127 Hours

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127 Hours

February 2nd 2011 02:22

If you’re not familiar with the survival story of Aron Ralston you’ve probably been living under a rock, but you’re forgiven. Ralston’s story was published under the title Between a Rock and Hard Place, and made #3 on the bestsellers list in America, #1 in Australasia, and is the 7th bestselling autobiography of all-time in the UK. Now English director Danny Boyle has made a movie, 127 Hours (2010), based on Ralston’s book and his horrifying ordeal; with his arm pinned by a rock Ralston was stuck in a crevice deep in the Utah desert canyon for five days, trying to extricate himself, but to no avail. With the last of his drinking water consumed, delirious from heat exhaustion, sleep deprivation, and the pain from his crushed arm, Ralston made the ultimate decision and endured a life-saving act; amputating his lower arm.

James Franco as Aron Ralston

Danny Boyle’s career has been uneven, a couple of truly great movies, a few interesting ones, and some mediocre to misfires. 127 Hours is the best movie he’s made since Trainspotting (1993). Not only is the movie a superb achievement in mise-en-scene, especially considering the limitations of the subject matter - essentially one man trapped in a crevice for an hour-and-a-half - with an inventive visual style and vivid cinematography (two DOPs), but also Boyle extracts a fantastic performance from James Franco, who may not look like Ralston, but he delves deep into Ralston’s psyche and delivers the goods.

Aron cuts loose on a typical lone bike ride

The camera work courtesy of Enrique Chediak and Anthony Dod Mantle is the movie’s other star, capturing the raw essence of the landscape; both its beauty and its desolation, but more importantly, the machinations of Ralston’s mind visualised in different ways; through flashback, fantasy, hallucination, and premonition. This is Boyle and co-screenwriter Simon Beaufoy’s most inspired decision: not to resort to voice-over narration. The movie becomes elevated from its geographical and geological ball and chain.

127 Hours James Franco, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn

Aron shares an hour or so frolicking with strangers Kristi (Kate Mara) and Megan (Amber Tamblyn)

Aron Ralston made the biggest mistake when he failed to let anyone know where he was going. But he’d been living in this reckless fashion his whole life, embracing his independence and his passion for the outdoors with total disregard to a crucial element of safety. And it was this shunning of the importance of having an anchor, a communication lifeline, which would cost him most of his right arm, and almost his life. I’m sure this plagued him for a long time after his ordeal.

Aron sets off on his own again

“You know, I've been thinking. Everything is ... just comes together. It's me. I chose this. I chose all this. This rock ... this rock has been waiting for me my entire life. It's entire life, ever since it was a bit of meteorite a million, billion years ago. In space. It's been waiting, to come here. Right, right here. I've been moving towards it my entire life. The minute I was born, every breath that I've taken, every action has been leading me to this crack on the out surface.”

Trapped between a rock and a hard place

There is an extraordinary visceral and immediate quality to the movie, and not just the kind of viscera you’re anticipating. Yes, the amputation is depicted, and it’s gut-wrenching for those not used to that kind of graphic horror, although us hardened horrorphiles will find it on the tamer side (it’s actually the thought of what he’s doing which is more appalling, especially when he comes to severing the nerve!) But the movie isn’t about the horror of Ralston’s DIY survival surgery, it’s about the mental and emotional process he goes through over those five arduous days and nights, his life flashing before his eyes in slow motion, thoughts recorded on his camcorder, the remembrance of significant (and not so significant) past events. I won’t use the word reminisce, because that places a poignancy on his experience, this is more about futility vs. perseverance; an animal-like true grit that enabled Ralston to do the unthinkable, in order to live another day, and to be reunited with loved ones (and to fulfill his destiny).

127 Hours James Franco and Clémence Poésy

Aron laments his romance with Rana (Clémence Poésy)

But 127 Hours isn’t dogged down by any kind of religious revelation. God isn’t present in Ralston’s ordeal. There’s an eagle that passes by every day, along with the clouds. That’s as close as Ralston gets to having a religious epiphany. Ralston’s realisation comes in the form of something more familiar, more familial. It might sound corny, but in 127 Hours, love rears its head in the most unusual and affecting way.

Aron's mind is desperate for freedom

Not only did Ralston have the courage, determination and strength to break his bones and severe his lower arm (aided by a makeshift tourniquet and executed with a small, cheap, and dulled pocket-knife), but he managed not to black-out, then repelled down a 65-foot cliff and walked for many miles before finding help. He was air-lifted to hospital six hours after cutting his arm off.

