Benicio Del Toro, Carly Nahon, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Claire Pakis, Clea DuVall ...( see more  see more... ) , Danny Huston , Eddie Marsan , John Rubinstein , Melissa Leo , Naomi Watts , Nick Nichols , Sean Penn

A freak accident brings together a critically ill mathematician (Penn), a grieving mother (Watts) and a born-again ex-con (Del Toro).

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83% liked it

186,068 ratings

Critics

82% liked it

172 critics

R, 2 hr. 5 min.

Directed by: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Release Date: November 21, 2003

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DVD Release Date: March 16, 2004

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Stats: 6,893 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (6,893)


  • January 7, 2010
    "The earth turned to bring us closer. It turned on itself and in us, until it finally brought us together in this dream."

    A freak accident brings together a critically ill mathematician (Penn), a grieving mother (Watts) and a born-again ex-con (Del Toro).

    ...( read more)size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook">REVIEW
    Absorbing, non-linear drama about three disparate people whose lives are interlinked due to a chain of events that lead to a powerful forgone conclusion that will affect each one forever. Penn, Watts and Del Toro give career high and Oscar caliber performances inhabiting their roles with surprising force, dignity, heartache and ultimately humane. Filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and collaborative screenwriting partner Guillermo Arriaga skillfully skewers the atypical look at human suffering by deliberately distorting the reality via carefully edited sequences of non-chronological plottings that force one to pay attention as a real metaphor for life in general. Truly an unforgettable visceral and emotionally harrowing experience that is a definite must see. Moving and painstakingly on target in depicting humanity at its best and worst.
  • November 20, 2009
    ''How many lives do we live? How many times do we die? They say we all lose 21 grams...''

    A freak accident brings together a critically ill mathematician (Penn), a grieving mother (Watts) and a born-again ex-con (Del Toro).

    Sean Penn: Paul Rivers

    ''God knows ...( read more)when a single hair moves on your head.''

    Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu throws out a line of tension and keeps it incredibly taunt from beginning to end while exploring the most fundamental human emotions: fear, love, lust, and tragic loss.
    Capturing intense performances from Sean Penn, Naomi Watts and Benicio Del Toro, not to mention from Charlotte Gainsbourg and Melissa Leo also.
    Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu uses in 21 Grams a technique being seen more and more in film, a technique in which the story is not told in chronological order, but temporarily scattered. This technique is similar to that used by, for example, Christopher Nolan in Memento(2000) in which the story is told in reverse chronological order. Here there is a mixed pattern as the story unfolds, sometimes in sequence, sometimes out of sequence. At first it is disconcerting, then intriguing, and finally everything begins to take shape and focus into understanding in our minds, as an audience. I don't feel this technique is necessary, but it does have the virtue of forcing the viewer to become engaged in trying to figure out what they are experiencing and watching, and perhaps this heightens the cinematic dilemmas which arise throughout.

    ''You know what I thought when mom died? I couldn't understand how you could talk to people again, how you could laugh... again. I couldn't understand how you could play with us. And no, no that's a lie, life does not just go on.''

    There are three stories strung together on a single strand of fate. First there is the story of Jack Jordan (Del Toro) a petty macho criminal who has found Jesus and is a born again, enlightened soul. Secondly, there is that of Paul Rivers (Penn), a college professor of mathematics who is dying because of a defective heart. Thirdly there is that of Cristina Peck (Watts) who has found what she wants in life with a husband she loves and two young daughters. Lastly, the catalyst which occurs, the tragic accident that seals their differing fates, and brings horror into their lives. The story is told in starkly realistic scenes spliced in jarring complexities, shifting from one character's story to the other. The effect is to give us relief from the terrible events of one part of story, only to lead into another thread, and then to pull away from that story and into a third until the stories merge into one.

    I cannot say enough about the performances of the three leads. Sean Penn is brilliant in an understated way as he projects charm and tenderness, desperation and hope, and a kind of hopelessness headed for a flat line. Naomi Watts is electrifying in the intensity she brings to the most emotionally-wrought scenes. She is one of the most amazing actresses working today, and if you haven't seen her, see her here. You won't forget. She was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress (losing out to Charlize Theron in Monster), and much the same can be said of Benicio Del Toro who was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor (losing out to Tim Robbins in Mystic River). Del Toro's portrayal of a fated man who both found and lost his faith because of tragic events and his own failure of character was totally convincing, and very tragic, ultimately emotional for us watching him.

    ''The earth turned to bring us closer. It turned on itself and in us, until it finally brought us together in this dream.''

    If I had to criticize I would say that Cristina's initial feeling that she couldn't be bothered to help prosecute Jack Jordan for killing her family did not square well with her later feeling that she wanted to kill him. Yet, I suppose, one's feelings can change; emotions can alter. I also didn't think Jordan was the kind of character who would hit and run. He takes responsibility for his actions; turns himself in and says that he has a responsibility to God.

