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I have had plenty of knowledge about the Aron Ralston incident ever since high school in 2003 when I was 12. This was announced by my headmaster and I was in shock when I was told about it. It was also on the news the night I came home and ever since then, I have always wanted to see a film about this. When I found out Danny Boyle was making a film about Aron Ralston, I couldn't wait to see it! The trailer looked fantastic as predicted as the film itself was. I would presume that some people might say that 'this looks boring because it is about one guy stuck and it looks cheap'. It really is not a cheap film at all! The filming of it was very professional and, if I am honest, very precise! The cinematography was absolutely outstanding and I hope that it wins the Academy Award for Best Cinematography as it should.
I absolutely loved 127 Hours from start to finish! This is a perfect example that shows the pride and the courage of the human heart and what must be done in order to survive. I'll tell you another real-life story that this reminded me of; and that was John McLaughlin and Will Jimeno's entrapment and rescue on 11th September 2001 and the film World Trade Center in general. I guess this was perhaps a really difficult film to give a solid title but quite frankly, I think '127 Hours' is a very solid title because it shows almost instantly how much pain and suffering Aron went through. It was very graphic only in two specific scenes (falling and his entrapment and the next bit is a bit of a spoiler) and I did feel uneasy in my seat in the cinema watching it.
127 Hours is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston's remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he is finally rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers, family, and the two hikers he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet?
I never thought I would say this but James Franco deserves the Academy Award for Best Leading Actor. His role as Aron is perhaps the most career defining performance that I think I have ever witnessed and it has become a massive breakthrough in his career. I mean, before he was just known as Harry Osborn in the Spider-Man trilogy and Pineapple Express, but now he has proven us wrong that he really isn't just another Hollywood actor and, quite frankly, I knew deep down that Franco can perform something worthy of an Oscar and he certainly showed that with 127 Hours so I hope he does well enough to do it again. This film may have pretty much just starred James Franco but I liked how strong the rest of the characters were such as the two hikers Christie and Megan who Aron met just before the accident and his lover Clémence Poésy and we go deeper and further into how their relationship was before Aron's accident. Surprised me with how Aron had a creative and intelligent side to him as well during his entrapment when he uses the equipment that he had with him to help him survive despite only being able to use one arm. You know what else is great about Aron Ralston? Despite what happened to him and what he had to do to survive, he is still a mountain climber now and that is pure inspiration and does take a lot of guts! The incident gave Aron a lesson as well because he never told anyone where he was going but now after that, he always tells his friends and family where he is going off to. I have to admit that despite Aron was in a sticky enough situation as it is, it could have been a lot worse! I mean, he could have had another body part trapped and might not have been at the bottom of the canyon and could've dangled half way down by his arm stuck in the boulder. So the whole thing was like a lesson for Aron but also woke him up because he truly realised what was important in life.
After Slumdog Millionaire, you can tell that this is a Danny Boyle film seeing as he again uses a similar style of filmmaking and cinematography. In every single film Danny Boyle has directed, he has taken us all on different journeys from different genres but this time, he takes us on a true journey and this is the first and only bio-pic film he has done thus far. I just can't wait for his next project. The script was adapted from the book called Between A Rock And A Hard Place by Aron Ralston himself as well as a true story of course. It was written by Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy I was impressed with how precise Aron managed to get it by remembering it all despite all the pain he went through during those 5 days. Brilliantly written especially when it is basically about one guy alone in the canyons and trying to survive when it could have been absolutely boring and nobody would care whether he lives or dies but also the fact, we go into flashbacks of Aron's youth and the times just before his voyage to Utah led to his entrapment, made it more dramatic and the audience are like 'You can do it! You can make it, Aron!' It is also brilliant how there were talks of Aron alone then actions then camera change etc. Just incredibly made! Danny Boyle needs Best Director nomination and he needs a shared nominated with Simon Beaufoy for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Overall, 127 Hours is a deeply inspiring, possibly tearjerking and horrifying film that is probably one of the most gripping films that I have ever watched. James Franco has delivered a career defining performance and he has shown us finally what he is best at doing. Danny Boyle succeeds once again but probably won't earn the same Oscar glory with this one like he did with Slumdog Millionaire. I would definitely call 127 Hours one of the best films of 2010 and also one of my favourite bio-pics films of all time too. One bit of a warning: prepare to squirm and cringe in your seat while watching this; especially in one specific scene. A must-see film!
