Look Closer.

Rating: 8/10 (5 September 2017)

This is a movie that should be seen to the very end. Were it not for the hype and reputation that Se7en has gathered since its release 22 years ago, I might have been inclined to stop at a couple points, but I could tell it was leading *somewhere* and, without giving spoilers, the destination is worth the wait.
I won't dwell on the premise much because its been touched upon a lot by other people, and I don't find it to be one of the more intriguing aspects of the story. John Doe is interesting because of the odd humanity that he has. A lot of mentally disturbed characters like the Joker or Hannibal Lecter are portrayed as just totally out-there and nuts, and I guess you could argue that the same goes for John Doe. But there's something about him that makes him more relatable. He didn't feel like someone who you would automatically label as dangerous if you knew him from work or school. He seems to have infected himself with the evil around him, or something like that.
While I was watching the movie I wasn't that invested in the two detectives, but now looking back at it I can see that there is some good depth to both of them. Mills isn't that likable, which surprised me since Brad Pitt usually plays more easygoing and charming characters. But he is driven and wants to make a positive impact in his job as a cop, which I didn't see at first. Somerset's backstory is exposed a lot to show us that he's a tired man who has seen a lot and is on the verge of losing hope.
My favorite scene is the one at the bar shortly before John Doe turns himself in, because this is where all of the movie's main themes are brought forward. It's easy to lose sight of the themes amid all of the mystery and grisly murders, but the bar scene brings up two very important things. First is when Somerset says that John Doe is "just a man". No matter how nuts he might be, he is a human being, and however sinful the people he killed might have been, they were as human as you or me. Secondly, the two detectives discuss how dangerous apathy can be. The movie as a whole seems to be suggesting that people are apathetic because it is the easy way out, and this is why John Doe has to "hit them with a sledge hammer" to get their attention.
Having seen much of Fincher's later work, I was a bit let down by his visual tone and camera work here. Not that it was bad, it just wasn't his best, but it was also his first real movie (Alien 3 is not a true Fincher work). The script wasn't immediately impressive, but in retrospect, it was actually pretty good with creating the characters and crafting their dialogue. The pacing could have been a little better, but on the whole I must applaud Andrew Walker on his work here. The performances from our three main roles were also solid. Again, not flashy, but servicing the movie well and giving good life to the characters.
The ending was definitely dramatically satisfying. Not one of the more shocking twists that I've seen, but it turned the tables pretty nicely and fit perfectly with the theme. Which brings me back to my point from the beginning: that this movie should be seen all the way through. The only reason to turn it off is if you can't stomach the gruesome visuals and overall tone. I like dark movies, but I know not everyone does. So if you haven't seen Se7en and don't think you want to, just watch the bar scene. Overall Rating: 8.3/10.