For around a month now, my colleagues have been listing a bunch of different David Fincher films that they cannot believe I've never seen. Top of their suggestions was Seven (Se7en), a 1995 thriller that immediately cemented its slot in history upon its original release. With a cast led by Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman and Gwyneth Paltrow, I was determined to make it my first watch.
Set in a city that looks very much like New York, the movie focuses on veteran Detective William Somerset (Freeman), who's just a week away from moving into retirement; and young new addition to the team David Mills (Pitt), who's set to replace Somerset when he does leave the department. Mills has moved to the city with his wife Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow), and the pair share a love that has survived decades, having first met in high school.
Detective Somerset and Mills don't have the greatest working relationship when they're put on their first case together. The lack of respect they show for one another works against them, but Tracy's extension of an invitation to Mills for a late supper allows the pair to realise they have more in common than they would expect.
Thrown straight in at the deep end, Mills is assigned a case alongside Somerset that sees the pair investigate a series of grisly murders that they quickly discover are being shaped around the Seven Deadly Sins. As the killer (played by Kevin Spacey) plays cat-and-mouse with the two, audiences do their best to figure out if there's a motive behind the slayings.
There's a level of sophistication to this thriller that isn't often seen within the genre. Every moment is slick and there's no attempt by Fincher to lure us into a trap and make us look stupid. We discover clues and the like with Somerset and Mills, thus becoming an integral part of their investigation.
It's hard to laud Spacey with the praise he so clearly deserves for his performance here with the allegations he's currently facing, but if you can put that aside for a moment, this is a masterclass in playing somebody utterly unhinged. He's spooky and dead behind the eyes from the moment we meet him, and it's difficult to imagine anyone else being this good in the role.
Pitt and Freeman bounce off each other with ease, their stunning chemistry leaving me wondering exactly why the pair haven't worked together more in Hollywood. Pitt's character Mills is more reactionary than Somerset, whose years in the job have left him cool as a cucumber and able to second guess those who oppose him before they even know their next move themselves.
Then there's Paltrow's character Tracy who could have easily suffered from becoming the typical 'wife' side character. Fortunately, the writing is good enough to ensure Paltrow is given an opportunity to shine and showcase her acting chops. Her scene with Freeman where she opens up about her concerns and worries being in this new world is one that'll stick with me for some time.
Se7en's most shocking moment comes in its last five minutes, however. That is one powerful piece of cinema, that I won't spoil here in case you like me have been living under a rock, and are yet to see the film.
Alongside the incredible performances is a stunning array of work from makeup artist Rob Bottin and photographer Darius Khondji, as well as a stirring and emotive script from Andrew Kevin Walker. It's pure class from start to finish, and never lets your attention wane. An utter triumph.
Tagged in David Fincher