Review: Boyle, Franco Give Us An Unforgettable “127 Hours”
One of the year’s most anticipated movie, Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours is adapted from Aron Ralston’s book, Between a Rock and a Hard Place which staggeringly depicts the author’s notorious survival experience. Finding himself pinned under a boulder, Ralston had to resort to amputating his lower right arm after 5 days of vain effort to set himself free. Needless to say, this is one of the year’s best cinematic experience thanks to Boyle’s eclectic direction and James Franco’s stupendous performance.
In April 2003, experienced hiker and adventure-junkie Aron Ralston (Franco) drives to Utah for a weekend of hiking in Blue John Canyon. Along the way, he flirts with two lost hikers (Kate Mara and Amber Tamblyn) to whom he decides to show a stunning underwater lake. He then continues to his destination on his own, heading into a very narrow and remote crevasse where he accidentally dislodges a boulder which falls and pins his right arm against the wall. Unable to extricate himself and running out of water, he spends the next five days contemplating the cavalier way he lived the first 26 years of his life. After desperately trying everything imaginable, he does the only thing that is left to be done.
Though you might wonder how engaging or even depressing a movie about a man pinned under a rock would be, do not worry. 127 Hours is as alive and vibrant a movie as any you will see this year. Boyle spends the first half-hour establishing Aron as an all-American young man: Adventurous, free-spirited, self-sufficient, and most importantly overconfident. A critical weakness that caused him to leave for the outdoors without letting anyone know of his whereabouts. Despite the stationary location that Ralston finds himself in after the accident, the director hyper-stylishly drives the movie forward with intense flashbacks, dreams and hallucinations as Aron slowly comes to regret being so careless, selfish and aloof.
Ralston’s most primal urges are fully depicted and Boyle manages to capture the panic, the desperation, the exhaustion and the mind-wandering that occurs in terrible situation such as these. We are truly immersed in his quandary and seeing it through the protagonist’s eyes. For example, suffering of severe dehydration and forced to drink his own urine, Aron often finds himself dreaming of rain and fresh beverage of all sorts. As things get dire and Aron goes over the videos he shot earlier with the two female hikers, he finds himself with the urge of having sex with his free hand one last time. You will be hard-pressed to find a film more human than this.
As he is slowly dying of thirst, Aron soon comes to the realization that he needs to do the unthinkable: cut his arm off with the cheap dull blade in his possession. Many will have heard by now that some members of the audience at the Toronto Film Festival passed out during “the” scene. Certainly, it is gruesome, painful and thoroughly authentic looking but Boyle films it as unflinchingly as possible, never exploiting that key sequence.
James Franco is another proof that we shouldn’t be allowed to judge acting talents until an actor is given a role that pushes his limits. This is Franco’s movie from start to finish and he demonstrates the range and talent that none of his previous roles allowed him to showcase. The charm, the exuberance, the over-confidence, the fear, the desperation, the frustration and inner-contemplation – Franco gives possibly the defining performance of his career.
So should you see 127 Hours? Absolutely, it is one of the year’s best film and a triumphant affirmation of the human spirit.
A-
(8.5/10)
Lesson of the day: If in need to cut off your arm, make sure to break your forearm bones first!
Notes: Rated R for language and some disturbing violent content/bloody images, 94 minutes.
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28 Comments
cheers Castor, this looks great, looking forward to seeing it. even if it isnt on this side of atlantic until january!
It’s very good, definitely check it out Ross!
We share a lot of the same thoughts on this one Castor
– unfortunately my review spends a bit of time on audiences.
This is definitely in my top 3 of the year so far. I like that you highlighted his masturbation scene, it definitely went to the authenticity of the experience. I also loved that Boyle never exploited the sob story, there was never any melodrama, even though I’ve gotta admit, I got a little teary at the end. I can’t imagine having to cut my arm off and then having to rappel down a cliff and hike out of the canyon.
Indeed, it’s such a low key but incredibly striking scene and I was surprised it would be in the movie. Also, most people are aware that he had to cut off his own arm but may not realize he still had to make his way back to civilization with no water and on the edge of total exhaustion.
Also, James Franco on Inside the Actor’s Studio tonight at 8.
Thanks for letting us know Phil!
The second time I watched this film, I found myself more interested watching the crowd during “the scene” than i was in re-watching the scene.
Great film – one of the year’s best for certain (and one we reviewed on the latest episode of The Matineecast!)
PS…Think I’m gonna need to ask around and see if I can corroborate the passing-out story. I’m starting to think this is a bit of a mythical story.
Probably just another piece of marketing.
I’m not gonna read this, since I don’t want to be spoiled xD
Great review, Castor. Glad you finally got to watch this. You already know how I feel about it but I will see this when it’s out on rental. Franco is definitely has matured as an actor, good for him. Looks like Danny Boyle found the right actor for the job… perhaps Oscar is on the horizon once again for him.
Ya, finally!
James Franco is pissing me off lately. Mostly because he gets his okay-ish-contrived-Kerouac-wannabe book of short stories published simply for being James Franco.
While we’re on the topic, anyway.
That is all.
I’m sorry, but I didn’t think this film was all that. Read my review for a counter-argument.
It’s sad, because Franco and this film will likely get all the recognition Into the Wild should have received.
Cool. Now I’m so excited to see this. I’m a big fan of Boyle and this one is gonna rock.
Looking forward to your reaction Will!
Hey Castor, I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing this film yet, but what is your opinion on it’s Oscar chances (especially a second Best Director gong for Danny)??
Sorry to get back to you so late, I put off answering you and then simply forgot about it!
In terms of Oscar chance, I think it definitely has a great shot at getting a nomination for James Franco’s performance. It should also be very likely to pick up both a Best Picture and Best Director nod. At this point, I can’t tell you whether any of those will lead to wins since I haven’t seen both Black Swan, The Social Network and True Grit yet.
It shorts out on the introspection Between a Rock and a Hard Place offered. But at least they didn’t white-wash the film of its more “humanistic” elements.
Thanks for the lesson of the day. I’ll make sure to remember that! I really want to see this, but I’m falling so behind I’m not sure I’ll make it. Hopefully, he’ll get an Oscar nod and it will stay in the theaters longer.
Like Ross, I’m damn disappointed we have to wait until january for this and The Black Swan and The King’s Speech. Why in the name of god do you need to stagger Oscar releases? Us Europeans have Christmas holidays too!
Glad you like it, though.
Says the man who saw Tron Legacy 2 weeks before us lowly North Americans!
The trailer itself is a masterpiece…the way it shows us the funny part of the movie in the beginning and then it suddenly turns into sorrow. Very contrasting. Can’t wait to see the whole thing.
Absolutely agree, easily the best trailer of the year that I am aware of.
“127 Hours” will make it to the Carolinas one of these days, and I’m really stoked to see it when it does. I’ve long believed that James Franco was more than a pretty face even if he kept taking “pretty boy” parts. “Pineapple Express” showed he was a gifted comic actor, while his small part in “Milk” showed he was capable of nuance. I suspect that “127 Hours” will show he’s capable of everything.
She’s back! Looking forward to read your thoughts on the movie.
Hey M, not sure where you’re at in the Carolinas but 127 Hours is in Raleigh, NC so it can’t be too dreadfully long before it expands out into SC and neighboring regions (I’d imagine).
For such a simple concept and arguably limited breadth, Boyle and Franco have excelled with a soul-searching drama that’s as elative as it is stomach-turning.
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