21 Grams
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Movie Reviews of 21 Grams
Movie Review: The best acted movie of 2003.
Summary: 5 Stars
"21 Grams" is a movie of overwhelming power and drama, told in a compelling fashion by director Inarritu.Much has been said about the kaleidoscopic, jigsaw puzzle-like storytelling technique used in this film, but it works flawlessly.
Briefly and reduced to absurdity, Sean Penn plays a man with a diseased heart, Naomi Watts plays a happy mother of two with a seriously dark past, and Benicio Del Toro plays a religious fanatic ex-con. I dare not tell you more, because one of the joys of this film is figuring it out the true sequence of events on your own.
These three strangers end up together (you know that from the beginning, given the way the story is told), but being only given snippets of information, in an artful, non-chronological and piece-meal manner, lends extraordinary suspense to the film; you feel guilty even pressing pause. We're talking Hitchcock levels of suspense here...you NEED to know how it's going to end.
"Incendiary" is an adjective often used to describe an acting performance; you will gasp at Naomi Watts here. I sat slack-jawed and fully amazed. I never knew she could do something like this, and she will surpass your every expectation.
Sean Penn gave the two best performances of the year, here and "Mystic River". They're both career performances, in a career full of them. He's making a strong case for being our greatest living actor. Those who think I'm overstating the obvious, consider starting with Spicoli from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", and then imagining roles in "Falcon and The Snowman", "Carlito's Way", "Casualties of War", "Dead Man Walking", "At Close Range"...and ending up in 2003 with those two films mentioned above. Few actors could match that range with that quality, for over two decades straight.
I was not prepared for this film. I was far better than I thought it was going to be. It's the type of movie you want every person who enjoys film and filmmaking to see. You will tell others about it. You will want to talk about it.
Set aside a night to watch this, I implore you. If youv'e read this far, this is the type of movie for you.
Movie Review: A seminar in great acting
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are a young actor, or just love a well acted movie, you must check this film out. I cannot recall a movie were there were so many standout performances. As always, Sean Penn displays his usual nearly supernatural talent. Penn can do more with his eyes and expression than any actor I can think of, and his capacity for effective understatement is unparalleled. He can simply move the viewer wherever he wishes them to go effortlessly, and he is always a marvel to watch. Benicio Del Toro is tremendous as well, doing what he does best - bringing to life a certain tortured repression that always seems to brood a little too quietly behind his burning eyes. For me, however, the delight came from watching the women, Naomi Watts as the grieving widow who serves as a catalyst in the films' intertwined lives; and Charlotte Gainsbourg as the wife of an ex-con, desperately trying to hold her life together. Naomi Watts is asked to carry a great deal of weight in this picture, and her raw pain and emotion really had me twisting in my seat in sympathy. She actually accomplished that rare feat that happens so seldom in movies: Her pain and grief didn't seem like acting at all - it seemed rather that cameras just happened to rolling while some terrible event was happening. She was absolutely amazing. My favorite piece of work, however, came from Charlotte Gainsbourg. With all the bigger names doing such great work around her, it is an easy role to overlook. Do yourself a favor and watch this woman take command of her role. Her portrayal of the ex-cons' wife, struggling to keep what little she has managed to salvage out of the world together, is simply heartbreaking. I wish Hollywood used more actresses like her. Ms. Gainsbourg is not a fashion model, nor is she beautiful in a high-cheekbone, pouty-lipped way. She is, instead, beautiful to watch because of her talent.
To tell you the truth, this type of character-based, dialogue-driven drama is not my usual meat. I like a good crime or action picture, big-Hollywood style. But when acting talent as displayed in this film comes to the table, one cannot help but pay attention. -Mykal Banta
Movie Review: Agonizing Suspense in an Innovative Cinematic Experience...
Summary: 5 Stars
The mathematical professor Paul Rivers (Sean Penn) is dying as his heart is slowly deteriorating and the only thing that can save him would be a heart transplant. Meanwhile, Paul's wife is urging him to impregnate her as she wishes for a child with her husband, which brings up some moral dilemmas for the couple. The rich housewife Cristina Peck (Naomi Watts) is a recovering cocaine addict with a wonderful family that she loves above all as she fills her days with rehab meetings and swimming. The family man, ex-convict, and former alcoholic Jack Jordan (Benicio Del Toro) has discovered God and works hard to mend his past failures in the name of the Lord by helping others. Paul, Christina, and Jack meet at a crossroad that brings them all pain, suffering, and agony as guilt, love, and anger are heavy burdens in their hearts.
