Snapshots of tragedy: the lives of three people--a wife and mother of two, a dying man in need of a new heart, and an ex-con turned counselor at a religious center--intersect after a tragic car accident. "21 Grams", directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu from an original screenplay by Guillermo Arriaga, consists of dramatic episodes involving these characters (both before and after the accident), with scene after scene presented--one may assume--in random order; yet, there's a method to this editing madness, and the film's narrative actually feels much more linear in retrospect. Iñárritu is visually addicted to squalor (he sees the lonely beauty of it) and his film is unrelentingly gritty; this ambiance is matched by the performances of all three principles--Naomi Watts, Sean Penn, and Benicio Del Toro--each of whom perform totally without vanity. It is a remarkable achievement, with a few sequences of textbook dramatics completely recharged by the style, the desperate energy, and Iñárritu's emotional handling. An intense, gripping couple of hours! Two Oscar nominations: for Watts as Best Actress and Del Torro as Best Supporting Actor. ***1/2 from ****
Review of 21 Grams
