← Back to Reviews
in
1995: Se7en
1995 has and will be the hardest year to choose in this list. I have chosen David Fincher's Se7en as #1 pick, but it had some mighty competition. My main runner-up is Mel Gibson's compelling Braveheart, which is a well-directed feature. My other main runner-up is Toy Story, which I will be writing a paragraph about it and it's sequels in this post. My other runner-ups are Bryan Singer's fantastic The Usual Suspects, Michael Mann's extarordinary Heat, Ron Howard's brilliant Apollo 13, and lastly, Casino. Some consider it to be a lesser Scorsese, but I still like it and rank it higher than Gangs Of New York or The Aviator. Those are my runner-ups and now I'd like to say a few words The Toy Story films, my favourite trilogy of all time.
The Toy Story Trilogy is, really, the only trilogy to have three consistently good entries. Lord Of The Rings, The Godfather, The Terminator, & Star Wars Originals all have a weak moment, and even the Star Wars Prequels has two good chapters (The Phantom Menace & Revenge Of The Sith), but is let down by a wooden Attack Of The Clones. Toy Story is a brilliant feature, which opens up the trilogy and introduces you to it's main characters and their way of life; they're toys who came to life when their owners are away. They have a fun, routine life; until a new toy comes into their life. Buzz Lightyear, space ranger, is instantly popular with the other toys, except Woody, the ex-most popular toy in Andy's room. This complex feature, masquerading as a kid's movie, explores the themes of friendship, jealousy, envy and betrayal; and rather well too. And while I prefer the sequels, I can see why anyone could prefer it as the best of the trilogy. But in my opinion, the sequels are even better. Toy Story 2 delves into Woody's background, introduces new characters and looks into a new, emotional theme; when kids grow up and get tired of their toys. No matter for the characters while they're in Toy Story 2 mode, they still have one whole movie to worry about that. And eleven years later, it comes. Toy Story 3 is the best of the series. It addresses the fact that children do grow up and they do get tired of their toys. It also explores survival, old friendships, betrayal, and most harshly, goodbyes. The Toy Story Trilogy can evoke emotions like no other movie can and is the perfectexample of what film trilogies should aspire to. It has a brilliant opening, an exciting middle and a beautifully touching ending. What more could you want.
Anyway, on to Se7en.
Detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) is one week from retiring. But in this week, he must break in a newly transfered detective named David Mills (Brad Pitt) and solve a serial killer case. This serial killer is murdering his victims based on the seven sins;
Gluttony
Greed
Sloth
Envy
Wrath
Pride
Lust
Over this week, the victim list grows and so does Somerset's relationship with Mills and his wife Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow). Together, Somerset and Mills investigate and solve more clues until a shocking conclusion which will surprise and stimulate the viewer.
Se7en is it's director's work. Sure, the performances are solid and the screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker is terrific, but you really have to give Fincher the credit. He has created a nameless city plagued by crime and darkness that is downright scary and terryifying. The shaky camera movements during the scene Mills chases the killer is almost like you're in the movie running with him. Every scene is this film is notable, but the way Fincher films the ending is remarkable and brilliant. It is tense and horrorfying and extremely well-directed. The ending is far and away my favourite moment of this film.
However, this film would definitely not have happen without Andrew Kevin Walker's screenplay. There is perfect dialogue and well-written scenes and the deaths couldn't be more cretive and original. The characters are awesome, with Mills a young hothead and Somerset a seasoned, well-read and well-educated detective.
The performances in this film are solid. Morgan Freeman creates one of the best roles of his career as Somerset, as a man who doesn't want to be where he is, but is compelled to stay. Brad Pitt is one of my favourite actors and he creates yet another good performance as Mills. Mills' rage and hotheadedness is perfectly captured by Pitt's presence. Kevin Spacey is the standout in this film, and started his 90's streak. The performance I really have a problem with Gwyneth Paltrow's. She is ok as Tracy Mills, but never really engages with emotions that her character must evoke.
The Oscar-nominated editing is also good and the soundtrack is great, especially through the opening credits.
Is Se7en Fincher's best? You will find people that will support that statement, or you'll find people who won't. I don't think that this is Fincher's best, but it is a close runner up with his other notable '90's film.
