classicsoncall
Even devotees of non-linear story telling movies might have some difficulty with this picture. The very early sequences of the movie tend to leave one confused and disoriented, seeming as if the principal characters have an established relationship to each other. That idea gets quickly negated as the film moves forward, and you're left scratching your head over something you might have just seen that doesn't make sense any more. It goes on like this for a while until the pieces of the puzzle eventually fall into place, by which time you begin to understand that none of the central characters is particularly appealing and the kind of people you want to root for. A good part of that is owed to the exceptional performances of Sean Penn, Naomi Watts and Benicio del Toro, all of whom demonstrate a wide range of thought and emotion demonstrated by their characters. Naomi Watts in particular delivers an outstanding performance in the role of a widow who's lost not only her husband, but two young daughters as well, in an accident that eventually brings all three figures together in an astonishing climax. The '21 Grams' the movie's title refers to dates all the way back to a pseudo-scientific experiment done in 1901 by a physician named Duncan MacDougall, who was convinced the human soul had weight, and that it could be measured at the time of death by taking the before and after weights of people about to die. Though the experiment was highly flawed, the result the experimenter came up with has lived on as an urban legend of sorts. Upon thoughtful consideration, that really has nothing to do with the premise of this story, as it's thrown into the script one time for matters of association but with no bearing on anything that actually happened in it. Before watching the film, '21 grams' sounded like it could have referred to a quantity of drugs involved in some fatal overdose scenario, but instead it might be the amount of brain power required to concentrate on the film until it's baffling conclusion. Anyone else wondering whether Sean Penn's character shot himself accidentally or on purpose?
ZD
Review (1~5)#Content: Script 4 | Acting 5 | Cinematography 5 | Film Editing 5#Visual: Costume Design 3 | Makeup & Hairstyling 4 | Scenic Design 4 | Lighting 5 | Visual Effects n/a#Sound: Score & Soundtracks 5 | Sound Editing & Mixing 4#Overall (1~10): 7
Harvey Penson
Alejandro González Iñárritu's 2003 drama hits the heart and examines world where death has infected the lives of three people, who are all connected to each other.As part of Iñárritu's death trilogy, 21 Grams is most certainly not a barrel of laughs, but a hard hitting emotional depiction of death. Also shot in the very appropriate visual presence of Rodrigo Prieto, the film is made up of a saddening and deep expression Exploring the lives of 3 individuals: Paul Rivers (Sean Penn), Cristina Peck (Naomi Watts), and Jack Jordan ( Benicio Del Toro) who all get affecting by the same tragic car accident that brings massive change into their lives and leads them down dark depressing roads. Rivers is an ill mathematician who needs an organ transplant and struggles to maintain a healthy relationship with his wife. Peck lives a peaceful life, until her husband and children die in a terrible car accident. Jordan is an ex convict seeking salvation in the Lord Jesus, but gets sent down hill when he gets involved in a terrible ordeal.What is at the center of 21 Grams is the powerful consistent performance of the three lead cast members pulling all their weight to carry the dark tone of the film. Watts particularly shines as the struggling widower and breaks all our hearts through the soul stirring portrayal that deserved her an Oscar nomination. Del Toro also brings a very convincing character of the broken man and his desperation to be forgiven by God, which also gave him a nomination at the Academy.Bottom line is that this is not an uplifting film, but a spiritual journey into grief and what life leaves us when death enters the world. Still more is to be discovered further in Iñárritu's Babel and Amores perros. What only flaws the film is its non-linear display which I think does very little to the structure and would work just as effectively without it.Not a cheery film for a Friday night, more of your Monday Morning film, but a very sophisticated and sad piece of work. 9.2/10
Khizar Hayat Bhabha
In staring very confusing situation I don't know why this movie is very disorder... like Sean Penn is in hospital then he is following Naomi Watts and then he is with his wife...But when I watch complete movie, OMG! This amazing movie I have ever seen in my whole life and now this is my one of favorite movie, Great concept which covers many psychological issues. Alejandro G. Iñárritu is a very successful director who recently made Reverent and this movie get 4 Oscars. If anyone looking some movies which they never forget then I rally suggest them watch this grand piece for their master collection. Which i can see 20 times more :)
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