Synopsis: Ben Thomas, an IRS agent with a fateful secret, embarks on an extraordinary journey of redemption by forever changing the lives of seven strangers.

Review: Seven Pounds may be the most spiritual picture of the holiday season; this story of redemption is a gift for moviegoers.

Story: Who knew that Will Smith could deliver the year’s most unexpected and profoundly moving love story? He plays Ben, a man with a deep, dark secret that leads him to help seven complete strangers, each with their own particular set of circumstances. Constructed like a jigsaw puzzle, we slowly get clues to the traumatic events that cause Ben to contact these people and change their lives in ways they never could have anticipated. What he doesn’t expect is to fall in love with one of them – Emily Posa (Rosario Dawson), a cardiac patient whose heart may be weak but is clearly strong enough to make a difference in the way Ben looks at things. It’s this relationship that becomes the center of Grant Nieporte’s compelling screenplay, but as it continues it’s obvious there is more to what Ben is doing, a mystery not revealed until the final moments and one you will not easily forget.

Acting: Will Smith is at his best. He may be the world’s No. 1 movie star at the moment, but he’s continually proving himself to be a brilliant actor as well. Reteaming with director Gabriele Muccino, who led him to a Best Actor Oscar nomination in The Pursuit of Happyness, Smith once again finds his dramatic mojo in the role of a man whose life has been shattered by something so profoundly affecting that he reaches out to strangers in an effort to redeem himself. You will be hard-pressed to find the loveable Will Smith persona anywhere within this character. Dawson also has a career best as the spunky and courageous Emily, a role that could have been sloppily sentimentalized and maudlin. She’s a revelation, delivering a flawless and luminous performance. And best among the various recipients of Ben’s kindness is Woody Harrelson as a blind man he encounters. Also quite good is Barry Pepper as Ben’s childhood friend, who is the only other person “in” on Ben’s master plan, helping him to achieve his goal. He rips your heart out when he gets the call from Ben, who says, “It’s time.”

Direction: Gabriele Muccino puts it all out there. He is an unapologetically emotional director and some will probably find fault with his style, but as the Italian filmmaker proved in Pursuit of Happyness he knows exactly what he’s doing and where he’s taking the story. He’s most successful here in building suspense and an air of mystery around Smith’s character and then bringing it all home in a whopper of a final act. Clearly, story, acting and gut-level feeling are the three things that drive Muccino, and his distinctive stamp and European approach is evident throughout. Most of all, he has given Smith and Dawson a real showcase, finding the meat of a story that’s one from the heart and good for the soul.

Bottom Line: Hollywood.com rated this film 3 1/2 stars.

Synopsis: An illiterate kid looks to become a contestant on the Hindi version of “Who Wants to be A Millionaire?” in order to re-establish contact with the girl he loves, who is an ardent fan of the show.

Review: In these tough economic times, let’s hear it for Slumdog Millionaire, a winner in every way. It’s the kind of rare and wonderful film that makes you feel like a million bucks.

Story: Based on the novel Q&A, this sharp adaptation tells the tale of a young man, Jamal Palik (Dev Patel), who becomes a contestant on the Indian version of the hit game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” and ends up being accused of cheating. As we see him beaten into admitting that he “knew” the answers, the film darts back and forth in time to show how he came to this place and exactly where the truth lies. We see how Jamal and his brother Salim (Madhur Mittal), joined by their female friend Latika (Freida Pinto), grow up in one of country’s worst slums, where they must resort to a spree of petty crimes in order to survive. Later, we catch up with them in their teens, as they conduct tours of the Taj Mahal and make up tall tales for the unsuspecting visitors. Out of desperation their crimes get more intense, as Latika gets herself into big trouble. By the time we get to Jamal’s appearance on the game show, it’s clear he has learned what really counts, as the tension-driven sequences have him answering questions at a furious pace by the dubious quizmaster (Anil Kapoor).

Acting: Using a cast of largely unknown actors, director Danny Boyle has created an ensemble that exudes freshness and vitality. Outstanding performances come from all the kids, who play the main characters of Jamal, Latika and Salim at three different ages. They are countered by the adults in the story, who also make the most of their juicy roles – particularly Indian superstar Anil Kapoor, playing the shady host of the game show. His scenes on set opposite Patel’s 18 year-old Jamal are riveting and suspenseful beyond any thriller. Both actors play a telekinetic cat-and-mouse game with complete believability. Patel is terrific, a real find, as is the gorgeous Freida Pinto, as the older Latika. Equally effective is Madhur Mittal, as the crime-bent older Salim. Irrfan Khan as the determined inspector has his own intense moments while interrogating Jamal. Serious-minded movies rarely get to show off such talented younger actors, but Slumdog is a virtually treasure trove in this regard.

Direction: Danny Boyle’s direction is vibrant, alive and pulsating with originality. This director has shown great aptitude for tackling all sorts of different genres from the dark, drug-filled Trainspotting to the light-hearted family fare Millions. He’s even done zombies with 28 Days Later. With Slumdog, the Brit tackles a completely foreign culture to his own and effortlessly engages us in the plight of these characters. The filmmaking is crisp and cutting-edge, with an array of colors and editing choices that put us smack into the center of the story. Cutting back and forth seamlessly between the game show tapings and the flashbacks, slowly filling in the answers to Jamal’s ultimate fate, Boyle has crafted a completely original movie-going experience. Ending it all on an upbeat note, there’s a great Bollywood-type pop number that ranks as the best musical sequence we’ve seen on film all year. You are guaranteed to leave the theater on a high.

Bottom Line: Hollywood.com rated this film 4 stars.