21 Grams

Three separate lives are brought together by a horrific accident. A mathematician, a grieving mother and an ex-convict are the main focus for this powerful story that has the three lead characters all inter-twine.
Each person has to deal with a number of tragedies and problems as their lives go through so much personal trauma until they cross paths and play important parts to their future lives…

Confused? You may well be but I don’t want to give away too many plot twists and character story lines but believe me it is worth the wait to see the drama unfold.

Sean Penn, Naomi Watts and Benicio Del Toro are all superb in this gritty honest powerful film that is worthy of its plaudits and awards. I think it’s Penn who shines through as the academic who deals with so much on screen that you are fixed with his every move and Del Toro and Watts fill out the emotion as they skilfully dissect their characters.

Director Innaritu has followed up his memorable debut Amores Perros with another bold step in filmmaking. The cast and calibre alone is worthy of praise but the fact that the movie is so damn good makes a big difference. The director’s vision of the ordinary is fantastic, he seems to use the camera with great ease using good angles and different perspectives that keep the story going.

The use of grain and filter is nice as he almost washes the colour away and over lights the scenes to dramatise - the impact works well and his use of edit was fresh and snappy. It must be said that he manages to get realism from his actors that must impress the studios because it impresses the film fan!

With Oscars looming this film has to grow its box office and I am sure one of the three will get something come Feb 29. Will it be Watts who is fast becoming a producers dream or Del Toro again who is a favourite with the academy or will the ever-opinionated Penn get lucky with his other movie Mystic River?
(If you ask me he should have been double nominated along with this, but that is another argument!)

Whatever the outcome after all the awards, this movie will be still out there in need of an audience – I hope it finds one because it is a really good drama that is highly recommended.

Go and see 4/5

It’s “Traffic meets Dead Man Walking”.

- 21 out of 10 says Tyler