By Lloyd Bayer
Not thirty minutes into the movie and I heard myself asking “why doesn’t someone give this man an Oscar?” We all know Will Smith can do action and comedy, but of late Smith seems to be virtually under the skin of real life characters he has portrayed. Having received Oscar nominations for his portrayal of real life legends like life Muhammad Ali and lately Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness, its only a matter of time before he walks out the Kodak theatre with a golden figurine in his hands.
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Will SMith as Ben Thomas
All images copyright © 2008 Columbia Pictures
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In this film, he plays Ben Thomas, a mysterious IRS agent with a dark past. Although a fictional story, the way it plays out does appear quite surreal. Everyone hates the tax collector, right from the days of the Bible to present day recession, but Ben Thomas sets about a chain of events that would alter the lives of seven random strangers; from a blind musician (Woody Harrelson) to a woman with terminal heart disease. Emily Posa, played by the lovely Rosario Dawson, has unpaid tax running well into the thousands, but this is the least of her problems when given just weeks to live due to a weak heart, complicated by an even rare blood type. Initially the bearer of financially bad news, Ben slowly gets emotionally attached to Emily wanting to help her in any way possible. The protagonists eventually become romantically involved in a relationship apparently doomed from the moment their eyes meet.
While the plot pans out rather slowly in the first half, the script is well written from beginning to end. Don’t be confused by Ben’s tormenting flash backs, and odd behavior. Who is Ben Thomas? Where did he come from? What happened in his past? What is his mission now? These are some questions the viewer will ask right till the end. For when the astounding answers do come, be prepared to be hit by a wave of uncontrollable grief. The passion exhibited by Smith is mirrored only by the reaction of the audience, and I must say, there were quite a few teary eyes at the end. Have you ever seen Will Smith depict emotions of anger, guilt, love, fear, pain and sorrow all in one movie? Once again, someone please give this man an Oscar, not forgetting director Gabriele Muccino who also gave us the feel good Pursuit of Happyness.
Those with a soft heart will comprehend the very powerful message soon after the tears dry up. In this world where everyone wants a large slice of the pie, or at least take what they can get; there are individuals walking among us whose sole purpose is to just give whole-heartedly. Pun unintended.
Lloyd Bayer
Comments
Pure Daw Says:
Oct 6, 2009 at 10:46
Best Movie I have ever seen bar-none. Will Smith is brilliant once again and the complinment characters (Rosario Dawson and Woody Harrelson) only add the greatness of this film. A masterpiece to say the least. |
