Date: Fri 15-Dec-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Illustration: C

Quick Words:

Playing-Seven-Pitt-Freeman

Full Text:

(rev "Seven," Now Playing, 12/15/95)

Now Playing-

"Seven" May Take Your Breath Away

By Trey Paul Alexander III

Often you can tell how engrossed you are in a film when you find yourself

leaning ever more forward in your chair during the course of the movie's

unraveling. Eyes peeled, staring intently at the big screen, moviegoers can

get lost in a fictional world when a well-executed motion picture grabs a hold

of their attention.

Every once in a while comes a motion picture like Seven , which is now playing

at the Crown Cinema in Danbury. (Note: At press time, there was a slight

chance the film may not remain at the venue, so check your listings.) The more

you become involved in its story, the greater the chance you will actually be

shrinking back in your seat, eyes often averted from events taking place

on-screen.

Granted, this sounds like the reaction one usually reserves for despicable

flicks, the kind that send the timid running for the exits, repulsed. Well, in

many ways, that is a true description of Seven ... it can be downright

upsetting. Yet those with strong enough stomachs to endure it will find, as

they cower in the darkened theatre, that it is not a horrible, but horrifying

entry, and more than just a run-of-the-mill scare show.

The film's title refers to the MO of the villain, a sadistic psychopath who is

murdering his victims in accordance with the seven deadly sins. For example,

he gets his sick streak started off by killing an obese man, forcing him to

stuff himself to death as an illustration of gluttony. It is a grisly

beginning to a ghastly string of murders. Believe me, when our heroes come

upon each crime scene, it is not a pretty sight.

Said heroes are two homicide detectives, Somerset (Morgan Freeman) and Mills

(Brad Pitt), the prototypical teaming of the old master and the young

whippersnapper. Somerset is the crafty veteran, the offbeat sage of the police

force with a penchant for asking unusual questions during his quest for the

truth. Mills is the talented but overzealous, married newcomer who is anxious

to make his mark in the big city.

Somerset is seven days away from retirement when this case hits his desk (thus

another reason for the film's title: it covers a seven-day period). Weary from

his countless years on the force in an oppressively bleak, rotting wasteland

of a city, Somerset initially wants nothing to do with this one. But his cop

instincts take over and he is soon pouring over the clues, entrenched in

helping Mills, a recent out-of-town transfer to the department, find the

killer before the cycle of seven slaughters is completed.

Early in their investigation, when Somerset declares in dread manner to Mills,

"This isn't going to have a happy ending," moviegoers should take serious heed

of that warning. One might automatically assume that any films dealing with a

disturbed (are there any other kind?) serial killer is not going to be high in

the laughter quotient, but the powerfully morose mood of Seven is still rather

unsettling.

Credit goes to the two leads - Freeman continues to nail his roles in each

outing, and Pitt is much better here than in Legends of the Fall or Interview

With The Vampire - but much notice should be given to director David Fincher,

whose neo-noirish Seven captures the overwhelmingly gloomy tones of Blade

Runner , which itself was a neo-noir masquerading as a science-fiction

offering. This is one of those films where you hate having to see what is

around the next corner, but also are compelled to witness what lies ahead.

Seven , which is rated R for its gruesome subject matter and graphic

depictions of murder victims, is definitely not for everyone. Caution should

be exercised before grabbing a big bucket of popcorn to take in this flick.