The Will of Smith

I was up until 4 am last night (or should I say this morning). After a sumptuous dinner, finger licking dessert and the perfect drink to compliment the former, a blanket is usually all I need. But to stay up for over 2 hours watching a movie that's just about average and so intense was a feat possible only thanks to my unending fascination for that visage, those expressions, that body language... The man who can burn a hole in your heart with his magic gaze, Will Smith.

Seven Pounds is slow and painful to watch. It's not a great film by any standard... Just about OK. Plus, the subject itself is depressing (especially for Blackberry). The story, once you get into it, takes a lot out of you, but doesn't give back as much in terms of an excellent film or an experience of a lifetime. It demands way more than it delivers.

In the midst of all this comes along the talented Mr. Smith. He brilliantly glides through the movie carrying it on his steadfast shoulders and everything else fades into the background. The depth of his pain are apparent even though we have no idea what exactly is going on in his head until the very end of the film when it all comes together. His slow movements and smiles that look like he has to pull them out of his past life add to the overall aura of a man who looks like he's constantly at war with himself.

I guess this movie is only worth watching if you like Will Smith. I obviously do! But he is far superior than so many of his colleagues and seniors, and not just because he is a box office dollar machine. Whether Ali or I Am Legend, this guy is so dependable that even a deplorable film like Hancock can rise to the top of US Box Office. And so rich in his portrayal of fictional and real life characters that tired and weary eyes refuse to rest because a real presence has entered the room. He is truly legend.