Fincher handles the violence with sensitivity, announcing its obscenity in spoken analyses and briefly glimpsed post mortem shots, but never showing the murderous acts themselves.
Seven (1995)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:50
Fresh:42
Rotten:8
Average Rating:7.4/10
Runtime: 2 hrs 7 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: Gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, pride, and lust--these are the seven deadly sins that are being punished with unimaginable cruelty and calculation by an enigmatic killer in David Fincher's... Gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, pride, and lust--these are the seven deadly sins that are being punished with unimaginable cruelty and calculation by an enigmatic killer in David Fincher's bleak thriller SEVEN. Set in a perpetually gloomy unnamed city, the film follows Somerset (Morgan Freeman), a retiring police detective, as he experiences his final week on the job, reluctantly working with assertive newcomer Mills (Brad Pitt). When an obese man is found brutally murdered in his home, the seasoned Somerset realizes this is no ordinary killing--someone tortured him because of his appetite. Slayings that reflect the sins of greed and sloth soon follow, leading Somerset and Mills on a desperate search to find the mysterious John Doe, who is responsible for these methodical murders. As the case builds to a startling conclusion, both Somerset and Mills become more involved than they ever could have imagined. After a brief opening scene, SEVEN immediately cuts to a highly stylized title sequence. An intricate collage of books and photos, scissors and razors, and blood and skin eerily captures the dark, graphic tone of Fincher's intriguing mystery. The film cleverly avoids depicting most acts of violence onscreen, focusing instead on the cryptic remains of the crimes, allowing viewers to investigate along with the detectives. An example of nearly flawless filmmaking, the movie features a meticulously crafted screenplay, brilliant photography and design, sure-handed direction, and excellent performances from the entire cast. All of these elements combine to amazing effect in the film's unforgettably stunning finale. [More]
Starring: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey
Starring: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, John Cassini, Bob Mack, Peter Crombie, R. Lee Ermey, Richard Portnow, Daniel Zacapa, Andy Walker
Director: David Fincher
Director: David Fincher
Screenwriter: Andrew Kevin Walker
Producer: Phyllis Carlyle, Arnold Kopelson
Composer: Howard Shore
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Reviews for Seven
If you think you know where the story is going, think again. This movie has an unconventional ending worthy of the anti-hero movies of the Seventies.
So chic, studied and murky it resembles a cross between a Nike commercial and a bad Polish art film.
The real star of Seven, however, is the gloom and doom of the setting: an unidentified blight of a modern city.
Seven is unnecessarily gory and runs for a little too long, but neither of these elements detracts much from the film's enjoyability (unless you have a weak stomach).
Shaky camera shots, dark sets and a disturbing script that takes its characters to the extremes of emotion all contribute to the film creating a unsettled feeling that stays with you for a couple hours after the credits roll.
We stumbled out of a screening of the new psychological drama Seven gasping for breath, and with a pounding headache and a stomach knotted like a Boy Scout badge test.
Eerie suspense film with a surprize ending that provides quite a jolt!
Focus, Freeman and film craft make Seven difficult to dismiss as a stylish exercise, but employing this grisly subject matter for an exercise of any kind is a queasy way to go.
Good as it is, it misses greatness by not quite finding the right way to end.
What Freeman brings to the movie is humanity at the heart of a nightmare.
Because the movie believes in its mission, the climax is likely to resonate in your head for hours, perhaps days after viewing.
Once homicide detectives Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt catch on to his modus operandi, there's little left in the movie to think about except, gee, wonder how the murderous maniac will do Sloth or Envy?
Viewers looking for a silver-screen gross-out will be disappointed, but others will appreciate this mature thriller, which proves once again that the best suspensers keep their violence off-camera.
The pace is fast and the shocks build beautifully. The actors within it all reel with convincing horror.
As the story progresses, the film manages to become quite engrossing, but it is a bit disconcerting that it can be so compelling and repugnant at the same time.
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| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
| 78% 78% | The Hangover |
| 49% 49% | Taking Woodstock |
| 26% 26% | The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard |
| 47% 47% | The Girl From Monaco |
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