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21
GRAMS |
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Starring Sean Penn, Naomi
Watts and Benecio Del Toro |
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Written by Guillermo
Arriaga |
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Directed by Alejandro
González Iñárritu |
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Rated: R |
SUMMARY:
21 GRAMS tells the story of the interwoven lives of three
disparate people: A suburban housewife, a reformed ex-con now
doing God’s work and a desperately ill man awaiting a heart
transplant. To reveal how these lives intertwine would be to
give away too much information.
Steve says:
Make no mistake: 21 GRAMS is not the feel-good movie of the
year. If you want that, go see DUDE, WHERE’S MY NOSE or some
other confection designed solely for the purpose of mindless
diversion. To see 21 GRAMS is to delve deeply into a massive
pool of grief that flows from the three leading characters.
There is no respite, no turning away. If you’re in for a dime,
you’re in for a dollar.
21 GRAMS refers to the theory that this is the actual weight of
the soul because numerous studies have shown that the weight of
the human body decreases by that much at the instant of death.
Sean Penn is nothing short of magnificent as Paul Rivers, a
dying mathematician who receives a second chance when he is
given a heart transplant. His performance here fully equals the
level of work he achieved in his Academy Award nominated
performance in MYSTIC RIVER. (I have a hunch the notably
conservative Academy voters will snub Penn altogether as payback
for the fact that the actor went to Iraq, then said publicly
that we probably shouldn’t go there and kill their people). But
seldom will you see such raw truth and gut-wrenching emotion
packaged in a single performance. Penn is truly the actor of his
generation.
Naomi Watts is equally convincing as Cristina Peck, who lives a
“Leave It to Beaver” suburban existence until her world is
suddenly and savagely ripped apart, sending her spiraling into
substance abuse and depression. Watts is equally deserving of
the Oscar gold, but will probably have to wait for her turn and
cede to Charlize Theron (MONSTER). The Aussie (by way of
England) actress’ performances in MULHOLLAND DRIVE, THE RING and
21 GRAMS have quickly vaulted her to star status equal to that
her good friend and countryman, Nicole Kidman.
Benecio Del Toro continues to prove himself to be an
extraordinary talent, totally submerging himself in the role of
Jack Jordan, a fiercely born again ex-con, whose belief system
is shattered by the events of the film. Del Toro is fully
deserving of his Best Supporting Actor nomination and just might
take home the gold on February 29.
While the three stars of 21 GRAMS have garnered much praise
since the film’s release, not much has been said about the
incredible Melissa Leo, who has been seen little since leaving
television’s HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET. Leo achieves an
indelible level of performance as Jordan’s long-suffering, but
devoted wife.
Director Alejandro González Iñárritu (AMORES PERROS) delivers a
stunning film that is a masterful example of non-linear
story-telling. Indeed, the first fifteen or twenty minutes of
the film present a jumble of scenes out of time or sequence and
one begins to wonder if any of this will make sense. Have
patience for it will soon enough. González Iñárritu, working
with cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, enhances the rawness of
this enterprise by shooting the film on high-contrast, high
grain film. The result is a modern masterpiece that is,
admittedly, not for everyone. But if explosive acting and
gut-wrenching story-telling is your thing, you cannot miss 21
GRAMS. As a committed admirer of both, I can't give 21 GRAMS any
less than five kernels.
* * * *
Patty says:
For those suffering from depression, make sure your serotonin is
in balance before you watch 21 GRAMS. They should sprinkle
Effexor on the popcorn in the theater. Watching 21 GRAMS is sort
of like reading THE SOUND AND THE FURY on acid, but at least you
can enjoy a Milky Way while you’re watching. It’s two hours and
six minutes of relentless, emotional agony and not for the faint
of heart.
The fact that the story can take you to the precipice of gloom
and leave you hanging there for the duration is a tribute to the
creative talent of the actors and director González Iñárritu’s
genius. Penn, Watts and Del Toro were amazing, although I think
that Penn brings his bad boy persona into every role he plays.
He immerses himself into the character of the didactic
mathematician whose love of numbers is overcome by his
compulsion to share the pain of a total stranger. It’s an
implausible concept, but Penn’s portrayal makes one forget the
dichotomy and buy the story. And what a story it is…but dammit,
I can’t tell you about it. You’ve got to experience it for
yourself.
Steve is right, Penn is magnificent, but I believe that it was
Benecio Del Toro who had the most difficult role. Penn and Watts
had really, really, juicy parts. Del Toro had to rely on his
performance to make the heart of the story gel. Were it not for
his compassionate portrayal of an ex-con who gets in touch with
his inner sociopath, the story wouldn’t have worked. One has to
have the capacity to feel compassion for his character. It’s a
tough sell, but he accomplishes it with the subtlety of tongue
oil on the rich grain of mahogany.
Naomi Watts delivers an outstanding performance as well. She
allows us entrée into the private hell reserved for those who
must helplessly watch as their world falls apart around them.
The part isn’t painted monochromatically. To really experience
that kind of pain, one has to wrestle with her own human frailty
and walk the line between madness and survival. It’s a credit to
these master storytellers that her part wasn’t written from the
one note perspective of a victim. Her struggle is complex as it
always is in real life.
21 GRAMS will make you think, it will make you shudder, but it
will engage you at an emotional level where few films dare to
tread.
I have to give it five kernels as well. It’s about as fun as a
root canal, but 21 GRAMS is nothing less than cinematic fine
art.
* * * *
February 9, 2004
