Seven - Creating Atmosphere 

Se7en is a masterpiece in psychological thillers

Fincher has always been one of my favorites. He creates atmospheres unlike any other director can. It feels like he's very meticulous in his directing to the point where you can get a feeling or an entirely different perspective from a camera shot alone. This film is definitely one of my favorites and a film I'll have to watch again sometime soon.

6:30 "...no matter how close they are, he will always be ahead." So will Gwyneth Paltrow!

I still count Alien 3 as the most atmospheric of Fincher's movies. It's bleak, nihilistic and beautiful, and I wish it was more appreciated.

Awesome movie - and a great dissection as always! This has already the typical "Fincher look", which he now creates in digital post with ultra fine control. At the time (besides meticulously planned set design, lighting and camera work, as you mention) it was all done photochemically to get that fine shadow detail and deep black "chinese ink" look. For all the fellow geeks: it was done with pre-flashing the film stock (raising the dark areas only), then 'silver halide retaining' on the intermediate positive (to close down the blacks completely). Not the first time this was done, but Fincher had it done perfectly to create his signature look. Thanks for another great film dissection! [Edit]: Credit for this highly atmospheric look of course goes to legendary DP Darius Khondji who worked again with Fincher on "Panic Room".

Excellent dissection. I love how you pick up on things like colour palette and lighting in a way that most of us don't.

Se7en is one of the greatest films ever made. He created a fantastic atmosphere in the film and it just is spectacular to look at what he created. I just love this film and I think it’s David Fincher’s best film in total.

The quote at the end, seriously one of the most powerful quotes I have ever heard. I had intense goosebumps when I first heard it

I have always loved the "detective hunting a psychopathic killer" film genre...there's something about going after the "monsters disguised as men" that reflects the nature and psychological cost of the ever ongoing battle of good and evil, but Seven actually did something that many of these thrillers hint at but don't fully commit too...the notion of how this battle can destroy people (good and bad) as well as run them down with how endless it is... John Doe is one of many killers whose goal is to gain an immortality through evil, harnessing evil acts to be their message...they see themselves as heroes in a corrupt and sinful world, even though their actions often contain the same elements they despise... ironically they destroy themselves by their acts of self justified rebellion. John Doe could have found another way to handle the world he hated, but he cannot be a "normal" person becasue he too is corrupt...he can't play family man becasue even as he spouts moral justification for his actions, he is a corrupted being which is why he engineers his own death...his punishment.... Brad pitt's character is also destroyed by Doe, pushed into insanity by evil's envy... and Morgan Freeman's character at the end is run down by the whole affair as the idea of hope and the idea of winning the battle of good vs evil is not a sure thing...

I'm writing a script similar to Seven and this was very helpful, thanks alot

I tell my friends that, that Hemingway quote -- and how Somerset responds to it -- that's the whole film right there.

It's a pleasure to have discovered your channel - already looked at a bunch of your videos. The editing and the audio quality improves with each new upload. But if I may make a suggestion... Please consider working in more moments of silence and reflection in your audio commentary. To let your message get across. No one is chasing you - we're sitting down, listening and learning. Nerdwriter and Lessons from the Screenplay have mastered this with their videos. Thanks and keep up the good work!

Seven and everything before and after, is timeless and brilliant filmmaking. Fincher is a master film maker and I wish he would direct more films instead of producing. His fans are hungry to see another fantastic film from him. He's taken the back seat by producing. I wish to see him direct again and again. The folks that love his films deserve to see him deliver another astonishing film through his eyes! Don't leave us wanting! PLEASE direct more films! You're a brilliant Director!

Keep doing this great job!!, the best channel of movie reviews for sure. Your reviews are amazing especially the review of Shame.

The one thing I really like about your analysis of films is that not only are you informative, but inspirational to anyone serious about getting into film making. Thanks again.

One of Fincher’s best films, in discussion for the best...

nice editing and graphic work, among other things. good video

Great analysis. As always. One thing that appeared noteworthy to me is that - as you described - the city, the case, John Doe changes Mills - turns him from a person with a positive attitude towards live and the world to a person that acts out its dark side, instincts or emotions - but the events as well as the interaction with Mills and his wife also change Somersets attitude - they make him care again about the world. In the beginning Somerset sees the world as a hopeless place - slightly similar to the way Doe might sees it, even though Somersets acts that develop from this attitude are of course way different. While the movie goes on there are several scene that indicate that Somerset does not encounter the events with the disillusioned attitude he is used to apply. One example might be the scene in which he smashes the metronome - which has kept him distracted from thoughts and strong emotions (i.e. kept him from caring) - and starts throwing his knife at the bullseye - which is a way of acting out his emotions. (Before hand Somerset had disciplined Mills about acting at his emotions in the encounter with the reporter/ John Doe. But in contrast to Somerset, Mills who acts out his emotions - i.e. cares - at this stage can still lay down next to his wife and fall a sleep). There are also positive events that show how Somerset begins to care again, like the diner with Mills and his wife and the knowing about their chance for a fulfilled life. Finally the last quote from Hemingway, to which Somerset adds "I agree with the second part", and the statement that he "will be around" - in other word will not retire or at least not turn his back on the city - appears to me as an important indicator that the events - how horrible they indeed have been - changed Somersets attitude in a positive way. He know cares about the world and is willing to fight for it. To Jack: Thanks for the weekly dissections. It always adds something new to my perception of the movies and made me watch movies in general with a different focus and perspective. Keep up the great work!

