127 Hours

In 2003, a hiker, Aron Ralston, went on a hiking trip in Moab, Utah. He found an isolated canyon to explore, and he ends up getting pinned to a boulder at the bottom of the canyon. Anyone who's read the story of Aron Ralston's story, or even heard of him, will know how it ends. This is probably the shortest plot synopsis I've ever written. But for a film and a story like this, it isn't necessarily just about the destination, it is the journey that matters, and in 127 Hours, we are with Aron Ralston every step of the way, through his 6 day ordeal. Directed by Danny Boyle(Sunshine, 28 Days Later, Slumdog Millionare), the film takes us on a journey with one man and his struggle to survive in one of the most isolated environments in the United States, with no hope of rescue.

127 Hours was based on a book written by Aron Ralston himself, so yes he survived his ordeal, but as I said earlier, it's more about how he survived that really matters. In many films based on "true stories," little respect is paid to the actual events. Here, the event IS the movie, and the one thing that makes this movie all the more powerful, is the performance of James Franco as Ralston. This is essentially a one-man movie, and James Franco delivers in every aspect. He's funny when he needs to be, and extremely intense when the situation calls for it. For example, the moment his character gets stuck, he stares at his hand and the boulder in complete disbelief. It's the small details that really help sell his performance. When he starts making his recordings, he's well aware that he never told anyone where he was going, which makes his predicament all the more harrowing. There are a few flashbacks here and there, but for the most part, it's all James Franco.

This film really isn't all that easy to sit through, as it's fairly claustrophobic. But it never drags, even though the film is centered on just the one guy stuck in the same spot for an hour and a half, it never goes by slowly. Especially when you start seeing Ralston begin to crack due to the lack of food and water. The way the film is edited makes it even more realistic, and when the moment of truth comes when Ralston has to lose his arm, you're so invested in his character that when you see it happen, you really feel bad for Ralston. That amputation scene gets pretty graphic, so beware.

Overall, this is a very solid and uplifting story of survival in the harshest of conditions. Danny Boyle has made an incredibly intense film and that intensity is amplified by James Franco in a performance that will be remembered for years to come. Most films based on true stories fall flat on their face, but 127 Hours shows complete respect for Aron Ralston and his story, and it simply is one of the best movies I've seen years. I give this one a perfect 10/10.