A great crime thriller.

Rating: 9/10 (7 June 2004)

SE7EN is the story of two detectives working on their first (and last) murder case together. Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman) is about to retire and seems to be a bit show-offish around his partner Detective Mills (Brad Pitt), who continues to try to prove that he is a competent detective, despite Somerset's uncertainty. But the two are forced to put their differences aside when a suspicious and intriguing new case comes up. The murderer kills a variety of different people and writes the name of the sin he feels they have committed on the wall of the murder site in whatever substance he happens to find at the time. For example, he writes GREED in blood, GLUTTONY in grease, etc.
SE7EN is mostly just your run-of-the-mill murder mystery story, a genre which I've never really been into. However, this movie is also different in a couple of ways. The story, for one, I find to be incredibly clever. The murderer's plan is highly original and almost makes sense, in an insane sort of way. Every move the murderer, John Doe (Kevin Spacey), makes is just another step in his plan, and all lead up to the ending--which, I have to say, is absolutely brilliant.
I think what sets SE7EN apart from most murder mystery movies is that it requires you to think a bit more. Instead of simply showing the exciting parts of a detective's job, such as the chase scenes (and this movie has just one, but a particularly good one), it shows the long, tedious process of finding clues and investigating. I think this element brings the viewer deeper into the lives of all of the characters and instills more feelings and care for said characters. And though the murderer's plan is made clear, there are still a few foggy aspects that are required by that noggin to sort out.
As for technical aspects, everything works. Morgan Freeman is a great actor, and despite what some reviewers think, I have to say Brad Pitt is too. Both do well in this movie, as does Kevin Spacey as the "deranged murderer freak." The script is great, if a little watered down by some cliches, and the direction is excellent. No complaints.
To be honest, I wasn't truly impressed with SE7EN until the ending. It was a little cliched, a little boring, and a little tedious. But I think that's the idea--that contrast makes the ending that much more shocking and therefore more brilliant. The most perfect ending to a great crime thriller. 8.5/10.