21 Grams DVD > Reviews > Catharsis and depression!

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Good
How does it compare to similar films?	Not applicable

Advantages:	Suberb performances, escapes typical Hollywood movies
Disadvantages:	Needs a DVD with more features and better image

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

INTRODUCTION:
After the exceptional “Lost Loves” (Amores Perros), the Mexican Inarritu decided to take a stroll in Hollywood. However, in order to gain recognition, shine and certainly more money in his banking account, he decides to tell a human story precisely as he wanted it. With mature, suburb protagonists Penn, Watts and Del Toro, sets up a tangled game of time, coincidences, choices and, finally, fate. The hope comes from Mexico! :)

THE STORY:
“21 Grams” is the tragic story of three strangers whose lives are brought together by a terrible accident; "21 Grams" is the latest film from director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu ( as mentioned above) and it is available on DVD from Universal. Inarritu caused quite a stir in the independent film world with his major motion picture debut, "Amores Perros," in 2000. "Amores Perros" drew critical praise despite a relatively poor box office display and some extremely violent content. The film made its director a hot commodity all around the world. With a better financial situation, Inarritu explored similar themes in "21 Grams."
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu is aided in his story telling by some of the finest actors working in film today. Benecio Del Toro is excellent as Jack Jordan, a ne'er-do-well born-again who despite his sincere efforts at redemption can't seem to catch a break. As always, Del Toro breathes life into his character. After her start in "The Ring" and David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive," Naomi Watts has emerged as one of Hollywood's brightest young actresses. She is compelling and totally believable as Cristina Peck, a woman who goes from an all-American 'girl next door' type to a drug-addled attempted murderer after her husband and daughters are killed by the hit and run accident which serves as the centrepiece of the film. Here, as in "Mulholland Drive," Watts' range as an actor is nothing short of remarkable. On the whole, the acting in "21 Grams" is top-notch, but Sean Penn is truly sublime as a college professor who is the recipient of the late Mr. Pecks' heart.
The basic plot and structure of "21 Grams" is essentially the same as in "Amores Perros": A car accident intertwines the lives of people who otherwise would be total strangers. The similarity is not the result of laziness on the part of the writer and director. Instead, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and writer and collaborator Guillermo Arriaga use their larger budget and very talented pool of actors to do things that were not possible in "Amores Perros." In his first film with a sizable budget, the director goes with what has worked already and it works extremely well for him again.
On the surface, "21 Grams" is a depressing account of three lives. With a skill for subtly lacking in many of his contemporaries with many more films under their belts, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu uses his accident to paint a realistic and gripping picture of suffering and sadness in the world.

PICTURE:
Those of you who saw the film in the cinemas will accuse the DVD for grain in the picture and, sometimes, bad colours (or maybe just my copy?). The vision of the director for the film was very concrete, and the publication remains absolutely faith in this. Dark, "soiled" scenes and shades are transported precisely from the big screen
to the disk and create the same impression precisely. The plans can be always beautiful, it is however realistically and that is very important.

SOUND:
You will not be particularly puzzled for the choice between DTS and the Dolby Digital, because both are equally good. The difference for the DTS is located in the little more realistic phonetic output, but that’s all. The dialogues are heard precisely as should: hot, natural and without noises. Music and sound details are attributed well, despite that fact that the back channels do not have a particularly active role. In few, in any case, moments that it is needed, bass gives a dynamic present.

EXTRAS:
You don’t need to browse for hours through the menu; it doesn’t have much to give. We should be more demanding!

VERDICT:
A fantastic movie! Apart from that, in a few years you will be proud to say “ I own one of Innaritu’s first movies!”.

SCENE
Benicio Del Toro throws his bible down and starts arguing with God in his cell.

QUOTE
Christina Peck (Naomi Watts): "Whoever searches for truth and finds it should be punished".

TECHNICAL DETAILS:

Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Certificate 15 years and over
Year 2003
Screen Widescreen 1.85:1 Anamorphic
Languages English
Duration One and a half hour

 

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