"21 Grams" is like a puzzle. The pieces are continually being put in place but until it is complete you don't know exactly what you're looking at.
I won't synopsize the story in any way because putting it together for yourself is half of the film's appeal. However, I will say that, in the end, the story did not fully realize it's potential in my opinion. I got glimpses of interesting ideas throughout but the ending didn't really hammer home any kind of revelation for me.
The three principle actors (Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro & Naomi Watts) do a fine job of bringing the film to life with vivid, passionate performances. It is worth noting that both Watts and del Toro received well-deserved Oscar nominations for their work.
The direction by Alejandro González Iñárritu is well done, even though he favors hand-held camera-work, of which I'm not much of a fan. There is some striking imagery and one must also credit the editor in a film that uses such an unconventional story-telling approach. Also worth noting is the soundtrack which abounds in spare, dreamy instrumentation.
I would have rated this film higher if I could really connect with the story but I guess that, for me, some of the puzzle pieces are still missing. Perhaps others will be able to take away from this picture what I could not.
I won't synopsize the story in any way because putting it together for yourself is half of the film's appeal. However, I will say that, in the end, the story did not fully realize it's potential in my opinion. I got glimpses of interesting ideas throughout but the ending didn't really hammer home any kind of revelation for me.
The three principle actors (Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro & Naomi Watts) do a fine job of bringing the film to life with vivid, passionate performances. It is worth noting that both Watts and del Toro received well-deserved Oscar nominations for their work.
The direction by Alejandro González Iñárritu is well done, even though he favors hand-held camera-work, of which I'm not much of a fan. There is some striking imagery and one must also credit the editor in a film that uses such an unconventional story-telling approach. Also worth noting is the soundtrack which abounds in spare, dreamy instrumentation.
I would have rated this film higher if I could really connect with the story but I guess that, for me, some of the puzzle pieces are still missing. Perhaps others will be able to take away from this picture what I could not.