A clever and stylish thriller

Rating: 8/10 (22 June 2009)

David Fincher's "Seven" has become something of a modern classic since its release nearly 15 years ago. The film focuses on a pair of detectives tracking a serial killer who has drawn his inspiration from the seven deadly sins: gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, pride & lust.
The cast is a pretty good one. Morgan Freeman is excellent in the role of a burnt-out cop on his way out the door as soon as he trains in his replacement (Brad Pitt). Pitt does a good job as a brash young detective itching for a shot at a big-time case. Gwyneth Paltrow, as Pitt's wife, delivers a solid performance and the rest of the cast is about average. It should also be noted that the (Oscar-winning) actor who plays the killer isn't listed in the opening credits, so that's a bit of a surprise for the audience.
The screenplay is quite clever but that cleverness almost seems at odds with the film's gritty realism. The killer's intricate plans are the sort of thing that you only encounter in the movies. The characters are somewhat clichéd and Freeman is handed a few well-worn lines that I think only he could have pulled off. Given this shortcoming, the ending succeeds more through shock value than in creating a response based on our attachment to the characters.
Fincher's direction is well-handled throughout and merges with the cinematography and editing to create a unique, atmospheric look. While there may be a bit of an emphasis on style over substance the director manages to keep from going overboard. The soundtrack also contributes greatly to the atmosphere, mixing contemporary music and an effective score from Howard Shore.
"Seven" is indeed a quality thriller but I would hesitate to rank it alongside the likes of "The Silence of the Lambs". Thus, I think that the current IMDb ranking (#32) is unreasonably high but I do recommend the film.