kevin Spacey's performance in this movie is chilling, and evocative of another Spacey villain role from a movie that shall not be named (if you guys have seen it, you'll know which film I mean; if not, revealing the movie's title will spoil the entire thing, and I can't deprive people of the delicious astonishment brought by the end of that movie).
As far as the characterization of Mills and Somerset goes, the acting and writing there is very strong as well. Mills, for me, is kind of like a fourteen-year-old boy in his naivete about the true cruelty of mankind, his eagerness to leap into action, and his great impatience for police procedure. He wants to be a hero. His character is perfectly balanced out by Somerset's character- an experienced and arguably hardened detective, cultured and stoic, who is on the verge of retiring from the force. I think the casting in this movie is absolutely fabulous, and the script and acting are even more so.
Speaking of the script, there are some really wonderful and powerful lines and monologues in this film, which do a great job of revealing the character of Mills and Somerset, pushing along the plot without doing so noticeably or forcefully, and forcing the audience to think about man's capability of evil, how police work can sometimes have more to do with following the rules or the cash more than fighting for justice, and how people such as police detectives go through great internal struggle as they do their job. Really fine piece of work, this film. But, like I said, very heavy.
Finally, the thing I like to look at most in every film I watch: the design. It's as if the whole movie is shot through a brownish-yellow lens, emphasizing the gritty design of the sets and costumes. I wouldn't go so far as to say everything looks dirty, but rather the characters seem harder, less at peace, and the environments they live and work in look dark and worn. I think the color palette for this movie is great for what they were going for, which is apparently a sort of neo-noir vibe.
Additionally, I'm a huge fan of the film's cinematography, especially in one of the action sequences. This scene features Mills chasing the unsub (Spacey) throughout a building, onto a roof area, and down through some alleyways. The camera-work is shaky and jarring, which causes extra tension on the part of the viewer in an already tense and distressing scene. The acting and camera work of Se7en is so effective in manipulation the emotion of the viewer that I honestly need a nap after watching it; it's super emotionally draining. (I probably won't nap, however, but rather continue crossing movies off my list).
In summary; this movie is not light entertainment. It's very dark and gritty, and it keeps you on edge the entire time. The acting and writing are phenomenal, and are well-supported by a well-thought-out and well-executed design and exceptional camera work. Definitely a film well worth everyone's time.
So let's get into it.
First of all, there's the opening credits. I was watching, and I was like "...that sounds like Closer by Nine Inch Nails..." And it was. And that was an interesting artistic choice that I very much enjoyed, as I loved that song when I was little (which is kinda messed up, but you know when you're a kid and you don't understand the lyrics).
Quick aside: I fucking loved the movie. But this review isn't going to have any exclamation points in it. It's just not that kind of movie. Now, back to my review.
So this movie has a run time of two hours and six minutes, which can be daunting sometimes, but this movie didn't feel that long at all, which points to good pacing and no scenes that felt out of place or unnecessary. The story follows two detectives in a big city (not sure if the city is ever specified): the experienced, cynical detective Somerset (played by Morgan Freeman), and his new, naive but enthusiastic partner who recently transferred to that area, Mills (played by Brad Pitt). These two characters are tasked with catching a serial killer who picks his victims and lays out his crime scenes to reflect the "seven deadly sins" motif (hence the movie's title). I feel like this sort of set-up is something that's done often- depraved, religiously-based murders in the big city being investigated by two reporters with very different personalities/experience level. So I thought that I would be able to see things coming. But oh, no.
I really can't say too much without spoiling the entire movie, but even when I thought I had the twist ending figured out, but the movie sort of laughed at me and took me on a completely different ride. which is awesome. I feel like the movie could have been predictable, but it defied my expectations. The character development and chemistry between Somerset and Mills was also enjoyable, and by the end of the movie, they very nearly completely switched their outlooks on their work and life itself (in my opinion at least, I guess the level to which the characters changed is somewhat up to the interpretation of the viewer).
The villain of the movie is played by Kevin Spacey. I realized that there has been a great deal of controversy surrounding him as of late, and I'm not even sure how public opinion of him stands at this point. However, when worst comes to worst- terrible people can still be very talented and effective actors. Kevin Spacey's performance in this movie is chilling, and evocative of another Spacey villain role from a movie that shall not be named (if you guys have seen it, you'll know which film I mean; if not, revealing the movie's title will spoil the entire thing, and I can't deprive people of the delicious astonishment brought by the end of that movie).
As far as the characterization of Mills and Somerset goes, the acting and writing there is very strong as well. Mills, for me, is kind of like a fourteen-year-old boy in his naivete about the true cruelty of mankind, his eagerness to leap into action, and his great impatience for police procedure. He wants to be a hero. His character is perfectly balanced out by Somerset's character- an experienced and arguably hardened detective, cultured and stoic, who is on the verge of retiring from the force. I think the casting in this movie is absolutely fabulous, and the script and acting are even more so.
Speaking of the script, there are some really wonderful and powerful lines and monologues in this film, which do a great job of revealing the character of Mills and Somerset, pushing along the plot without doing so noticeably or forcefully, and forcing the audience to think about man's capability of evil, how police work can sometimes have more to do with following the rules or the cash more than fighting for justice, and how people such as police detectives go through great internal struggle as they do their job. Really fine piece of work, this film. But, like I said, very heavy.
Finally, the thing I like to look at most in every film I watch: the design. It's as if the whole movie is shot through a brownish-yellow lens, emphasizing the gritty design of the sets and costumes. I wouldn't go so far as to say everything looks dirty, but rather the characters seem harder, less at peace, and the environments they live and work in look dark and worn. I think the color palette for this movie is great for what they were going for, which is apparently a sort of neo-noir vibe.
Additionally, I'm a huge fan of the film's cinematography, especially in one of the action sequences. This scene features Mills chasing the unsub (Spacey) throughout a building, onto a roof area, and down through some alleyways. The camera-work is shaky and jarring, which causes extra tension on the part of the viewer in an already tense and distressing scene. The acting and camera work of Se7en is so effective in manipulation the emotion of the viewer that I honestly need a nap after watching it; it's super emotionally draining. (I probably won't nap, however, but rather continue crossing movies off my list).
In summary; this movie is not light entertainment. It's very dark and gritty, and it keeps you on edge the entire time. The acting and writing are phenomenal, and are well-supported by a well-thought-out and well-executed design and exceptional camera work. Definitely a film well worth everyone's time.
Rating: A
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