Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu made a well-deserved leap into the renown film-making pool with Amores Perros, and his follow up 21 Grams shows him with plenty of talent to spare. He also gets three (or more, depends on how effective one thinks the supporting performance were) forceful, compelling performances out of Sean Penn, Benicio Del-Torro, and Naomi Watts. They're involved in three interlocking stories- Penn as a mathematician with a rottening health and a near-rottening relationship; Del-Torro's found Jesus Christ after being in and out of jail for part of his life; Watts is a house-wife who may have some deep troubles within her mind. Each of the three leads doesn't go for cheap drama, and each one plunges the depths of their own abilities to find truths that might not be possible with lesser material or a lesser director. I won't say much more about the stories, however I do have something to say about the structure of the film. The script brings some mesmerizing scenes, ones with great tragedy that bring out a viewer's compassion.

Never-the-less, there was something about the structure that I didn't think was all that great. In films like Once Upon a Time in America, Reservoir Dogs, and even Memento, the scrambled story structure had a purpose, adding appropriate twists and turns for the audience. 21 Grams (like Amores Perros in a sense) has that non-linear basis to it too, and sometimes it works for the audience to react. But I think there would be a lot more power to how these characters' fates and tragedies unfold if it was told linearly from start to finish. In many moments in the film I found myself knowing a little too much before a particular scene unfolded, or I found myself guessing about something that I didn't need to (one of the points of non-linear storytelling is answers first, questions later). It wasn't an aspect that made the film bad, yet the stock that writer Guillermo Arriaga and director Inarritu put into this structure over interlocking the stories in order, or perhaps telling each story separately, is the film's only drawback.

Cristina Peck (Naomi Watts) is a well-married housewife, living with her two lovely daughters and her husband in a comfortable house. Paul Rivers (Sean Penn) is a mathematician, married with Mary Rivers (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and having troubles with his heart, needing an urgent transplantation and waiting for a donator. Jack Jordan (Benicio Del Toro) is a former drug dealer and small time crook, married with Marienne Jordan (Melissa Meo) and having a son and a daughter, who found his salvation in Jesus, becoming a good man and a fanatic religious. A horrible car accident joins the lives of Cristina, Paul and Jack, affecting their families and friends. In order to avoid spoilers, I do not intend to go any further in my summary of the plot.

"21 Grams" is a movie supported by a great screenplay, magnificent direction and wonderful interpretations. The screenplay presents the story in non-chronological fragments, like in "Pulp Fiction", disclosing in pieces like a puzzle a depressing story, certainly in one of the saddest movies ever. The direction of Alejandro González Anirritu is impressive. This is the second movie directed by him that I saw (the other one was "Amores Perros") and both of them are excellent films. The greatest reference I can mention is the IMDb User Rating: "Amores Perros" (top 250: #139, with 8.2) and "21 Grams" (top 250: #188, with 8.0). Therefore, many viewers share my opinion in this regard. The performance of the cast is something unique: Naomi Watts proves that she is not only a beautiful face and body on the screen, but also a terrific actress, being nominated by the Academy for the Best Actress Award. Benicio Del Toro, who was found some years ago, has another great performance in an important role, the trigger of the situations exposed in the story. Sean Penn is an outstanding actor, always a synonym of high-quality performance and it is not necessary to say thing else about him. Melissa Meo, Charlotte Gainsbourg and the rest of the cast have inspired acting. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil):'21 Gramas' ('21Grams')

Alejandro González Iñárritu to me is an immensely talented director, with not a bad film (from personal opinion) in his filmography. Some films are better than others, 'Babel' to me is his weakest though still very good, but even when Iñárritu is not at his best he is still significantly better than many directors at their best and worst.

It is easy to see why '21 Grams' won't appeal to everybody. It is not an easy watch and there are many other films that have better replay value, but it is still a fine film, with so many great things, that both challenges and rewards those who love the film. '21 Grams' has a non-linear structure that can feel fragmented, and there are a couple of parts that are not as clear as it could have been and cause a little confusion. The ending also could have been better rounded off.

'21 Grams', as always with Iñárritu is a visual and technical marvel, with photography that's gritty, atmospheric, beautiful and intimate, clever editing and striking scenery. Iñárritu's direction is exemplary, with a breath taking vision, mastery of mood and taking risks and not holding back. The music is not amazing but it fits well.

The script in '21 Grams' is tense, poignant and thought-provoking, while most of the story is thematically and dramatically gripping with plenty of intensity and emotional impact as well as a suitably bleak tone. The characters are compellingly real.

Have nothing but praise for the acting, which is some of the best acting of that year. Sean Penn is splendid in one of his best performances, while Naomi Watts' performance is very close to a career-best. Best of all is Benico Del Toro who really gets into the complex meat of his character, an intense and moving performance that in no way falls into hamminess. Melissa Leo and Charlotte Gainsburg are fine too if not in the same league as the three leads.

Overall, challenging but rewarding. 9/10 Bethany Cox