21 Grams

Name: 21 Grams
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: November 21, 2003
Duration: 124 min
Rating: 70
Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Naomi Watts, Sean Penn

2003

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 41 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 229 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 229 Ratings

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21 Grams

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Movie Details & Credits

Focus Features | Release Date: November 21, 2003 | R

Starring: Benicio Del Toro, Naomi Watts, Sean Penn

Summary: They say we all lose 21 grams at the exact moment of our death. (Focus Features)

Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 124 min

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Critic Reviews

100

James Berardinelli

A stunning kaleidoscope of a motion picture - a mosaic of images that gradually resolves itself into a powerful tale of tragedy and redemption. Read full review

100

Steven Rea

This sad, staggering drama should be seen: out of the grimness, and the profound calamity, you can almost taste life in your mouth. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Mr. Penn has been praised lavishly for his work in "Mystic River," in a role that was no reach for him at all, but this is one of the stand-out performances of his career, layered and exquisitely nuanced. And, remarkably, he's only one-third of a stellar ensemble.

Kimberley Jones

A devastating and weighty picture. Read full review

Andrew O'Hehir

Uprooted from their home soil, González Iñárritu and screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga can't quite manage to make this gloomy, improbable stew of romance, film noir and pseudo-metaphysical speculation hang together. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

The fragmented style is distracting and ultimately annoying, robbing the story of its suspense and drive while contributing nothing except self-conscious style. Read full review

Desson Thomson

It's so laden with foreboding, you want to get out from under it and gasp for air. Read full review

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User Reviews

MovieGuys

Sep 10, 2014

21 Grams is the kind of "jigsaw puzzle, one piece at a time" movie that is extremely risky and confident, but might not always pay off. Luckily, 21 Grams' emotional payoff is one of the best I've ever seen. It carefully skips clichés of the genre, and tells its story with explosive acting21 Grams is the kind of "jigsaw puzzle, one piece at a time" movie that is extremely risky and confident, but might not always pay off. Luckily, 21 Grams' emotional payoff is one of the best I've ever seen. It carefully skips clichés of the genre, and tells its story with explosive acting and expertly crafted screenplay. It has round characters who are worth caring about, and an ending that is completely satisfying. This movie is very underrated, and director Alejandro González Iñárritu deserves much credit and praise for creating a well-meaning and powerful tale of redemption, loss, and sorrow.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

ZiggyStardust

Jul 3, 2011

Well done acting, well done story and well done directing. The film is definitely worth buying on DVD and devours the watcher in the tale it's telling.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

cameronmorewood

Nov 8, 2012

A fantastic nonlinear thriller that keeps surprising us and is driven by a flawless performance from Naomi Watts.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

amheretojudge

May 4, 2018

and i never got her..

21 Grams Its grotesque tone and dark theme projected in a convoluted way is definitely thought provoking and intriguing enough to invest in it but as much as vocal the feature is about its characters, it somehow fails to connect with the audience to the level as itand i never got her..

21 Grams

Its grotesque tone and dark theme projected in a convoluted way is definitely thought provoking and intriguing enough to invest in it but as much as vocal the feature is about its characters, it somehow fails to connect with the audience to the level as it should. Guillermo Arriaga's script is uproaring and upbeating and when projected through Alejandro G. Inarritu's vision, the execution surpasses its witty script. The performance objective is satisfactory coming from amazing cast like Sean Penn, Naomi Watts and Benecio Del Toro. 21 Grams is not your "happy-go-lucky" feature but under Alejandro's surveillance, he somehow manages to makes a definite point out of this chaotic mess.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ryancarroll88

Aug 29, 2010

Between "Amores Perros," "Babel" and this movie, Gonzalez Inarritu has produced some of the heaviest dramas of the past 10 years. Perhaps it is because they all deal with such shattered characters - in this case we are given a man who has just undergone heart replacement surgery whichBetween "Amores Perros," "Babel" and this movie, Gonzalez Inarritu has produced some of the heaviest dramas of the past 10 years. Perhaps it is because they all deal with such shattered characters - in this case we are given a man who has just undergone heart replacement surgery which temporarily alleviates the strain ...between him and his separated wife, a born-again man who suddenly finds himself responsible for running over and killing a husband and two girls and the woman who has lost her whole family in that car accident. Each of these characters are faced with the idea of moving on with their lives; as we watch them adjust, we see that the difficulty isn't overcoming the past - it's the realization that they don't even understand what their lives are anymore. The serious performances from the three leads (Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro and Naomi Watts) are really what give the film its depth, and even make up for Inarritu's completely unnecessary nonlinear style, which seems to serve no purpose other than to make the viewer pay more attention.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

IsaacC.

Jul 4, 2007

Arguably the best film of 2004. Benicio Del Toro as usual acts the socks of everyone else around him. Although the story is far too conveniently artistic to ever be considered as anything resembling any kind of reality it grips you and shakes violently from start to finish. My one grievance Arguably the best film of 2004. Benicio Del Toro as usual acts the socks of everyone else around him. Although the story is far too conveniently artistic to ever be considered as anything resembling any kind of reality it grips you and shakes violently from start to finish. My one grievance with this film is that although the rewards for those who are patient enough to accept the initially incomprehensible first half hour on good faith are great, on second and third viewing the film becomes slow, the tension is gone and the story becomes trite. As someone who continuously re-watches my favourite films with little or no loss of enjoyment I am left with one question: Is a film worth watching if you can only see it once?… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

PaulW.

Mar 6, 2008

Grams is a completely boring and uncompelling story about people who are instantly forgettable because we have seen them all before. Much of the character's actions are either clichéd or too unsympathetic to be gripping. The movie plods so much that it actually slows down real Grams is a completely boring and uncompelling story about people who are instantly forgettable because we have seen them all before. Much of the character's actions are either clichéd or too unsympathetic to be gripping. The movie plods so much that it actually slows down real time, the story jumps around like a frog on speed and the soundtrack, if you can call it that, didn't take more than 1 guitarist recording some feedback from his guitar while he was taking a nap on it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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98	#98 Best Movie of 2003
47	#47 Most Discussed Movie of 2003
43	#43 Most Shared Movie of 2003