127 Hours is a superb achievement, if you can handle the inevitable. James Franco has been nominated for an Academy Award for his performance and I’m rooting for him. The movie is up for several other Oscars, but Danny Boyle and the two cinematographers have been snubbed (Boyle deserves it much more than for his Slumdog Millionaire win). Once again the Academy gets the wrong end of the stick. It’s up for eight BAFTAs, and hopefully should win several of those. I should also mention the excellent score, by A.R. Rahman, which has been given the Oscar and BAFTA nod.

A self-portrait of the real Aron Ralston at the scene

If you’re thinking the world’s against you, if you’re thinking life’s cruel and unfair, check out 127 Hours. That’ll put things in perspective, in a most inspirational way. 127 Hours is gripping and strangely rewarding. Inexplicably James Franco might not grow any stubble over the five days, but as an audience you’ll forgive that lack of continuity, and inexorably grow quite fond of his version of Ralston.

Here’s the trailer:

For those wanting the gory details of the real thing, he’s a clip taken from a doco with Ralston re-counting the amputation at the location:

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

12 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Matt Shea

February 2nd 2011 02:47

He can't help it if he's baby-faced...

Nice write-up Bryn. I only vaguely know of Ralston's story, but this sounds like perfect stuff for Boyle. You're absolutely right: his career has been up and down, but I think he's doing better now that he's taken a break from working with Alex Garland.

Comment by David O'Connell

February 2nd 2011 02:58

20/20 Filmsight
Screen Fanatic

Haha! That's exactly what I was thinking towards the end too..........his facial hair doesn't look much different from the early scenes!

Very impressed with this as well. I think the stylistic flourishes are a bit over the top at times but that sort of thing is so ingrained in Boyle's approach to cinema. Franco is great; he comes off as a bit of a dick in the early scenes but the raw tenacity he displays won me over pretty fast.

Comment by ShaunK

February 2nd 2011 07:11

Screen Adventure

hehehe - David amuses me once again - what a surprise.

Bryn, I got about half way through your review , which I found enthralling, then decided to shut the book so i could go in a bit colder. It's enough that I already know what happens, so I want to be a bit surprised.

Loved that you say it's one of his best films (Boyle), he's a real hit and miss story teller and I love that Mantle shot this, he's one of my favourite D.O.P.'s and I loved his work on Antichrist.

I cant believe I'm saying this, but, due to what I've read, I'm now looking thoroughly forward to watching this!

Comment by JohnDoe

February 2nd 2011 19:20

Film & TV on DVD

Another that has been on my must se list of last year that has not been screened yet.

Franco really does seem to go from strength to strength. Unlike Boyle who only occasionally delivers on the potential of his subjects.

Comment by JMD

February 3rd 2011 02:14

And if you watch Buried, you will feel the complete opposite of what this movie makes you feel.

Comment by anish

February 3rd 2011 16:51

FILMENATOR
Write a Review
Glitterati
Virtual Informer

Allow me to inform you that Horrorphile is BY FAR the best movie review blog I have ever seen on the internet!!!

You stand head and shoulders above the competition.

Comment by Bryn

February 4th 2011 00:14

Horrorphile

anish, much thanks! Spread the word! May I ask, what country are in and what age are you? Do many of your friends also subscribe or follow my site? I'm just curious about my demographics.

Comment by Andy Tope

February 5th 2011 01:42

Bagman's Gazette

Great review Bryn.

I watched this one last night, and lay awake for hours thinking about it afterwards - so I feel compelled to leave a comment here. I too thought Boyle and Franco did a fantastic job bringing this story vividly to life.

What an amazing story. Really makes me want to spend less time in front of the computer and get out and see more of the world.

Comment by Always Eighteen

February 6th 2011 04:24

Always Eighteen

As usual, great review. I probably wouldn't have watched it if not for reading this.

I'll be watching it while touring Singapore - hope it's not censored.

Comment by Bryn

February 6th 2011 08:28

Horrorphile

Cheers for the comments guys.

Comment by MelG

February 8th 2011 10:05

I can't wait to see this. Apologies for not reading your review, I need to save some level of surprise for the screening. I know the story well, having read Ralston's book a few years ago. I couldn't put it down. I'm hoping the film captures some of the same intensity.

Comment by Bryn

February 9th 2011 00:19

Horrorphile

Mel ... LOL, well if you've read the book then the movie isn't really going to hold many surprises ... I enjoyed the movie more so than the book, which for me rambled on in places.

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