1995 has and will be the hardest year to choose in this list. I have chosen David Fincher's Se7en as #1 pick, but it had some mighty competition. My main runner-up is Mel Gibson's compelling Braveheart, which is a well-directed feature. My other main runner-up is Toy Story, which I will be writing a paragraph about it and it's sequels in this post. My other runner-ups are Bryan Singer's fantastic The Usual Suspects, Michael Mann's extarordinary Heat, Ron Howard's brilliant Apollo 13, and lastly, Casino. Some consider it to be a lesser Scorsese, but I still like it and rank it higher than Gangs Of New York or The Aviator. Those are my runner-ups and now I'd like to say a few words The Toy Story films, my favourite trilogy of all time.
The Toy Story Trilogy is, really, the only trilogy to have three consistently good entries. Lord Of The Rings, The Godfather, The Terminator, & Star Wars Originals all have a weak moment, and even the Star Wars Prequels has two good chapters (The Phantom Menace & Revenge Of The Sith), but is let down by a wooden Attack Of The Clones. Toy Story is a brilliant feature, which opens up the trilogy and introduces you to it's main characters and their way of life; they're toys who came to life when their owners are away. They have a fun, routine life; until a new toy comes into their life. Buzz Lightyear, space ranger, is instantly popular with the other toys, except Woody, the ex-most popular toy in Andy's room. This complex feature, masquerading as a kid's movie, explores the themes of friendship, jealousy, envy and betrayal; and rather well too. And while I prefer the sequels, I can see why anyone could prefer it as the best of the trilogy. But in my opinion, the sequels are even better. Toy Story 2 delves into Woody's background, introduces new characters and looks into a new, emotional theme; when kids grow up and get tired of their toys. No matter for the characters while they're in Toy Story 2 mode, they still have one whole movie to worry about that. And eleven years later, it comes. Toy Story 3 is the best of the series. It addresses the fact that children do grow up and they do get tired of their toys. It also explores survival, old friendships, betrayal, and most harshly, goodbyes. The Toy Story Trilogy can evoke emotions like no other movie can and is the perfectexample of what film trilogies should aspire to. It has a brilliant opening, an exciting middle and a beautifully touching ending. What more could you want.
Anyway, on to Se7en.
Detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) is one week from retiring. But in this week, he must break in a newly transfered detective named David Mills (Brad Pitt) and solve a serial killer case. This serial killer is murdering his victims based on the seven sins;
Gluttony
Greed
Sloth
Envy
Wrath
Pride
Lust
Over this week, the victim list grows and so does Somerset's relationship with Mills and his wife Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow). Together, Somerset and Mills investigate and solve more clues until a shocking conclusion which will surprise and stimulate the viewer.
Se7en is it's director's work. Sure, the performances are solid and the screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker is terrific, but you really have to give Fincher the credit. He has created a nameless city plagued by crime and darkness that is downright scary and terryifying. The shaky camera movements during the scene Mills chases the killer is almost like you're in the movie running with him. Every scene is this film is notable, but the way Fincher films the ending is remarkable and brilliant. It is tense and horrorfying and extremely well-directed. The ending is far and away my favourite moment of this film.
However, this film would definitely not have happen without Andrew Kevin Walker's screenplay. There is perfect dialogue and well-written scenes and the deaths couldn't be more cretive and original. The characters are awesome, with Mills a young hothead and Somerset a seasoned, well-read and well-educated detective.
The performances in this film are solid. Morgan Freeman creates one of the best roles of his career as Somerset, as a man who doesn't want to be where he is, but is compelled to stay. Brad Pitt is one of my favourite actors and he creates yet another good performance as Mills. Mills' rage and hotheadedness is perfectly captured by Pitt's presence. Kevin Spacey is the standout in this film, and started his 90's streak. The performance I really have a problem with Gwyneth Paltrow's. She is ok as Tracy Mills, but never really engages with emotions that her character must evoke.
The Oscar-nominated editing is also good and the soundtrack is great, especially through the opening credits.
Is Se7en Fincher's best? You will find people that will support that statement, or you'll find people who won't. I don't think that this is Fincher's best, but it is a close runner up with his other notable '90's film.