Two cops--a veteran shortly to retire and a rookie--are on the trail of a maniac who murders his victims according to the seven deadly sins.
Also known as: Seven (alternate spelling)
Subgenres: action, philosophical
Director: David Fincher
Cast: Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt
4 reviews | ||||||
 When I first saw Se7en, I thought it was a masterpiece; A simple, brutal story told exceedingly well. Now I'm not quite as enthusiastic about the film--in fact, I like director David Fincher's slicker, moodier The Game and his shocking, unafraid Fight Club more. But Se7en is still a work of pop art, intelligent, atmospheric, and close to exploitative without crossing that line. The story is really deceptively simple--it's a comic book tale, really--but the value of the work in question lies not in its basis but rather in its execution. It is, in fact, executed remarkably well--Fincher casts his jittery camera continuously over grimy, wet streets, giving us a perfect incarnation of the spirit of the film's events. Brad Pitt gives one of his best performances in this film, and Morgan Freeman is even more splendid than usual--he lends a sense of gravity, a realism, to events that would push the bounds of believability. And the ending was suspenseful as hell. (Dec 16, 1999/Feb 9, 2001) | ||||||
Se7en is one of the best movies I've seen. The motive behind the murders, the use of the Seven Deadly Sins and the way Kevin Spacey portrayed the killer especially interested me. Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt were excellent, although the appearance of Gwyneth Paltrow didn't add anything to the movie (one of the minor complaints I have). The dark, depressive setting makes you feel numbed--I was really impressed when I left the theatre. (Feb 9, 2001) |
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I thought this was an excellent film, very well directed, the story is good, and the acting was very good, even on Brad Pitt's part! I'm not really a fan of gory movies, but the first hour is worth sitting through just to build up to Kevin Spacey's searing performance--he is absolutely the best part of the movie - he saved it, in my honest opinion. (Dec 16, 1999) |
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philjohn.com - approaching the unexplained | 
Sometimes, expectation is not that helpful at all: It is nice when it is even exceeded, but there is nothing worse than expectations being somewhat betrayed. Such is my experience with this movie: I really expected something big, something worth watching, even worth buying. I nearly had made a purchase, but gladly I chose to wait until it finally aired on TV. Man, I was glad I chose this option, for this movie was a major disappointment. I also thought of not writing a review because I tend to only write them when I have a sort of positive view of the film (that's why there ain't a Star Wars review here yet), but then I thought: What the heck--why not? Where should I start? Perhaps I'm a bit spoiled by The X-Files, but anyway: This movie has no atmosphere, no suspense. They try to make it X-Filean, but dark and rainy sets are a way too simple approach. There is no character around either to be interesting: No Fox Mulder, no Frank Black. Nadie. Gwyneth Paltrow's acting is virtually non-existent, Morgan Freeman's coldness looks too artificial, even Brad Pitt seems not to enjoy this. The major effect the movie tries to make out of the killings, but the only effect achieved would be a feeling of disgust. There is nothing behind that - it is just a sequence of images designed to shock the audience, but it is much too designed to be that way: Too cold, too detailed, too much. This is not horror, this is pathology of the ugliest kind. And then, finally, regarding the 'background' of the crimes: The seven mortal sins. There is nothing like that - this is a loose collection drawn artificially from various passages from the Bible or from where ever. The religious background is almost nada, it is created for effect. Some darkness, some ugliness, well, let's put some religious mysticism in here, then it should work. But it doesn't. Too much deliberation, but less thought, went into this movie; too much quarrel, but less emotions. What the heck are those mortal sins if there isn't even murder included? I do not want to say that this movie should not be watched, on the contrary: It is a good example of how to make a bad film, an epigonal film which cannot stand against its competitors. (Dec 16, 1999) | |||||
There were several scenes cut out of this film, which are included on the Criterion laserdisc, but not, at present on the film's DVD release.
The person playing the killer insisted his/her name not be listed in the opening credits in order for the killer's identity to be a surprise. The actor is listed first in the closing credits as a compensation.
Brad Pitt really did slip and fall on top of a car while chasing the killer--his injury, which required surgery, was then worked into the script.
