quite simply the greatest thriller EVER, if you've got the stomach for it

Rating: 10/10 (14 September 2001)

Thrillers are my favorite type of movies, and this is my favorite thriller, so basically this is more or less my favorite movie of all-time!!!! Brad Pitt has become an awesome actor, not content to rest on his prettyboy image, and you just can't go wrong with Morgan Freeman. To top it off, you have Gwyneth Paltrow posing as Pitt's wife, and a cameo by one of my favorite actors, who I sadly cannot reveal. Se7en is the story of two detectives (Pitt & Freeman), trying to catch a patient and determined killer. John Doe (played by someone whom I cannot name), bases his murders upon the writings of Dante and his idea of seven deadly sins; gluttony, greed, pride, sloth, lust, envy and wrath. The detectives must catch Doe before he completes the 7 murders and disappears from the public eye. What can be said about this movie, other than "SEE IT"? It is dark, it doesn't pull any punches and unlike most movies it stays true to itself right through to the end credits. Many movies for box-office success will sugar-coat their endings at the expense of the story. That is not the case here. Here, they go the whole nine yards and it pays off in every way. Pitt and Freeman are great opposite one another. While Pitt is youthful and energetic, throwing caution to the wind, Freeman is experienced, calculated and thoughtful with each move. They have a strong screen chemistry that only heightens the payoff in the final scene. Gwyneth Paltrow, while not carrying a lot of screen time, rings true in each scene she appears in. She is not only beautiful, but has a presence that is very strong opposite greats like Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman. Se7en has set a new standard for movie thrillers. It is not filled with camera tricks or long chase scenes down dark alleys (although there is one. It relies upon an intelligent story and fantastic performances. It is a classic for fans of this genre for all-time.