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 221 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 221 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

LeviS.

Jan 22, 2009

Easaly one of the best drama movies I've seen to date. The non-lineair structure makes it unique and keeps you focused on the movie, the story is very dark and emotional, but it doesn't exceed the limits of what's good and the visuals of this movie are just stunning,it looks Easaly one of the best drama movies I've seen to date. The non-lineair structure makes it unique and keeps you focused on the movie, the story is very dark and emotional, but it doesn't exceed the limits of what's good and the visuals of this movie are just stunning,it looks like Iñárritu carefully selected the lightning, background, clothing of the actors and camera type, to optimise the colors, brightness and contrast, which makes it truly a piece of visual poetry.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Spangle

Jul 29, 2016

"Pues cuando ardió la pérdida, reverdecieron sus maizales", which translates to "For when the loss burned, their cornfields became green again" is the perfect dedication for this beautifully moving look at death and its effects on three previously unconnected people. From the masterful mind"Pues cuando ardió la pérdida, reverdecieron sus maizales", which translates to "For when the loss burned, their cornfields became green again" is the perfect dedication for this beautifully moving look at death and its effects on three previously unconnected people. From the masterful mind of Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, this phenomenal film may truly be his magnum opus. A poetic and stirring look at death with truly breathtaking performances from Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, and Benicio del Toro, this film brought me to tears so many times, I lost count. The non-linear narrative can be a bit of a challenge, but when you see the whole thing, the power of it all truly brings you to your knees. The characters are brilliantly developed and express emotions and pain the way a real person would. Their writing is so strong that their pain becomes your pain as the film invokes a consistent feeling of empathy for all three of the characters, regardless of their transgressions and personal faults. 21 Grams is a stunning work that will leave you in ruins.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AmurabiM.

Jun 23, 2006

Sordid, grim, powerful and sad. That´s what "21 Grams" is. A story of grieving, fault, guilt and redemprtion. Guileermo Arriaga´s script feels a little bit overwrought and forced, there are so much misery in this world, that you can feel depressed and miserable. His fragmented Sordid, grim, powerful and sad. That´s what "21 Grams" is. A story of grieving, fault, guilt and redemprtion. Guileermo Arriaga´s script feels a little bit overwrought and forced, there are so much misery in this world, that you can feel depressed and miserable. His fragmented narrative tris to be an existential puzzle, full of spirituality but that interpretation loses weight because that fragmentation. Alejandro González Iñárritu is an ambitious director; he can do whatever he wants because he has a personal style. His collaboration with Arriaga is prolific but it feels a little bit pretentious. "21 Grams" is, above all, a great work of actors. They can manage the lacks of the writing, doing a terrific performance. "21 Grams" worth as a work of a team; as cinematographic value, the movie is a regular fall season movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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

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

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

SEE ALL 22 REVIEWS

98	#98 Best Movie of 2003
56	#56 Most Discussed Movie of 2003
43	#43 Most Shared Movie of 2003