Seven horrible ways to die!

Rating: 10/10 (26 October 2001)

Directed by: David Fincher. Written by: Andrew Kevin Walker. Starring: Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman. Co-Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey.
Favorite line: I've been trying to figure something in my head, and maybe you can help me out, yeah? When a person is insane, as you clearly are, do you know that you're insane? Maybe you're just sitting around, reading "Guns and Ammo", masturbating in your own feces, do you just stop and go, "Wow! It is amazing how f**king crazy I really am!"? Yeah. Do you guys do that?
*******WARNING: Possible spoilers ahead*******
One of the best mindf***s ever penned for the big screen, Se7en wouldn't have made my list if it hadn't been for the DVD (which was a better print quality than the original in theatres). The cut scenes on the DVD add to the whole aura of this film, and for me, make it that much better. I find the whole concept fascinating to conceive and somewhat disturbing to receive. Of course the film is based on the seven deadly sins and while it's completely religious in nature, Fincher seemed to focus more on the crimes than their religious implications. This is a very perverse and dark film, but that's what makes it great.
Plot/Story: This is one of those great stories that has one of the best endings in Hollywood history. The plot twists kept coming and coming that by the time the end hit you were so spun around that it was a compete shock to see it. What's even more impressive are the two alternate endings were almost as good as the one Fincher went with (one was actually filmed, the other was only on stills). The story itself revolves around a retiring detective and his up and coming replacement as they push each others buttons while trying to solve the most disturbing case either of them has ever been involved in. The villain (Kevin Spacey) meanwhile, has been planning to carry out his psychotic rage for well over a year and in the course of week has set a whole new standard in serial killing. This is an excellent, well thought-out script that deserved more awards and nominations than it got.
Acting: Freeman and Pitt are two of my favorite actors and they eat up the screen with two very believable characters. Paltrow does an okay job, a lot of people say she was excellent, but there's only so much you can do as a supporting cast, pregnant wife ya know? Spacey on the other hand takes his cake and eats it too. I hadn't seen Se7en since it came out until I got the DVD and the thing I remembered most about the movie was that the bad guy was great. When I watched the DVD and saw Spacey I nearly crapped my pants! I was shocked I couldn't remember his face, but stunned that I had such a vivid memory of the character. Some his best work was done on this film also.
Characters: The characters themselves are not as amazing as the people playing them, you can't relate to any of them and they all seem so complicated you wish the movie were longer just so you could figure them out. Of course if the movie were any longer it would have really dragged in a number of places.
Effects/Setting: The setting is typical for the mood. Everything is dark and gloomy, it rains all the time, the people are brooding and at times you almost understand why John Doe has went nuts and felt he needed to commit his crimes. The deadly 'sins' are what make it impressive, from gluttony to the full uncut vanity (cut so terribly short in the theatres), the stuff John Doe has done to these people is full of cringe factor.
Score/Soundtrack: Like the setting the music is just as moody and black. Perfect fit for a film like this.
Se7en usually makes everyone's Top 10, but not mine. It's a great movie, but the ending alone can't save it all. The pacing at certain times really bores me, and I know I can't be the only one. The brooding nature of the film is actually a part of the experience; Fincher makes it hard to relate to the characters for the art of it (I think). This is one of the best thrillers ever made, bar none. Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt prove why they are two of Hollywood's most sought after commodities and still it serves as a stepping-stone for Kevin Spacey and Gwyneth Paltrow. One thing, though, don't watch this film if you're in a bad mood, you might find yourself committing seven deadly sins. Yes, I went there.