What would you do if your actions crushed the lives of the people you loved and those of people you had never met? Would you dive into the bottom of a bottle or a bottle of pills? Would you give your life to God or let Satan call your shots? How would you react if the world you knew exploded into a living hell and the only one to blame was yourself? In Will Smith’s newest effort, we watch as a man struggles with this dilemma and how in the world he might make amends. Penned by first-time screenwriter Grant Nieporte, Seven Pounds is an intense drama of atonement that unexpectedly drifts into a touching love story.

Smith plays a man haunted by his past, who borrows the identity of his Internal Revenue Service-agent brother Ben Thomas, and, using the virtually unlimited access the badge affords him, seeks to find certain people upon whom he might bestow the gift of life. In this way, he believes he might be able to right the wrong he has committed. This path had occurred to Thomas when his brother required a lung transplant shortly after the earth-shattering event, and as we join his journey in progress, we meet the people whose lives will be transformed.

This brief summary does not do justice to the subtle and complex story line of Seven Pounds. Director Gabriele Muccino plays his cards close to his vest, and guides Smith to release only bits and pieces of the puzzle deftly over time. The story that was just covered in two paragraphs unfolds slowly at first and then builds to a heartbreaking crescendo in just a shade over two hours. It is this patient and touching pace that allows Smith to fully inhabit the character of Ben Thomas. Not surprising since the last pairing of these two produced a Best Actor nomination for Smith in 2006’s The Pursuit of Happyness.

The bonus for us comes in the personages of Rosario Dawson and Woody Harrelson. Taking Harrelson first, I must doff my cap to an actor whom I usually disdain. Since his days on the television show Cheers, Harrelson seems to have had a charmed career based on a clear lack of talent. This is not the case in Seven Pounds. Playing the role of a blind, vegetarian, beef-merchant customer-service rep (take a second to digest all of that), he brings a tender, artful portrayal to his character. He will receive Thomas’ eyes.

Then we have Ms. Dawson. Sultry and sensuous, Rosario is always alluring and engaging! What we find in this movie is that as well as capturing Thomas’ attention (she is in need of a transplant), she also manages to capture his broken heart. In a bittersweet turn of the screw, she does the same for the audience. Again I credit Muccino for the sweep and sway of emotion.

So again, I pose the question: How far would you go to atone for your sins? This question is asked and answered by an ensemble of wonderful artists, from Smith to Muccino to newcomer Nieporte, with Dawson and Harrelson for good measure.

Seven Pounds is not your typical feel-good movie, but it is refreshing to see such a respectful treatment of a weighty subject. I came away feeling better for having seen it, and I’m certain you will too!

Seven Pounds is now available on DVD and Blu-ray Disc.

— In addition to being a great movie reviewer, Michael O’Brien Sr. owns and operates a DeLand-based catering service, Michael’s Gourmet to Go. E-mail him at movieman@beacononlinenews.com.