21 Grams (2003)

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Mexican filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu makes his first English-language feature with the downbeat drama 21 Grams. Set in an unnamed U.S. urban center, the film uses a nonlinear structure to piece together the intertwined lives of three very different people. Paul (Sean Penn) is a math teacher with a heart problem and a troubled marriage to British wife Mary (Charlotte Gainsbourg). Christine (Naomi Watts) is a former drug addict who lives with her husband, Michael (Danny Huston), and her daughters. Jack (Benicio del Toro) is a born-again Christian with a wife (Melissa Leo) who has stood by him since his days as a criminal. Following a tragic accident, the three main characters are thrown into each other's lives. 21 Grams was shown in competition at the 2003 Venice International Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Starring:: Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, (more)

Director(s):: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Theatrical MPAA Rating:: R

Format(s):: DVD | Digital SD & HD
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Synopsis of 21 Grams

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Theatrical Feature Running Time:: 125 mins

Complete Cast of 21 Grams

Sean Penn - Paul
Naomi Watts - Christine
Melissa Leo - Marianne
Danny Huston - Michael
Marc Musso - Freddy

Director(s):: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Writer(s):: Guillermo Arriaga

Producer(s):: Robert Salerno, Alejandro González Iñárritu

Theatrical MPAA Rating:: R(Nudity, Violence, Substance Abuse, Not For Children, Profanity, Adult Situations, Strong Sexual Content)

21 Grams Awards:

2003 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Supporting Actress (Runner-up)
2003 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Actor - Runner-up
2003 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Actress
2003 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Supporting Actor (Runner-up)
2003 - National Board of Review - Best Actor
2003 - National Society of Film Critics - Best Actress - Runner-up
2003 - Venice International Film Festival - Volpi Cup for Best Actor

Warning: This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

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	Lisa C.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

Far too often people confuse "angst" with "literature". Melodrama does not create meaning on its own. While the story is not completely without redemption--there's a kernel of something in it--far too much of the energy of the film is spent trying to show us over and over how depressed the characters are instead of building purpose. In addition, this film is disjointed for no conceivable reason. In Memento, Irreversible or other films that used a non-linear storyline, the technique was used purposefully to allow the viewer to gain a different perception of a character that would be later altered when the "true" events unfolded. This film does no such thing. It's confusing for confusing sake... my best guess is that it allows what should have been a 20 minute short to be dragged out to a grueling two hours.

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	Tony W.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

Inarritu showed more focus in this movie compared to his later movie Babel. But he again needlessly presents it in a nonlinear fashion, aimlessly switching between the storylines, to make the overall story seem more interesting and complicated than it really is. It actually detracts from the movie overall since it greatly diminishes the climax, and sometimes it's just downright distracting. However, Inarritu does appear to be able to get good performances out of his actors, with the exception of Sean Penn. But he's not a good actor to begin with anyway.

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	David Z.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

the only problem with this disjointed movie lies in the fact that I find it hard to feel for any of the people and that makes it even harder to follow.

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21 Grams (2003)

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