Review of 127 Hours (2010) by Marcus Y — 02 Dec 2012

The first thing you notice in this film, is the similarity between this and Boyle's other oscar winning masterpiece Slumdog Millionaire. James Franco is Aron Ralston. A high risk, no care in the world, crest of wave kinda guy. The story is simple, Ralston goes canyoneering in blue john canyon, Utah. After a meeting with some girls (beautiful girls I might add) he heads for his own place in blue john, on the way he falls down a canyon and a boulders lands on his arm and traps him for 127 hours, hence the title. What Danny Boyle does with this great film is he puts the viewer in Ralston's shoes. Its an incredible journey Boyle takes you on. And with A R Rahman doing the soundtrack again, its more of a feelgood movie than a oh crap look at the mess I'm in kinda film.

There has been alot of unwarrented criticism for this movie and heres why... Aron Ralston goes canyoneering, falls down a canyon, boulder falls on arm, days later his amputates his arm, escapes and lives to tell the tale and writes a book and heres the film. I'm sure there is a t-shirt and a cup somewhere if you look hard enough. Why make a film about a bloke who goes on an adventure without a mobile phone, telling nobody where he is going and oops he gets in a pickle and quite a pickle at that.

But for me and we are all aloud opinions, so go with me yeah. This isn't about what I've just said, its about one mans journey through one of the worst mistakes of his life. Yes he regets it, yes he forgot the phone, yes he forgot to tell someone where he was going, but its about the will to live, to fight, and to not give up even though you reget the impossible situation your in. Finally. James Franco is excellent as Ralston, and Boyle delivers again with a real heartfelt true story of a real determination to survive whatever the odds. And I'm sure you wanna know before I shut up, the amputation scene isn't that bad, yes its bloody and gory, but its NOT as bad as some people have made out, after all its only a 15, not an 18. Mesmersing, incredible, excellent, moving, touching, just go and see it, you won't forget it I promise!!!