    As far as the ending goes, note that Cristina is dressed in bright, almost happy colours because of what was discovered when she donated her type O-positive blood to save Paul's life. Obviously I can't reveal what was discovered, but I'm willing to assume many found it redeeming and hopeful while others labeled the affair as ironic, then the minority whom classed it as cheap and easy. Personally I thought it worked because everything in 21 Grams revolves around these seemingly random people, all connected by this one tragic incident, which ultimately destines their lives all to be entwined; leaving them with no choice to the contrary.

    ''How much did 21 grams weigh?''
  • September 16, 2009
    21 Grams has a get story and as well directed as it was, I hated the editing. It gave me a headache and ruined the film in my opinion!
  • March 14, 2009
    Naomi Watts's performance of a lifetime ... Wow!

    Great filmmaker, great cast.
  • November 5, 2008
    Not a particularly happy film. Perhaps not even all that rewarding. Clever, insightful, original and emotional but ultimately a thinking, bleeding soulless machine. Great performances all around.
  • February 9, 2010
    What an act by sean penn
  • January 30, 2010
    An intense and powerful film with a great Naomi Watts.
  • January 22, 2010
    social, multiple stories, drama
  • January 12, 2010
    Intense and intricate and hauntingly gripping, this kept me spellbound for the full ride, even though it's definitely not a pleasant one. I don't think I've ever seen so many complex characters fit into an entire film, and so fantastically portrayed by its actors. Babel was one o...( read more)f my favourites up until now but Babel is only mediocre in comparison to this masterpiece. Truly brilliant movie.
  • January 10, 2010
    21 Grams is an excellent movie. Good story, great acting/actors. The only thing I didn't like about it was there were several stories and several time-lines jumping about. It was a little confusing until a little past the half way mark. Definitely enjoyed it though. Sean P...( read more)enn & Benicio Del Toro were amazing!

Critic Reviews


May 3, 2005
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

The performances, by and large, outweigh the film's unnecessary metaphorical gunk. full review

December 26, 2003
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Challenges and provokes in unexpected ways. full review

November 29, 2003
David Edelstein, Slate

Is the strategy to make you work so hard to determine where you are in the timeline that you overlook what a dreary and conventional little soap opera this is? full review

November 28, 2003
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Though not depressing, because nothing this good is, the film is haunting -- a walk on the razor's edge between life and death. full review

November 26, 2003
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

Watching it is a wrenching experience; the usual layers of distance between actors and audience are stripped away, and we not only watch their anguish, but become part of it. full review

November 26, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It grips us, moves us, astonishes us. full review

November 20, 2003
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Unstintingly explores and exposes excruciating pain, raw grief, ruinous vengeance and life-affirming resilience, creating human portraits that are uncommonly exhilarating in their honesty. full review

November 20, 2003
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

You won't see more explosive acting this year. full review

November 18, 2003
Marcy Dermansky, About.com

Challenging, uncomfortable, and uniquely moving. full review

View more 21 Grams reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • MorpheusOne
    January 7, 2009
    I just watched this movie thanks to Flixter and Hulu. Thanks guys!!

    Guillermo Arriaga (screenwriter) explained the main reason behind the non-linear narrative of his and Inarritu's trilogy. He says, "just think about how you tell somebody what happened in your day or any other anecdote and you'll find your narrative is as fragmented or maybe even more as my screenplays. That's why people understand them with no difficulty: it's the way people tell their own stories everyday, starting in the middle, going back to the ending, going back to the beginning and then telling something that has nothing to do with the main theme and then going back to the middle. It's how people talk..."

    Well, I have to say that regardless of whether or not he actually said this, it does explain something about this film, not enough, but something...

    This movie is confusing, but not in or bc of the non-linear way in which the movie was told. It is confusing bc of the very reason why the director and the screenwriter chose to use loop de loop confusion within the continuity of the story which causes it be interesting, confusing, & obfuscating all at the same time. And that does take something away from the film. It could have been a lot better!

    This movie was SUPERBLY acted!!! And if it didn't have the extremely superb acting this movie would have been perhaps the most confusing piece pf cinematic trash, ...perhaps in the history of all cinema!!
  • mistershinobi
    July 26, 2007
    whoever says this movie is "confusing" or "artsy" or stuff like "I don't like non-linear films, they confuse me" and so and so, is stupid!!

    This movie is not confusing AT ALL!
    Guillermo Arriaga (screenwriter) explained the main reason behind the non-linear narrative of his and Inarritu's trilogy. He says, "just think about how you tell somebody what happened in your day or any other anecdote and you'll find your narrative is as fragmented or maybe even more as my screenplays. That's why people understand them with no difficulty: it's the way people tell their own stories everyday, starting in the middle, going back to the ending, going back to the beginning and then telling something that has nothing to do with the main theme and then going back to the middle. It's how people talk..."

    genius!

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21 Grams Trivia


  • Besides Amores Perros, Alejandro González Iñarritu directed a movie starring Naomi Watts, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn. What movie is it?  Answer »
  • what movie is this quote from: "The earth turned to bring us closer. It turned on itself, and it turned within us, to bring you and I together in this dream."  Answer »
  • which actor have played in all this movies? Snatch Traffic 21 Grams Sin City Che  Answer »
  • Which actress has played the lead roles in the movies The Ring, The Ring 2 and 21 Grams?  Answer »

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