21 Grams: A Study in Puzzles
By Morgan Wilding

Director Alejandro González Iñárritu seems to love scripts that deal with car accidents. His debut as a director, with the film Amores Perros, deals with much the same topic as the focus of 21 Grams. Paul Rivers (Sean Penn), whose heart is failing due to disease, is given a new chance at life when Jack Jordan (Benicio Del Toro) runs over the husband and daughters of Christina Peck (Naomi Watts) in a hit-and-run accident. The fatally wounded husband of Christina's heart is given to Paul, an aging professor who is lovelessly married to an English émigré (Charlotte Gainsborough). Meanwhile, the ex-convict-turned-born-again Christian Jack Jordan debates whether to turn himself in for his crime.

Acting is generally good, with special recognition being deserved for Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn. All the characters are thankfully interesting enough to prevent challenges for the actors, and this pair truly shine in their roles as born-again and womanizer respectively. Naomi Watts also delivers a passable performance in the simplest role of the three, that of the widow whose heart has been given to another man, who now comes to ask for her love.

The film certainly contains powerful moments, which are aptly handled by cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto. Kudos also go to editor Stephen Mirrione, whose job was made difficult by the precise nature of the film.

21 Grams is told out of chronological order, with 3 separate beginnings all at different places along the timeline of the film, and all of which (thankfully) move chronologically forward to gradually solve the puzzles that this format presents. This is both the saving grace and ultimately the downfall of the film-the story itself is not compelling enough that, were it told in chronological sequence, it would make an incredible or perhaps even interesting film, yet the most common comment I heard whispered in the rows of the theater was "I'm confused," followed closely by "What's going on?" 21 Grams, while ambitious and headstrong with its intriguing attempt at setting up puzzles for the viewer, ultimately goes too far, creating a film that is ultimately overcomplicated and over ambitious-a true shame, since, had Iñárritu been a tad less anxious to prove his worth as a writer-director, the film could have been quite brilliant.

Pros: Solid acting, cinematography
Cons: Overambitious, confusing
Bottom Line: Watch this when you can devote your full attention to it--it's worth seeing, but maybe not at $10 a seat.