Director Danny Boyle went from depicting the slums and conquering a game show in Slumdog Millionaire to a personal tale of survival in 127 Hours. The thought of watching a film about a guy’s arm being stuck in a canyon for 90 minutes is tough to imagine. But it can be done. Boyle captures the energy and adventure of Aron Ralston (James Franco), but at the same time, the fear of never being able to escape and never making it back to his family and friends.
Based on the true story, 127 Hours is about an independent, risk-taking mountaineer named Ralston. He goes out to the canyons of Utah, a place he knows very well. However, a misstep by him ends up making him fall and a boulder falls on his arm in the process. He is stuck. No one knows where he is and once the camera begins to move out, it reveals how remote these canyons are and how no one can hear his cries for help.
While Ralston is trying to manage his time and figure out ways to get out, he reflects on his family and friends. He remembers choices he has made in his life and with those choices come some regrets. And it is a nice touch by Boyle because it adds interest for the audience and explains who Ralston is. He uses these memories as motivation to get out and get back to civilization. If you know the story, you know what desperate measures Ralston goes to in order to survive. He has to make the decision to either wait for help and possibly die while doing so or lose an arm but save his life. And you may want to look away, but can’t, when he makes that decision.
127 Hours is a one-man show and it is all based around the terrific performance by Franco. Franco has to dive in to so many different emotions and feelings playing Ralston, a guy who loves adventure and does not need anyone. He can rely on himself. But once he gets trapped, being too independent comes back to haunt him. Ralston goes from a feeling of confidence and being self-sufficient to vulnerable, helpless and alone. A man who only has his memories to keep him company. And a decision that will change his life forever.
Franco has displayed his range and how versatile of an actor he can be by his choices of roles from the Spider-Man movies to Milk to Pineapple Express. But with this performance, like Ralston, he has to rely solely on his talent and abilities. And never has Franco been better than he is in this film.
Under the direction of Boyle and with a captivating performance by Franco, 127 Hours becomes more intriguing and makes the audience wait in suspense and anxiety. This film is a true tale about survival in the purest and rarest form, and the very thought of anyone having to make the type of decisions Ralston has to make is amazing.
No way will you forget this film or its story any time soon, and you may always remember James Franco’s performance and the sacrifices made by the man himself – Aron Ralston.
“Nature Boy” Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of theSoBros Network, and the star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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