Will Smith Finds 'Happyness' with 'Seven Pounds'
Filed under: Drama, Casting, Newsstand
Say what you want about The Pursuit of Happyness, but it wasn't a bad movie. Gabriele Muccino's direction was pedestrian at best, yet the movie worked because of Will Smith's Oscar-nominated performance. And little Jaden Smith (real-life son of Will) is possibly the most adorable child actor in years. The movie wasn't quite as good as its promise of being Frank Capra's Kramer vs. Kramer, but it was entertaining -- and for a serious drama it really killed at the box office. Smith may be hoping for his third Academy Award nomination in 2009, as well as his billionth hit, because he's re-teaming with Muccino for a new pic titled Seven Pounds. It will star Smith as a man who finds love while attempting suicide, so it will probably be another BYOK (bring your own Kleenex) film. Aside from Muccino, Happyness' producers, Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, James Lassiter and Steve Tisch, are also on board (Smith is also a producer). However, the script is from somebody not associated with the previous film; it was written by sitcom writer Grant Nieporte (8 Simple Rules ... for Dating My Daughter).Hopefully they can find a role for Jaden, but if not this should be about as good as Happyness. And like I said, it may be Smith's next chance for Oscar. It seems that lately he's becoming the Spielberg of actors, doing an action blockbuster here and a serious, well-acted drama there. Of course, he does the occasional comedy, too, even though his action pics are funny enough on their own. The pattern is working out well for the guy. His follow-up to last winter's Happyness is the apocalyptic action-horror pic I Am Legend, which arrives this December, and then he's got a super-hero movie called Hancock, which bows next year in Smith's typical 4th of July weekend slot. Hancock, which was originally going to be helmed by Muccino, also deals with a guy who is down on his luck, but for a summertime pic, it couldn't possibly be as heart-wrenching as Seven Pounds will likely be. Right? Seven Pounds is set to begin filming in February and is expected for a late 2008 release.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-30-2009 @ 12:44PM
dcharles said...
i think will smith was great in the pursuit of happyness. he and his son did a great job. i especially loved the scene where they were in the homeless shelter and he is tucking the child in and the little boy says"your a good papa" i think that was a good line because of what they were facing and his son knew his dad was doing all he could to take care of them.. however the movie "seven pounds" is the BEST movie will smith has ever done. he is beautiful , he's loving, he's lovely, he's sensitive, he's caring, he's heartbroken, he's all of those things and more. he is a great actor and i never knew he could play a part like this. he and rosario dawson make their relationship seem so real.. i love the scene when he tells her that he has to go because his brother is waiting for him outside and he tells her he has has a long drive and he does not want to keep lying to her..she goes over to him and begins to kiss him gently on his face and she kisses his cheeks and his lips and puts her hands on his eyes and a tear rolls down his cheek because his eyes were already filled with tears. he cries throughout the movie but this is the most tender moment in the film to me. he is just so vulnerable and she just goes to him and loves him and he responds to her love. i hope this is a new path for him because he has never done a love scene in a movie that i know of, but he should do them all the time. i can recommend this film to anyone who loves a tender love story and to anyone who loves will smith. the movie is great, just give it a chance and watch it all the way through and you will not be sorry. will smith is seen in a whole new light and he could not have chosen a better movie to display this side of his acting ability. Seven Pounds , it is an extraordinary movie and a lovely piece of cinema.
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9-07-2007 @ 11:18AM
YouFaceTheTick said...
No Pursuit of Happyness wasn't bad - it was by-the-numbers and common. Basically, it was warm vanilla ice cream.
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