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I was excited about 127 Hours from the moment I heard it was in development. The combination of Danny Boyle and James Franco was a thrilling thought. A great actor on his own for the majority of the movie, and a great director helping him on the journey. The subject matter was interesting to boot.
However, when I came out of the cinema after watching the film I was disappointed. How did the finished product not live up to the promise?
Firstly, there are many good points about the film. Franco does not disappoint as expected. His portrayal of Aron is moving and funny in equal parts. You really do feel for him from the first fall that traps him between the rocks to the final moment when he is rescued by fellow hikers. This is a key aspect of the film – if the audience does not engage with Aron as a character they will not care what happens to him. Thankfully this is an Aron you really do root for, and the moment each viewer dreads arrives (the actual method of escape) you cannot help but wince and squirm and feel desperately sorry for him for going through such an ordeal.
The moment in question is brilliantly shot and realised. It isn’t overly graphic or gratuitous, and the use of sound and close ups is perfectly choreographed.
Onto the bad points. It’s actually hard for me to put my finger on exactly what didn’t agree with me about this film. Partly it was the portrayal of Aron’s hallucinations as he slowly dehydrates and starves. They were too flashy, too literal, too polished. They make the film over-melodramatic which spoilt the mood ever so slightly. The flashbacks however, were all fine and really did add meaning to Aron’s life and his tragedy.
Apart from the hallucinations, I really don’t know what it was that didn’t click for me. Maybe it’s just one of those things.
I would recommend seeing it though, purely for Franco’s acting and to experience an event that you question whether you could do the same in that situation.
