21 Grams DVD Review:

A freak accident forms an indelible connection between three people and starts a chain of events that will see each of them consumed by their own unique emotion. Repeat offender Jack (Del Toro) has turned his life around and become a well-respected member of his local church community, but the accident has left him drenched with guilt and the belief that God has forsaken him. Loving mother Christina (Watts) lived an idyllic live with her husband and two daughters until the accident robbed her of everything that ever had any meaning for her, plunging her into grief. Paul (Penn) had only months to live as his diseased heart was failing until the accident gifted him hope but burdened him with a sense of responsibility.

Three consummate actors at the top of their game and a visually creative director combine to bring us a story of guilt, grief, hatred and forgiveness.

Told in a very non-linear fashion, the story jumps around the timeline of the events offering tentative glimpses of the three concurrent plotlines. Interweaving what happened before the accident, as the incident occurred and its subsequent aftermath, the movie throws you around these people’s lives revealing a revelation and then building the story until we find out how those events actually occur. This might sound confusing but the excellent script, editing and direction by Alejandro González Iñárritu mean you never get lost, as the characters look noticeably different in each timeframe.

This innovative approach and strong, emotional storyline would be nothing without three accomplished actors firing on all cylinders. Sean Penn is becoming one of the finest actors of his generation. Every performance is a powerhouse and this is no exception. The man cannot help but grab your attention every time he graces the screen. His performance as Paul, the man inexplicitly draw to the woman, whose husband saved his life, is profound as he portrays a sense responsibility towards the welfare of this forlorn widow.

Naomi Watts continues to showcase her electrifying acting ability with another standout performance. This emotionally draining but extremely powerful role is totally resplendent as she truly captures the feeling of grief felt by her character. Only the most hardened of cynics could not be moved by the sheer emotion shown by this character and it to Watts’s credit that her performance manages to stir such feelings.

Benicio Del Toro continues to dazzle as the guilt ridden, ex-con whose belief in God, which had been his salvation, is severely tested by the accident. He pulls no punches as he character questions his faith and the guilt of his actions dissipate any chance of rational thought or coming to terms with what he has done. Del Toro captures this superbly making Jack almost a tragic character that you really do feel sorry for even after the devastation he has caused.

A lot of the plaudits for this astonishing accomplishment have to go to director Alejandro González Iñárritu. His vision and sense of plot really involves the audience as he tentatively reveals the story in episodic chunks that tweak your attention only for you to discover how these events came out as the movie progresses. The use of slightly grainy, handheld video with a strong emphasis on single colours, take you into these people’s lives making you feel that you are witnessing, not watching the events unfold before you. This is truly inventive filmmaking and again shows Iñárritu as a shining light of modern cinema.

While the subject matter may sound depressing and hard going, the performances of the three leads draw you into the character’s plights making you care for them, creating a wiliness to find out how it all concludes. This is powerful, emotion and at times, heart wrenching material that examines the human condition when it is confronted by the extremes that life can throw at you. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea but ‘21 Grams’ is commanding cinema that cannot help but affect anyone who watches it.

Star Rating = * * * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen with a choice between Dolby Digital 5.1 and dts surround soundtracks, this is an extremely good transfer. The picture quality is first rate, capturing Iñárritu’s vision superbly. The sound quality is also of an extremely high standard, with a strong emphasis on dialogue, as you want with a character driven drama, and filling the rest of the speakers with Gustavo Santaolalla’s marvellous score.

BONUS FEATURES

Behind the Scenes: 21 Grams in Fragments (18.39 mins)

Director Alejandro González Iñárritu and stars Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn and Naomi Watts take you on the emotional ride that they experienced filming 21 Grams. Iñárritu explains why the film isn’t in chronological order but in emotional order as the story stems from his obsession with death and the consequences of it. The stars reveal how they were offered their parts and what it was like working with the director on only his second picture. Iñárritu talks about his crew and how he sees them as an extended family and reveals his ritual he goes through at the start and finish of his filmmaking process.

Trailer (1.43 mins)

Your chance to see the stirring, emotional theatrical trailer for 21 Grams.

OVERALL

An outstanding piece of cinema deserves a first rate DVD but this is sadly lacking. While you cannot argue with the presentation of the movie, especially with the inclusion of the dts track, the small amount of extras don’t do this great movie justice. The featurette is a good watch however, not your usual fair as it gives you more on an insight into how Iñárritu and his cast and crew work but a commentary track would have gone a long way to adding more value for the fans. This aside, 21 Grams is a movie that should adorn everybody’s movie collection, as it is one of the finest examples of acting to grace the silver screen in many years.

DVD Star Rating = * * *

Jamie Kelwick

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