When I first saw the trailer for Seven Pounds in the cinema, I was intrigued. It hinted at a film which seemed to have mysterious overtones and could have easily slipped into one of many genres. Yet the film itself is quite different, it’s a character piece focusing not only Will Smith’s portrayal of Ben (in actuality Tim) Thomas but also on humanity itself. At the same time the film itself feels like a series of montages, pinned together and not necessarily in the right order.

Two years previously Tim Thomas caused a car accident which killed seven people, including his girlfriend, and he is desparate to atone. He keeps repeating the names of the six deceased strangers and his anger at his past acts send him into a destructive rage. He decides the best thing he can do is take his own life and do everything in his power to help seven people of his choosing. But these are not just strangers, as the film progresses we are introduced to each of them in turn and how Ben’s presence in their lives alters them for the better.

It’s an oddly moving film which takes some getting used to you. You  have to pay attention and the mood jumps from a happy moment in the past to despair in the present day in a heartbeat which can be quite unsettling. Thomas’ descent into what can only be described as righteous depression is unsettling but his desire to help others borders on altruistic. Yet the first scene of the film in which he commits suicide makes you wonder if he is also getting his wish, to end his own suffering as well as that of others.

But things don’t always go to plan. As Thomas searches for his seven, he finds himself falling in love with Emily Posa (Rosario Dawson), a self-employed woman with a heart condition. Indeed it is his love for her which motives his ultimate end … he actually gives up his life to save hers and it’s remarkably touching. A simple search for good people who deserve to be rewarded is never as easy as it sounds, even if Thomas also plays God, he also lets his emotions get in the way.

The Blu Ray release not only looks good but there’s also a nice collection of documentaries and other special features. The deleted scenes add a little more to the film, there are also trailers for a number of related films and some interesting documentaries. Of these, the most disturbing looks at Thomas’ unique way of killing himself: suicide via his pet box jelly fish. It’s a horrible scene and the short documentary compounds on it by a little graphic explanation of these beautiful, if deadly, creatures and how their poison tentacles work.

Seven Pounds is ultimately character driven, it’s one of these films which will either enthrall and change your perception of the world and human beings … or bore you stupid. Which it will be is entirely up to the viewer: you might be transfixed but the person sitting next to you could be completely lost, it’s very much in the eye of the beholder. However it’s a good release and definately worth viewing, if only to prompt numerous moral and ethical discussions afterwards on the weight of a human life.