127 Hours (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'127 Hours' (directed by Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire) shows us the incredible true story of Aron Ralston, a mountain climber who fell into quite the grave situation back in April/May 2003. The movie's 1st 15 min., which are kinetic (to say the least), introduces us to the 27 yr. old adventurer (James Franco). The opening credits are edited wildly, the colors are vibrant, A.R. Rahman's music is loud, the landscape shots of Utah's isolated Blue John Canyon are phenomenal, and all of this is meant to parallel Ralston's own existence. Ralston is cocky, wild, colorful, & haphazard; such as his venture into said canyon.
During this venture, Aron encounters a pair of lost hikers (Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara) & helps them find their way through the cavernous rock trails; and not without them having their own little adventure along the way. They thank him, walk off, & before long, Aron tumbles down a shaft; becoming trapped near the bottom by a boulder that's crushed his right arm against the tunnel wall. Trapped. Aron tries everything within his power to get loose, but the items/tools he has provide little assistance; including an extremely dull knife. Screaming, yelling, pushing, pulling, thrusting, chipping ... exasperation. Nothing is helping him. As his supply of H2O dwindles, Aron soon realizes that he may die within a couple of days.
The script chooses to stay firmly planted on James Franco's face for most of the film; refusing to show worried family & friends back home, or rescue efforts (if there were any). There are a smattering of brief flashbacks & fatigue-induced hallucinations that we witness. Ralston philosophizes a bit: was this small boulder always going to be my demise? Was I predestined to die in this hole? etc. By the 5th day of his disappearance, we see a man who has lost color in his body, is nibbled on by insects, & starts losing his mind to hazy dreams & existential thoughts. In heroic fashion, Aron sheds his pride, & summons enough energy to break his arm & saw it free from the boulder - to survive. And for as taxing as it is to witness that, his near-death experience doesn't even end there!
'127 Hours' excels at showing what constitutes someone's desire to LIVE. Watching Ralston panic, face dire straits (lack of food, water, blood circulation, wildly extreme temperatures), examine his life (highs, lows, regrets), ward-off hopeless delusions, & finally resort to desperate measures to survive is basically the only real reason to see this film. James Franco gives the performance of a lifetime as Ralston. The movie relies on his performance to challenge us, the viewer, to stay with him (physically & mentally) for 70 of the film's 95 min. Those who put themselves in Ralston/Franco's shoes will come away from the film wholly rewarded. Thanks to Franco, we see into Aron's mindset throughout the whole process. Aron Ralston, who had a camcorder with him, recorded a video diary of his thoughts/experiences - including heartfelt messages to his family. You can't get much more vulnerable than that.
Much has been made of the cutting-off-the-arm-with-a-dull-knife scene. In the fall film festivals, & during the 3 min. scene, there were reports of walk-outs, & faintings of those watching. And I must say, it's a grueling, bloody 3 minutes. The worst component (for me) is the 1st minute when's he's cracking his arm before the initial cuts. I myself had a reaction: including several grimaces & sweaty palms. Credit to Danny Boyle for not turning the camera away to lessen impact.
You know, this film forces you to think: could I do what he did in that situation? Could I have overcome the miserable peculiarities that arise when one's destined for death? It's a tough call. I think Aron Ralston is a bit nutty. It's hard to relate to him. I'm not a wild child adventurer. And like shark attack victims who go surfing weeks afterwards, Ralston continues to scale canyons & mountains without an arm. I'm not saying 'give up on life', but the man now has a hard-earned second shot at life, a wife, & child ... I would never be in the position Aron Ralston is-and-was in. So it's hard to answer if I could have done what he did.
