I Am Legend (2007)

Great performances can come from just about anywhere, in any film. I Am Legend, I expect, didn't aspire to be much more than a mega-budget December release, eager to cash in on the crowds as many of them begin their holiday vacations. It has a so-so script that's big on set pieces but light on breadth, top notch effects (well, at least the deserted New York is top notch; some of the other effects don't fair so well), and a big name to headline it. And then Will Smith makes it magic. In the guise of a post-apocalyptic thriller, Smith's take on the day-to-day desolation and mania that comes along with longterm isolation is riveting, and for the most part it elevates this film from a generic seat-filler to a tightly-wound, often somber character piece. The film as a whole benefits from it, whether it's the exceptionally creepy darkness scenes or the quiet moments Smith shares with his dog. While in the final analysis, this movie lacks the depth and wide-ranging appeal to push this into must-see territory (not to mention that it has almost nothing to do with the book it's supposedly based on), what's here is a fantastic little genre pic, effortlessly carried on the shoulders of its star.

8 out of 10.