Saturday, April 23, 2005

Se7en (1995)

What sin is humping a tub of margarine? Am I clear?

Genre: Crime Mystery Thriller Noir

Starring: Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby; Unleashed), Brad Pitt (Babel; Snatch)

Directed By: David Fincher (The Game; Fight Club)

Overview: A veteran cop and his new partner are on a serial killing case rooted in the seven deadly sins.

Acting: The roles are all really well directed. The deliveries are perfect. All the players are well known veteran actors. Sometimes it's good to see a cast full of pros, directed by a pro.
Rating: 8

Cinematography:
The images are bleak, suiting the mood perfectly. Darkness and filth seemed prevalent. There was just enough gore to put us there while (as in lust) some scenes left far too much to the imagination. The helicopter shots in the end are great. Of all movies ever made, there is one image from one movie that has etched its way into my mind: a rain-soaked gun barrel pointed down at the viewer, only the tip in focus, held by an indistinguishable man in a hat and trenchcoat. That shot is in this movie.
Rating: 9

Script:
There is a bit of a two-dimensional feel to the Pitt and Freeman characters. It's as thought the writer took the developing good cop / bad cop idea and combined it with the unpolished veteran and his new rookie partner idea and fused them into a perfect union. Yet it works here, and the dialogue adds to the mood.
Rating: 7

Plot:
The beginning of the plot, the whole veteran cop on his last assignment paired up with the young spitfire may make you roll your eyes at the cliché, but honestly, it's good. And as for the murders themselves and the plot development, also mindblowing. As for the ending, that bumps it up a full point. It's not as if you don't know this is an amazing movie.
Rating: 9

Mood:
The mood is the thing. We are immersed into the bleakest city, pouring rain, into the mind of a calculating psychopath. The characters exude the desire to slough off the mire of filth that is this shit-stained world. I like this perspective very much, and this movie never stops reminding up how unlucky we truly are.
Rating: 9

Match the quote: 1.) "What's in the box?" 2.) "...mastrubating in your own feces..." 3.) Yo biotch, get yo dick out my ass!

Overall Rating: 84% (Dark as Hell)

Aftertaste: This is one of my repertoire films. I've seen it several times, and I'll see it several more I'm sure. The only thing I regret is that I hadn't seen it in theaters. If you don't like this, I'm sure you'll prefer your Bambi and your Forrest Gump. A truly memorable film, even if it's not for everyone.