Alejandro González Iñárritu, the man behind the film Amores Perros (2000), brings another riveting tale of three characters whose lives are interconnected and ultimately changed through an dreadful accident. The film offers the audience reflection upon the grief caused by several emotional states such as love, anger, and guilt, which follows the accident. Despite the similarities in 21 Grams and Amores Perros, Iñárritu rejuvenates the idea and displays outstanding directorial skills as he offers the audience an innovative cinematic experience.
21 Grams is told in a fragmented storyline which encourages the audience to ponder the theme and messages of the film. This fragmented storyline displays first-class editing as it, at an initial glance, seems erratic and difficult to follow, but as the storyline jumps back and forth it offers small glimpses of recollection that encourages thoughtful interaction with the film. The cinematography, mise-en-scene, and editing are outstanding as they elevate the emotional turmoil that the characters are experiencing. All the cinematic aspects of making a film are brought together by Iñárritu and he offers the world a brilliant cinematic experience.
Movie Review: 21 Grams (2003)
Summary: 5 Stars
Director: Alejandro Gonz?lez I??rrituCast: Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, Benicio Del Toro, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Clea Duvall.
Running Time: 125 minutes.
Rated R for violence, language, sexual sitations, and drug use.
As with films such as "Mulhouland Drive" and "Requiem for a Dream", this somber, intense film will be disturbing and unenjoyable for some, while profound, amazing, and powerful for others. Director I??rritu succeeds at creating a dark, unique film that does not present itself in chronological order, but scatters the film's main plot points throughout, only for the final puzzle to be revealed in an extremely metaphoric last question.
Sean Penn gives his second-best performance of the year (his explosive role in "Mystic River" earned him his first Oscar win) as a terminally-ill heart patient who is in search of a transplant. Benicio Del Toro stars as the convict-turned Jesus freak who has proclaimed his life to God, only to be a part of the culprit of a misfortunate accident. Naomi Watts gives her best performance to date as the grief-stricken woman who has tragically lost her family due to a traffic accident, only to find hope in the most unique and surprising of individuals.
The horrific twist of fate and the events proceeding the tragic accident is magically scripted, placed specifically in certain places so the film is more beautiful and enigmatic. "21 Grams" is a portrayal of how one event can change everything for three individuals, the emotional roller-coaster that tragedy brings to all of its victims, and questions the very reason for the existence of mankind. It is not a film to be embraced by all; it is a motion picture that some will understand and some will shun--but for those who truly enjoy film at its distinct, resounding finest--"21 Grams" is a visual (not very auditory, for there is not much presence of a musical score) experience that will tear at the heart, overwhelm the mind, and interrogate the soul. The best of its kind--if it fits into a genre--since "Memento".
Movie Review: More Than 21 Grams of Quality
Summary: 5 Stars
The producer of 2000's "Amores Perros" presents another film masterpiece. The three-time Oscar nominated "21 Grams" explores deeper into his unique creativity. Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu leads a talented cast and crew to complete this unforgettable experience. The plot is brilliant. The ensembe of three lives that come together for a life-changing accident blends perfectly. The writers force audiences to think more on the events and piecing every scene together. Future and past events being placed in various places offer a more unique intimate look into the characters' lives. The irony continually builds, keeping audiences paying attention to what actually happens and what actually is. Few other writers have mastered this technique this well. The drama builds as one tradegy adds to another. The conflict between their struggles and they keep every scene interesting: a man struggling to maintain his health after severe heart problems, a cocaine addict struggling to recover from the death of her husband and her two kids, and an ex-con struggling with his newfound Christianity. The graphic scenery offer a deeper look at their inner death threats.Every actor offers their own sense of tradegy through their character and the film. Naomi Watts and Benicio Del Toro are brilliant in their Oscar nominated roles (Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor). This brings them into more intimate roles that earns them tremendous respect as talented actors. Watts transforms her image for this role of a lifetime that explores her more serious side. Sean Penn is outstanding in his role as a heart transplant patient. This is only one film that proves that 2003 was his year as an actor. He continues to evolve as an outstanding actor, expecially within the last ten years.
"21 Grams" is a great powerdrama for those looking for something intense. This is sure to please audiences for many years to come. Inarritu's "Amores Perros" is also recommended for fans of "21 Grams".