Posts Tagged ‘127 Hours’

Review: 127 Hours

Monday, January 31st, 2011

Hate to give away the ending right off the bat, but a dude cuts his arm off in this movie. But don’t let that put you off. This real life story of Aron Ralston (played by James Franco) is about way more than the arm, or lack of it, or whatever. And while yes, you do spend much of the movie on the edge of your seat, waiting for that inevitable moment, the lead up to it is so beautifully constructed by director Danny Boyle, that in that moment, you just want to be there to help him.

Ralston is a charming outdoorsy type who, in 2003 decided to explore Blue John Canyon in the remote Utah desert, something we get the feeling he has done many times before, only this time, for some inexplicable reason, he didn’t tell anyone where he was going. From the outset of the film, we’re struck with incredible expansive landscapes, the type that you don’t really believe are real as you only see them in movies like this. The way Boyle shoots, with a dizzying array of wide shots, close cuts, hand held video cameras, quick edits can leave your head spinning somewhat, but it all adds to the sense of adventure.

It’s not long into the film when Ralston jumps down into a crevasse and a boulder decides to follow him, trapping his arm. What follows is five days of what can only be described as sheer hell as he fights to survive, break free from the death grip of the boulder, ponder life and what he imagines will be his inevitable death rather matter of factly and ultimately tries to stay sane. This part of the film, as we are down there in that crevasse with him, is claustrophobic without a doubt.

I always marvel at tales like this where survival instinct just kicks in. Given, Ralston was a keen outdoorsman but I was nonetheless uber impressed with his ability to use everything he’d packed in his bag; ropes, water, pen knife, watch – to ultimately set him free. Watching him experiment with different ideas was fascinating and when it came to that heart wrenching moment, where he was all out of options, where there was no other choice but to amputate his own arm with a blunt knife, you willed him on to do it, because someone so charming, so resourceful, witty and resilient deserves to get out of that goddamn crevasse any way he damn well can.

It should be said that James Franco puts in the performance of a lifetime. For much of the film, he is alone (save for a few flashbacks of family life) and it’s no easy task to keep an audience engaged for that long. If I was a bit wishy washy about Franco before, he’s proved his acting chops with this little nugget.

Overall, this film made me think: could I do it? Would I do it? Would I fight with everything in me to survive or just accept death in what seems like an impossible situation to escape? But not only that, would I step up when it matters in other areas? Could I fight off a would-be attacker? Could I save someone else? It really makes you question your own character and if you’d have what it takes to do what’s necessary in those fight or flight moments. For me, this story of pure, unadulterated grit and determination couldn’t have come at a better time in my life.

To describe the film as ‘enjoyable’ would be off the mark, but it is an intense journey in every sense and well worth a watch.

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