21 GRAMS
Directed by: Alejandro González Iñárritu.
Produced by: Alejandro González Iñárritu & Robert Salerno.
Written by: Guillermo Arriaga.
Director of Photography: Rodrigo Prieto & Fortunato Procopio.
Edited by: Stephen Mirrione.
Music by: Gustavo Santaolalla.
Released by: Focus.
Country of Origin: USA. 125 min. Rated: R.
With: Sean Penn, Naomi Watts & Benicio Del Toro.

Tragic and moving, 21 Grams confronts death and forces us to think critically about our last moments on earth without being trite or didactic. One man's death is another man's life when Paul Rivers (Penn) gets a much needed heart transplant from a father who died with his children in a freak accident. Desperate to find out the man’s history, Paul seeks out the widow and mother (Watts). An ex-convict turned born-again Christian, Jack Jordan (Del Toro), is brought into the picture through the accident, and the film follows the tortured and interconnected lives of the three.

The scenes are edited in a non-linear order, much like Iñárritu's last film Amores Perros, with some shot using a kind of gray lighting. These effects add emotional substance and allow the viewer to become involved despite the choppy story line. Although the editing makes the film confusing on first viewing, the confusion accentuates the mood, and we feel as helpless as the characters.

Penn, Watts and Del Toro give outstanding performances in emotionally demanding roles. Del Toro's Jack is much different than his previous roles in Traffic or Snatch. Watts, however, steals the show in her powerfully heartfelt performance. Lisette Johnson
April 26, 2004