Review
Se7en
- Director
- David Fincher
- Year
- 1995
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- Review date
- Wednesday, October 24, 2001
Detective David Mills (Brad Pitt), new to his job, and Detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman), about to retire, are forced to work together on a case involving a serial killer using the seven deadly sins as the basis for his crimes. Little do they know the case will be far more complicated than it seems.
Se7en is a movie better described by the word “disturbing”. Not only because of the graphic images it shows, or because of the twisted mind of its villain, but because of the way it toys with the central characters’ and our own minds and because of the statement it makes of the world.
Thrillers about serial killers and finding the identity of them usually follow the same pattern. They almost always disappoint at the end, and it’s rare to find a movie that actually intrigues and surprises in genuine ways. Se7en might be the perfect example of how to successfully conclude an already exciting story. The final half hour of this movie is brilliant, the reason why the term “nail-biting” was actually created. It is also highly impacting.
This movie also works because we believe in its characters. The interaction between old and new is very well done. But each individual also has its own life, and it affects everything getting in the way.
Another part of the magic lies in the sole premise of the movie. No one can deny it is a fascinating subject matter. You keep guessing what’ll happen next or the way it’ll be performed. Apparently, choosing the seven deadly sins can be seen as a rare fetish, but there’s more to it than the eye can witness. It is that mystery that is waiting to be unleashed.
This was Brad Pitt’s first collaboration with Fincher. They should keep doing movies together forever, since both Se7en and Fight Club (1999) have already acquired cult status. Here, Pitt delivers a great, contrasting performance. Morgan Freeman, on the other hand, gets one of his best roles as the cop who’s seen it all... except this. Kevin Spacey, believe it or not, makes one of the scariest psychopaths in the history of cinema, and I’m not the only one to think that way. Gwyneth Paltrow also makes a touching appearance as Pitt’s wife.
I must say Se7en has the right touch of everything a good thriller must have. It’s exciting, controversial, difficult, moody and surprising. It is, in other words, everything you could wish for!
“This isn’t going to have a happy ending”.
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Comments
Groucho wrote at 6/22/2002:
Well Jacinda, did anyone actually know who Kevin Spacey was back then?? He sure began to surprise us since then... Morris wrote at 6/22/2002:
You've discovered me Jacinda! As Derek Zoolander himself would say: "I'm bulimic"!Anyway, it's great you love this movie so much. It is just excellent!!!
jason wrote at 4/21/2003 4:33:06 PM:
it reminds me of a cow who eats to many mayonaise (outragious). i truly love this film, its almost as good as the haunting "baseketball", witch in my opinion, is one of the best written and acted films of our generation. not that jamiraquoi doesnt matter, i, i like supermonkeys!!!!!!!!!!!!!.New comments are temporarily disabled
Jacinda wrote at 6/22/2002:
Can you read minds, Moe? First you reviewed 'The Usual Suspects' and 'Fargo', then you reviewed '12 Monkeys' and now it's 'Se7en'. I was about to watch all these movies again when your reviews popped up. I actually had seen 'Se7en' again when this one was published. I bought myself the fantastic DVD box set. I love this movie to death. To think, that I didn't even know who Kevin Spacey was when I watched it back in 1995. The ending left me choking - what a twist. Well, and I love the opening sequence, one of my favorites ever.