Review of 127 Hours (2010) by Daniel J — 25 May 2014

127 hours a film by acclaim director Danny Boyle, who's directed films like Sunshine, Slumdog Millionaire, 28 Days Later, and Trainspotting. Now Boyle to me is a good director, though he's never made a film that's totally blown me away, well until now. 127 hours is easily his masterpiece, I say that with 100% confindence. Now Boyle does something most directors would ultimately fail at, making a movie that takes place in one place and focuses on just one character, for most of the film. I was skeptical about watching 127 hours but being a huge fan of James Franco, I decided to give it a shot. I've been a fan of Franco since his Freaks and Geeks days. If you've never seen Freaks and Geeks, I highly recommend that show, it's one the best short lived shows ever. Anyways back to 127 hours, the trailer caught my eye when I first saw it, plus the word of mouth was pretty impressive.

It was nominated for 6 Academy Awards and if I remember right? it didn't win a single one, atleast I don't recall it winning, since I watched the oscars this year. It should have one atleast two, one being cinematography (Amazing) and best actor (Yes, Franco deserved it). Well James Franco performance was phenominal, now I haven't seen A King's Speech but I find hard to believe Firth performance was better. Not that I care that Colin Firth won, he derserves an oscar, I just hope that Franco has many more chances to get one. Most of the time an actor doesn't get an oscar for his best performance and James Franco will have a hard time finding a better role.

127 hours is based on a true story about a thrill-seeker named Aron Ralston, who lives in Utah and has a great passion for the great outdoors. One day Aron decides to go canyoneering by himself and makes one huge mistake. He doesn't tell his friends or family where he's going, never a good idea is it? Anyways, Aron does bring some supplies with him for his weekend journey. On his way to the canyons he meets two trail hikers (Kate Mara & Amber Tamblyn), Aron shows the girls a great place for cavern diving. This to me looks like alot of fun and I hope to do it one day. Also the water in cavern is so blue and clean, I would never want to swim a regular swimming pool ever again.

After what seems a couple of hours of diving and swimming, Aron and girls go seperate ways. Aron travels further on for a couple miles, finally finding a place to climb down into the caverns once again. Aron finds a boulder but it seems in place, he grabs onto it and starts to go downward but when he does the boulder comes loose and falls bringing Aron down with it. When Aron reaches bottom, he realises the boulder has smashed his hand against the wall of the cavern. His hand is stuck and Aron tries for hours to get it loose but nothing works. This is when the movie really starts (This is about 16 mins into it). Now Aron has some food, water, video camera, climbing rope, and one of those multiple tool knives.

Aron spends the next five days tring to get out of life threating situation. Now this might sound boring but I asure you that Boyle does not dissapoint here at all. He does such great job of keeping the viewer interested that it seems your down there with Aron. You start to feel Aron's pain and learn that we've all felt helpless at one point in our lives. Now Aron reflects on his life and what he'll give up if he dies down there (Boyles flashes of visuals here is pure brilliance). After five days Aron finally decides if he doesn't cut off his arm he will die of thirst and starvation. The amputation scene is pretty intense, Boyle really doesn't hold back much here at all, it's very realistic. Actually some people have been put off by this movie just because of this one scene.

So if you got a weak stomach you might wanna look away. After finally cutting off his arm, Aron is free but must find help fast because he's losing blood very rapidly. After about 4 hours Aron finds a search party and they have a helicopter waiting for him. Aron's life is saved and forever changed. I personally think 127 hours is one the best inspirational movies of the year and in top 10 of 2010, James Franco deserved his best actor nomination. This is Danny Boyle's best film to date and was so much more deserving of best picture than Slumdog Millionaire. But folks that's only my opinion, you have watch 127 hours and decide for yourselves. I highly recommend it of course, so put it in your Netflix or just buy it, you can't go wrong. I sure you'll never forget 127 hours after seeing it, I'm sure it will leave you with a lasting impression of survival.

I also recommend watching Search & Rescue on 127 hours DVD. It goes into further detail about the true story of Aron Ralston and how his story inspired others. Actually Aron recieved a letter from a woman who decided not to commit suicide, after hearing about Aron's story. Ralston also talks about how his life as been since the event.