DECEMBER 26, 2008 - KANATA KOURIER-STANDARD - PAGE 15

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Arts & Entertainment REEL REVIEWS

Seven pounds offers lightweight entertainment

2 OUT OF 5 STARS
KATIE BRADFORD

Hype is a funny thing. Sometimes its deserved, and sometimes its insufferable and sets you up to be disappointed. Seven Pounds is one of those films. The hype surrounding this film is immense. Not only did Oprah wave her hands in their air and sing its praises with Will Smith earlier this year, but it also has had some of the more aggressive advertising campaigns that Ive seen recently. Was it vying for Oscar gold? If so, its hopes are tragically misguided. This film is supposed to have an explosive ending, completely shocking, a secret so horrible that no one could ever imagine its magnitude. Well, I figured it out about 60 minutes in; thats 45 minutes after I lost interest completely. Even if you havent figured out what will hap-

KATIE BRADFORD pen before it does (which, I assure you, many of you will), when you reach the ending your likely reaction will be Oh, well thats kind of dumb . . . Is that seriously the big secret? The film is about Ben Thomas (Will Smith), a man who seems hell bent on atoning for some sin the audience is never clued into. So, without any reason to care, we watch him attempt to change the lives of people he has deemed deserving. He encounters a blind man named Ezra Turner (Woody Harrelson), and a

young woman with a heart condition named Emily Posa (Rosario Dawson, one of the films only redeeming qualities), among others, and does what he can as an IRS agent to improve their circumstances. At least, thats the story up front. No one really fully buys into this mans performance as merely a government agent sent to audit these people. And as for me, I was barely able to buy in to Smiths performance at all, and more importantly the film. The problem here is not acting, although Smiths portrayal is not even close to his best work. The problem is writing (Grant Nieporte) and directing (Gabriele Muccino), which are both so misguided and convoluted that it became not only aggravating, but also boring. Fighting sleep and apathy, I made it through, but not without feeling that, deep down, this film was trying and failing to be an art film. If you want to make an

art film, dont cast huge actors in your movie and then advertise for it more than the latest romantic comedy. Screwing with the timeline unnecessarily and shaky camera work does not make you an auteur. And whats worse is that characters spew gibberish lines that make absolutely no sense until the end, and sometimes still make no sense in said conversation. Exhibit A: Do you like Eggplant Parmesan? I havent treated myself very well. Im sorry, did you misunderstand the question? Add in the fact that the film has a terribly played out love story, showcases possibly the dumbest and unnecessarily complicated way to kill oneself, and underutilizes perhaps the most interesting character in the film. Harrelsons portrayal of the lonely and kind hearted blind man was beautifully intriguing, and hes only on screen for about 10 minutes. Overall, not worth the hype, $10, or a second thought.

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Kanata Stallions defenceman Kyle Ross and right-winger Brent Bourgeois pose with the past four World Junior Championship trophies won by Team Canada at the Bells Corners Royal Bank on Dec. 12. The trophies are on tour throughout north eastern Ontario. Team Canada will play for a fifth consecutive win at the World Junior Hockey Championship, which will take place in Ottawa from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.

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