127 Hours (2010)

Allow me to begin this review with some of the best advice I can give you: do NOT go rock-climbing and/or mountaineering without telling anyone. That is a BAD idea. Aron Ralston did that nearly 8 years ago, and you all know what happened to him. If you don't, and you're still considering going out to those canyons alone and without telling anyone, do yourself a favor, watch “127 Hours.” Directed by “Slumdog Millionaire”s Danny Boyle and based on Ralston's memoirs, “127 Hours” chronicles the hours leading up to the incident as well as the aftermath and subsequent rescue.

We meet Aron (James Franco) early in the morning as he gets ready to go out for a day of biking, rock climbing and mountaineering. We see him doing everything he should do for a day of strenuous activity out in the sun: packing food and lots of fluids. The one thing that he seemingly can't get his hands on is his pocket knife, something that will obviously prove to be very unfortunate. On his trip he met two young women (Kate Mara and Amber Tamblyn) who were also hiking through Blue John Canyon. He guides them to an underground pool where they spend a good part of the day just hanging out and having fun. It's clear from the beginning that Aron loves adventure, and it would appear from the reactions and attitudes of the two women he befriends, that love of adventure is contagious.

 

After he bids his friends adieu, Aron goes off by himself to continue on his hike. It is here where, while  trying to jump down 20 feet to the canyon floor, Aron dislodges an 800 pound chock stone and falls. The stone also falls and pins Aron's right arm against the side of the canyon at the wrist. At first, Aron tries to pull his arm out, then he tries to move the stone. Obviously none of these work. After a couple days of waiting for rescue, he runs out of water and we see him slowly deteriorate into hallucinations. The hallucinations include a darkly humorous talk-show type interchange between Aron and himself. He knows his mistake was not only putting too much pressure on that chock stone but more importantly not telling anybody where he was going.

The amputation scene is graphic and pretty intense. I would be remiss not to mention the various reports of people fainting and throwing up during screenings of this movie. It was NOT that bad. The editing made it so that you will squirm and jump at the most painful moments. I actually thought that was a brilliant movie. Boyle was able to reflect pain not only through the visuals which audiences have become desensitized to, but through sound. It's a very creative move, that works quite well

Before the amputation Aron begins to hallucinate seeing his entire family. Aplogizing to him he sees a young child that he's never seen before. He realizes that it's his unborn son. This more than anything else gives him the will to cut off his arm with a dull blade. Once detached from the canyon, Aron makes his way out. After meandering through the rest of the canyons he happens upon a Dutch family. The mother and son run ahead and direct the rescue party to where Aron was. The music by Boyle buddy A.R Rahmann is used to great effect at the most emotional of scenes and, I'm not gonna lie the rescue scene brought a tear or two due mostly to the score.

James Franco most certainly carries this movie. Of course, it's just him for the majority of it, and it's definitely a tribute to Franco and Boyle that this movie doesn't fail just on that account. The story is most certainly of the cautionary variety. The little I've read of “Between a Rock and a Hard Place,” Ralston's memoirs, it's clear that Ralston had a history of rash and dangerous decisions. I wouldn't go so far as to say he deserved what happened to him, nobody deserves to have an 800 pound boulder fuse  their arm to a canyon, but it was the epitome of stupid to go out alone without telling anyone where he was. That being said, Aron Ralston never gave up. His will to live and survive was incredible. I hope I have a fraction of his bravery and determination. This story shows that when someone finds something to live for, they will do ANYTHING to survive.

This is a very good movie. It's not for everyone; many will find it boring and slow. Give it a chance and see it for yourself.

7.5/10