Excellent Thriller with Great Character

Rating: Null/10 (27 March 2004)

The establishing unit of Se7en suggest a standard entry into the cop genre. Summerset (Freeman) is tired of being a cop and of what he sees on the streets everyday. To top it off he has just been partnered with the new detective, and his replacement, Mills(Pitt), a know-it-all anxious to see some action. He even requires a metronome to fall asleep. Once the credit sequence starts, though, this movie is lifted much higher.
When they arrive at the first murder scene it appears that a morbidly obese man has eaten himself to death. Upon closer examination at an autopsy it is discovers that the man was forced at gunpoint and therefore murdered. Immediately there is a struggle for power between the two, Summerset telling the younger Mills that he is inexperienced and that it is to soon for him to be working a major murder case, thought at this point only by Summerset that it is the beginning of something more. He doesn't want it either but is stuck with it anyway.
Mills is instead handed the case of a murdered defense attorney. He gets there to find a pool of blood on the office carpet with the word "Greed" written with the same blood. Meanwhile, Summerset finds the word "Gluttony" written in grease behind the obese mans refrigerator. Thus begins the chase to find the man killing with the seven deadly sins.
The movie is dark. Very dark. If it weren't for DVD, Se7en would look like a giant black blur on home video. This is a very bold move on the part of David Fincher and Cinematographer Darius Khondji. Se7en needs to look this dark as it greatly improves the power of the visuals. The acting is superb, which brings be to the best parts of the film, the dialog scenes between Summerset and Mills. They give this movie a great sense of gusto with there quiet character moments. The time in between the murders, therefore, isn't wasted, making for a much more fulfilling experience.
Se7en is a great film with a climax that will stay in you head for days, and characters that you remember long after the shock is over.