How
much does life weigh?
"21 Grams"
takes a heavy storyline, adds stellar
performances and combines them into one of the
most powerful films of 2003. Director Alejandro
Gonzales Inarritu manages to create 3 lead
characters, all basically unlikeable...and yet
make them just intriguing enough and just human
enough that even through the lack of attraction
I couldn't help but care about the conflict
resolution here.
The script, by Guillermo Arriaga, has splashes
of "Memento" in it in the sense that it takes
place at various times and in various
places...It can be a bit challenging to follow,
but is fairly easy to wrap up at the end (unlike
"Memento").
Benicio Del Toro received a well-deserved Oscar
nomination for his role here...I'm definitely
not a Del Toro fan, but he was simply marvelous
here as a born again ex-con. Sean Penn also
gives a powerhouse performance here, but the
real find of this film is Naomi Watts...who is
simply mind-blowing and received an Oscar
nomination for her performance.
This entire film is gritty, stark and certainly
those who hope for "Hallmark" endings will be
disappointed here. This film never takes the
easy path...but, for me, that makes it
infinitely more satisfying.
This is a character-driven drama that is a
must-see for fans of Watts, Penn or Del Toro...I
believe it's a must see for any filmgoer who
seeks an alternative to the shallow, formulaic
films that are so common. It's not quite in my
Top 100, but I still highly recommend "21
Grams."
©
Written by Richard
Propes
TC Candler's Comment
As
emotionally powerful as a film can get... This
is a devastating journey into grief.
Jacob
Hall's Comment
N/A