Nice choice in Nine Inch Nails songs for the background music!

I find this to be Fincher's masterpiece. I love all of his movies which includes Alien 3.

Subscribed! I have a deep love for this film. I strongly believe, that despite everything... The darkness, the horror in this film, it's still a film about courage and optimism. It says that we shouldn't be apathetic and cynical, the world needs us to fight for good and believe in it, no matter how dark it gets.

Three for three. Wonderfully done.

Its those little details like @1:25 that sets you apart from the others

Finchers are great, long after you don't give a crap about the characters, the dialogue or the plot anymore you can still enjoy them for the meticulous camera work and atmosphere

Their was tons of atmosphere in this movie!!!!

Subscribed. Great breakdown!

Great work man, keep it up!

Se7en gets better on every viewing, and is honestly in my top 10. It's a fantastic movie

Best choice for mindhunter

I love this analysis. One thing I want to point out however: John Doe's crimes _are_ remembered. They are puzzled over and studied ... forever

I love this channel!

Yeees! The sight of Black Swan at the end made me quite happy, I'm looking forward to hear what you think.

great work again man another movie in which the climate of the movie was used to set and build up the suspense was Prisoners 2013 it was as if despite how happy people are something is always going to go wrong...

'Great video man! Can you do Irreversible from Gaspar Noe ?

Interesting about the film's location, i had always pictured it as taking place in NYC, but with the film's final location, it would make more sense that it was more likely LA.

my favorite movie of all time :D

1:21 I see what you did there ;)

At first glance I thought this was Dexter! xD That'd would be so cool...Darkly Dreaming Dexter...!!!

Ernest Hemingway died of suicide by the way. That should put somethings into perspective.

Fincher really put his worldview on the screen with Se7en.

Not sure if you are still checking on this Review but I just thought I would comment. That was a great Review of the movie ,but you did not mention one of the most important parts of the movie. The fact that the Killer kept hundreds of journals of his exploits written in tiny print. That was definitely the work of a Mad Man , a sadistic Mad Man. It was too bad they did not check out his seedy apartment sooner they might have prevented a few Murders if they did. Thanks

Detectiiiiive!

This movie was set in Gotham City. Somerset is the twin brother of Lucius Fox. Now watch it again.

There's always something that is bugging me about that shot in the thumbnail (I think it's the gun flashes)

There's also a lot of olive drab greens and piss-stain yellows in the film's color palette depending on which version of the film you own (it's really muted and toned-down in the newer Blu-ray releases, which makes me kinda sad because it really added to the film's grittiness) -- you wouldn't think the inclusions of colors like that would work well when placed with the greys/blues (without turning into a murky turquoise), but it surprisingly does at it feels natural and real instead of Matrix-like, whoever was in charge of the color-grading in this film must've been a master at it.

So was Mills arrested in the end? I don't get that

What was in the box?

I don't know if you're a gamer Jack, but I believe Max Payne was inspired by this movie quite a bit, and Brad Pitt's character specifically

What will be your next video?

Why do I feel this takes place in Gotham city

WARNING: This video is NOT intended to glamorize Kevin Spacey. He and his actions are absolutely horrendous and should be looked down upon with the utmost disgust by every sensible human being.

I enjoyed Seven but I felt that fincher's Zodiac was far more thrilling, dark and superior.

:D

I honestly didn't understand why this film is so hyped.

I don't know how to feel about this film. I love it, but won't watch it again for a good 10 years

I really like this film, but sometimes I feel the soundtrack takes away from the action. It just slams at you, attacks you, it could be more subtle and would still work. Even when Freeman's character is throwing darts, there's music. It could have been a more poignant moment if we could just hear him throwing darts and not the music.

to him, he didnt leave the world a worse place. he believed he was punishing sinners on behalf of god and so was purifying it in fire. making the detective kill him was his mark on the world believing he made someone else like him and do what he was doing. he changed one person and got them to participate in his game.. to take up his work.. whats weird is that his wife wasnt one of the sinners. he killed her and made himself one of the sinners just to further insult the detective like he was berating him in the car about how superior he is. in the end none of what he was doing was about being good or godly. it was all a satanic commentary on catholocism and christian history.. he acted like he was killing for god based on christian values but what he was really doing was mocking them..

they actually had him he got lucky and got away people have to have fairy tales to spice up existence religion being more harmful than most nicely done you sound a little smug for me but no doubting your critical effort

"Se7en" is almost a perfect movie. The only thing that always bothers me is the line from Somerset: "John Doe has the upper hand! John Doe has the upper hand!" It seems out of character, almost like an inserted narration for a dumb audience.

Too bad Kevin Spacey ended up being such a pervert in real life.

Saw it when it came out, and very sorry, but found it a bore. Generally speaking, I find the serial killer genre a bore, and consider it an inferior class of crime stories as it requires less imagination than say Maigret or even Miss Marple. There are so many films now of serial killers, it's just too tedious. Predictably unpredictable, yawn; predictably shocking, yawn. Give me Jean-Pierre Melville any day.