Review of 21 Grams (2003) by Daniel A — 24 Nov 2010

Undoubtedly the most irritatingly edited movie I have ever seen. However a slew of powerful performances mixed with a gripping story make it a devastatingly good film nonetheless.

The first half hour of 21 Grams is a confusing mess. The shifts in time make little sense, and if you're not paying attention here, then rest assured, you will struggle to understand what's happening for the rest of the film. Therefore it is vital that you stay invested from the start, for to allow yourself to miss out on this treat of a movie because of its unorthodox style would be a great shame. As it stands, if you can make it to the 40 minute mark then you should be good to see it through to its breathtaking conclusion.

21 Grams is arguably the best acted movie of 2003. Every performance from the biggest down to the smallest is of the highest possible quality. Sean Penn is as impressive as ever, and had this performance not fallen in the same year as his Oscar-winning turn in Mystic River, would have easily found himself nominated here too. Opposite him, Naomi Watts gives an powerful, career-best performance. This was most definitely a wakeup call for Hollywood and film fans around the world to take note of this wonderful actress; she it truly remarkable here. Smaller supporting roles are also impressive. Eddie Marsan and Melissa Leo are both fantastic in their respective roles, even Clea DuVall makes the most of minimal screen time to make an impression on the viewer.

However it is Benicio Del Toro who takes home the title of Best In Show; no mean feat for such a universally well-acted film. His character is wonderfully complex, and as such it would have been easy for him to push it too far. However he pitches his performance perfectly, swinging small but hitting deep.

It is difficult to judge the screenplay as it's both good and bad at once. The dramatic moments are quite brilliant, and director Alejandro Inarritu does not hold back, meaning a couple of graphic moments may have you averting your eyes. However the jumpy nature of the story will understandably put some viewers off, therefore screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga has essentially shot himself in the foot. Sadly those who cannot overcome the back-and-forth style will not see that by the end of the film, the dozens of questions that crop up in the first half hour have all been quite neatly answered.

Thus on performance and dramatic merit alone I would rate 21 Grams a solid 10, however due to its unnecessarily confusing structure, it sadly does not live up to its full potential.