127 Hours (2010) Review

127 Hours is 5 days. That's how long Aron Ralston (James Franco) is trapped between a rock and a hard place. Literally. Based upon a true story, 127 Hours is about a young engineer who, when hiking in the desert, gets his arm stuck between a large boulder and a canyon wall. The boulder is too big to move and has wedged his hand just perfectly. The next hour and a half of the movie takes place in that canyon. Aron never actually gives up trying to escape but has no qualms about the fact that he is probably going to die. No one knows where he is because Aron broke the number one rule about hiking alone. Always let someone know where you are going.

Director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire) is famous for doing weird things with the camera. At first he begins the film with wide shots and is able to show a carefree feeling. Then by filming the last two-thirds of the movie in extreme close-up he creates a sense of claustrophobia. We feel stuck in that tiny canyon along with Aron.

Over the last couple of years James Franco has consistently given believable performances. 127 Hours is his best yet. So few actors are able to carry an entire movie all by themselves.

However I must confess that I do have some criticisms with the picture. There are far too many flashbacks that Aron goes through with no real explanation or purpose for them. I would much rather have spent time seeing Aron try to get out and talking to a hand-held camera where he creates a sort of manifesto. Those moments are by far the most compelling and the flashbacks slow the film down.

Aron manages to escape but in order to do so he must do something that the audience sees as unthinkable. There is no way around that outcome or reaction from the audience.

★★★