SEVEN

There are, according to scripture, a total of seven deadly sins: Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Pride, Envy, Wrath, and, of course, Sloth. Personally, I won't argue with the first six, but as any man with a remote control will tell you, Sloth might be debatable. In any event, according to screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker, there is more jeopardy than one can possibly imagine in big-city America. To prove his point he introduces us to a meticulous serial killer known simply as John Doe.

Kevin Spacey is terrific as Mr. Doe; his probing performance is even more penetrating than that of the Parish Priest assigned to the Vienna Boys Choir. And director David Fincher wastes no time in delivering the first shocking murder on Monday—for Gluttony. If you can stomach this highly disturbing crime scene and its gargantuan victim, then the Ragu and the Chef-Boy-Ardee might remain stocked in your pantry. For the squeamish, however, it's probably best to spend the next 100 minutes or so elsewhere. Mr. Doe's wrath doesn't diminish, and the next victims suffer more indignities and depravation than even the 109th United States Congress can muster.

Greed is the theme for Tuesday's murder and I suggest that possibly even Kenneth Lay doesn't deserve what's coming. Nah, I take that back…he does deserve it and in spades. Anyway, it becomes readily apparent to Chief Detective Somerset (the reliable Morgan Freeman in yet another beautifully understated, effective role) that not only are these two gruesome killings linked to one another, there will be more to come. With only a few days before retirement (you know, I'm beginning to think that if police officers never retired the nation's crime rate would drop to just about zero), Somerset wants no part of this investigation. Nor does Detective Mills, the rookie assigned to be his partner.

Mills is played by Brad Pitt in one of his earthiest portrayals to date. And whereas Somerset is thorough and precise in all aspects of his life, Mills resorts to Cliff's Notes and hot-headed outbursts as the murders continue and the clues become more exasperating. When it comes down to only two sins left, Mr. Doe turns himself in, and the battle between good and evil becomes very personal.

Production Designer Arthur Max deserves a special citation for creating numerous unappealing and dreary designs for the picture, much like what you will find parked in the showroom of your local GM dealer. Cinematography, sound, editing and all other disciplines involved in crafting a top notch Hollywood film are spot on as well.

Comparisons are inevitable, and films like NATURAL BORN KILLERS, RESERVOIR DOGS and PULP FICTION are other examples of blatantly violent, highly commercial films that not only do well at the box office, but serve as a reminder that while we may be one of the richest countries in the world, we are also one of the most violent. Evil resides not in the stars, but in ourselves and in our environment.

An aside. If SEVEN is simply too savage for your palate, allow me to recommend that you find a copy of THEATER OF BLOOD. This 1973 horror-comedy stars none other than Vincent Price as a scorned Shakespearean actor who seeks revenge on a number of critics. Each outlandish murder is based in some way on a scene from a Shakespeare play, and the deliciously morbid “dinner” scene with the corpulent Robert Morley as the intended victim is devilish fun without resorting to graphic excess. An added bonus is the presence of the exquisite Diana Rigg in the female lead. One can do no better.