The stars of the film are Danny Boyle (for bringing imagination & visual panache to what would have been an EXTREMELY static & tedious affair) & James Franco for exhibiting the courage & desperation Ralston so starkly experienced. The film offers little in the way of suspense (as the story has been well-documented). Some of Ralston's philosophical/reflective ramblings lack resonance. And aside from the triumphant final 15 min. or so, there's little that's emotionally rich. Having said that, few directors could have made this movie as appealing as it is, & few actors could have deftly shown the details of what went on during those 127 hours as well as James Franco did. I firmly believe that.
During this venture, Aron encounters a pair of lost hikers (Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara) & helps them find their way through the cavernous rock trails; and not without them having their own little adventure along the way. They thank him, walk off, & before long, Aron tumbles down a shaft; becoming trapped near the bottom by a boulder that's crushed his right arm against the tunnel wall. Trapped. Aron tries everything within his power to get loose, but the items/tools he has provide little assistance; including an extremely dull knife. Screaming, yelling, pushing, pulling, thrusting, chipping ... exasperation. Nothing is helping him. As his supply of H2O dwindles, Aron soon realizes that he may die within a couple of days.
The script chooses to stay firmly planted on James Franco's face for most of the film; refusing to show worried family & friends back home, or rescue efforts (if there were any). There are a smattering of brief flashbacks & fatigue-induced hallucinations that we witness. Ralston philosophizes a bit: was this small boulder always going to be my demise? Was I predestined to die in this hole? etc. By the 5th day of his disappearance, we see a man who has lost color in his body, is nibbled on by insects, & starts losing his mind to hazy dreams & existential thoughts. In heroic fashion, Aron sheds his pride, & summons enough energy to break his arm & saw it free from the boulder - to survive. And for as taxing as it is to witness that, his near-death experience doesn't even end there!
'127 Hours' excels at showing what constitutes someone's desire to LIVE. Watching Ralston panic, face dire straits (lack of food, water, blood circulation, wildly extreme temperatures), examine his life (highs, lows, regrets), ward-off hopeless delusions, & finally resort to desperate measures to survive is basically the only real reason to see this film. James Franco gives the performance of a lifetime as Ralston. The movie relies on his performance to challenge us, the viewer, to stay with him (physically & mentally) for 70 of the film's 95 min. Those who put themselves in Ralston/Franco's shoes will come away from the film wholly rewarded. Thanks to Franco, we see into Aron's mindset throughout the whole process. Aron Ralston, who had a camcorder with him, recorded a video diary of his thoughts/experiences - including heartfelt messages to his family. You can't get much more vulnerable than that.
Much has been made of the cutting-off-the-arm-with-a-dull-knife scene. In the fall film festivals, & during the 3 min. scene, there were reports of walk-outs, & faintings of those watching. And I must say, it's a grueling, bloody 3 minutes. The worst component (for me) is the 1st minute when's he's cracking his arm before the initial cuts. I myself had a reaction: including several grimaces & sweaty palms. Credit to Danny Boyle for not turning the camera away to lessen impact.
You know, this film forces you to think: could I do what he did in that situation? Could I have overcome the miserable peculiarities that arise when one's destined for death? It's a tough call. I think Aron Ralston is a bit nutty. It's hard to relate to him. I'm not a wild child adventurer. And like shark attack victims who go surfing weeks afterwards, Ralston continues to scale canyons & mountains without an arm. I'm not saying 'give up on life', but the man now has a hard-earned second shot at life, a wife, & child ... I would never be in the position Aron Ralston is-and-was in. So it's hard to answer if I could have done what he did.
The stars of the film are Danny Boyle (for bringing imagination & visual panache to what would have been an EXTREMELY static & tedious affair) & James Franco for exhibiting the courage & desperation Ralston so starkly experienced. The film offers little in the way of suspense (as the story has been well-documented). Some of Ralston's philosophical/reflective ramblings lack resonance. And aside from the triumphant final 15 min. or so, there's little that's emotionally rich. Having said that, few directors could have made this movie as appealing as it is, & few actors could have deftly shown the details of what went on during those 127 hours as well as James Franco did. I firmly believe that.