Seven Pounds

Tim Thomas had it all... he had the job (aerospace engineer), the wife and the perfect beach house of a castle. One small phone call later and not only has he ended the lives of seven innocent people, but he has also ruined that which he had built for himself.

Setting out on the path to redemption, Tim (Smith) seeks out those worthy of receiving the help that he intends to give. He hopes to change seven lives for the better, atoning for his sins and going some way to allowing himself forgiveness for what he has done.

However, the journey is far from simple. Tim assumes his brother's identity in order to utilise IRS records and forms his list of seven beneficiaries. However, in spite of his best intentions, can Tim go through with the offers that he is making? Especially once he begins to build a special bond with young heart patient Emily (Dawson).

I have to confess that this isn't the sort of film that I would usually go for. The UK release was slightly muted and Smith didn't repeat his Christmas number one trick. The question is - why not?! This is a gem of a movie. It will moves you in ways that you'd forgotten possible by film, with Smith and Dawson providing perfect performances in this modern day Shakespearian romance that'll leave you feeling good.

Robert Gardner