21 Grams

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21 Grams

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21 Grams

Benicio Del Toro, Carly Nahon, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Claire Pakis, Clea DuVall

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

Id: 10895091

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21 Grams Recent Reviews
  • mrpopcorn
    January 7, 2010
    mrpopcorn
    "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.
  • AgentLexi2132
    November 20, 2009
    AgentLexi2132
    ''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?''
  • SirPant
    September 16, 2009
    SirPant
    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!
  • sitenoise
    March 14, 2009
    sitenoise
    Naomi Watts's performance of a lifetime ... Wow!

    Great filmmaker, great cast.
  • djdemersseman
    November 5, 2008
    djdemersseman
    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.
  • kellylouise2
    January 7, 2010
    kellylouise2
    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.
  • RickyRoma
    January 5, 2010
    RickyRoma
    Given it's nonlinear and fragmented structure, this film can appear to be muddled and confusing at first impression. However, it's out-of-order segments are told through it's emotional foundation rather than chronological sequence, which makes this movie very entertaining to watch.
  • ahmedsniper2003
    December 29, 2009
    ahmedsniper2003
    Benicio Del Toro is a hella good of an actor; by his extraordinary acting ability he made this movie better and better. 21 Grams is one of the achievments of film in the recent years; it is one of the few films that can be called masterpieces. The directing and the editing were t...( read more)op notch and really made the movie appear the way it was: stunning.The movie had a heavy dramatic content but due to directing and editing efforts, the movie was smooth and was not complicated at all .The flashbacks and forwards made the movie more interesting and capitivating and it would have been a mdeicore film if it had a normal chornological storyline without the jumps. Every actor was at his best (Del Toro as I said was great and so was Penn and Watts who I didnot know that she can act that good). A MUST SEE.
  • chrismarlow40
    December 20, 2009
    chrismarlow40
    Woah. Had this in my collection for about 6 months. Thought I'd have to be in the right frame of mind and I was right. Hard-hitting film where the storyline wasn't linear (which I love) with fantastic acting from the main three actors. I was depressed for about 3 days after wa...( read more)tching it, but it was worth it!
  • xXxprettytemptationsxXx
    December 17, 2009
    xXxprettytemptationsxXx
    isnt one of my favouries and doubt i will watch it again but it was ok for a one time watch
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