2010 just received its second power-player at the Academy Award ceremony this year alongside “The Social Network.” From the director of 2008’s Best Picture winner, “Slumdog Millionaire,” Danny Boyle has created another work that celebrates the vibrancy of life, while also chronicling one man’s strength of human spirit and will to live in “127 Hours.” Everything about the film is beautiful, from the acting, writing, music and cinematography.
With splashes of bright yellows, golds, and suede colors, “127 Hours” is a film that is gorgeous to look at. The bright sunlight draws out all the wonderful colors in the canyons of Moab, Utah. Every color is captured so precisely, and any screenshot from this film could be a beautiful photograph used to advertise tourism. With every sweep of the camera over the rich landscape however, we understand: this is a dangerously powerful but awe-inspiring place. As James Franco’s character gingerly tests out certain rocks and squeezes into certain tight spaces, we know the danger at hand. One can easily be killed here, and no one would know.
The story, written by longtime Boyle collaborator Simon Beaufoy, is based on the memoir of Aron Ralston, “Between a Rock and a Hard Place.” Ralston is a mountain climber, a canyoneer, an adventurer. He seems to flit from one place to another, following his whims and his love of the outdoors. Ralston meets two fellow hikers, Kristi (Kate Mara) and Megan (Amber Tamblyn). He serves as their guide, showing them a gulf in between two canyons full of water where they cool off from the hot sun. As he darts away, continuing his afternoon in the canyon, Kristi turns to her friend Megan (Amber Tamblyn), remarking, “I don’t think we figured into his day at all.” This sentiment may describe Ralston’s character best. All is going well with him until a boulder falls onto his arm, crushing it in a narrow tunnel. Ralston is completely trapped; the boulder is crushing his hand and is wedged between both sides of the tunnel. Ralston screams for help, but as the camera zooms out, we realize just how alone and isolated Ralston really is, as the empty canyon stretches on for miles and miles. Unsuccessful in trying to chip away the rock with a dull pen knife, Ralston has no water or food left. He’s hallucinating and weak. His choice is to die by himself in this remote canyon or hack his own arm off with the dull knife. In graphic, horrifying detail, we witness Ralston cut his own arm off in order to escape and get help.
James Franco plays Ralston, and is a complete gift to this film. This man has finally come into his own. After paying his dues and suffering through films like “Flyboys,” “Tristan and Isolde,” and “Annapolis,” Franco is pitch-perfect in “127 Hours.” The oftentimes self-deprecating humor he brings to his role is brilliant, and it shows us the light even in Ralston’s darkest hours. We understand that this is a man who is not about to give up. Mostly shown in close-ups, every twitch in Franco’s face is crucial to his character.
Danny Boyle’s direction is flawless here as well. The choice and composition of the shots are interesting, even a shot of Ralston sipping water from his camel-back, as the water goes up from the pack, up the tube, and into his mouth. This isn’t a story that plunders on until Ralston cuts his arm off. The movie isn’t just solely told to show this graphic scene. The scene itself only lasts for a few minutes, and is indeed horrifying, but Boyle uses flashbacks, and hallucinations of Ralston’s past life and the future he might miss out on to bring this story to life.
A.R. Rahman’s musical scoring is also notable here, provides this film a pulse, a sense of constant motion and intensity. The music is fast-paced, frenetic, and full of energy, just like the film’s main character. A.R. Rahman is also great at providing a contemporary, hip hop-sounding soundtrack, making it fresh and wholly original. What he provided for “Slumdog Millionaire,” he exceeds even more in “127 Hours.” Expect an Oscar nomination for this magical score.
“127 Hours” is a raw, visceral cinematic experience that shouldn’t be missed. It is utterly incredible and a breathtaking piece of filmmaking. The last sequences are so uplifting as Ralston stumbles into a helicopter with what’s left of his arm. You can’t help but marvel at the endurance of the human spirit exhibited in this film. “127 Hours” will slowly be opening in a more wide release in the next couple of weeks, so you may have to go out and find this film, but if you’re looking for a film that is a thrilling, exhilarating ride, “127 Hours” is definitely worth the search.
Where to Find It: Limited release, 11/5
Rating: 4 ½ stars
With splashes of bright yellows, golds, and suede colors, “127 Hours” is a film that is gorgeous to look at. The bright sunlight draws out all the wonderful colors in the canyons of Moab, Utah. Every color is captured so precisely, and any screenshot from this film could be a beautiful photograph used to advertise tourism. With every sweep of the camera over the rich landscape however, we understand: this is a dangerously powerful but awe-inspiring place. As James Franco’s character gingerly tests out certain rocks and squeezes into certain tight spaces, we know the danger at hand. One can easily be killed here, and no one would know.
The story, written by longtime Boyle collaborator Simon Beaufoy, is based on the memoir of Aron Ralston, “Between a Rock and a Hard Place.” Ralston is a mountain climber, a canyoneer, an adventurer. He seems to flit from one place to another, following his whims and his love of the outdoors. Ralston meets two fellow hikers, Kristi (Kate Mara) and Megan (Amber Tamblyn). He serves as their guide, showing them a gulf in between two canyons full of water where they cool off from the hot sun. As he darts away, continuing his afternoon in the canyon, Kristi turns to her friend Megan (Amber Tamblyn), remarking, “I don’t think we figured into his day at all.” This sentiment may describe Ralston’s character best. All is going well with him until a boulder falls onto his arm, crushing it in a narrow tunnel. Ralston is completely trapped; the boulder is crushing his hand and is wedged between both sides of the tunnel. Ralston screams for help, but as the camera zooms out, we realize just how alone and isolated Ralston really is, as the empty canyon stretches on for miles and miles. Unsuccessful in trying to chip away the rock with a dull pen knife, Ralston has no water or food left. He’s hallucinating and weak. His choice is to die by himself in this remote canyon or hack his own arm off with the dull knife. In graphic, horrifying detail, we witness Ralston cut his own arm off in order to escape and get help.
James Franco plays Ralston, and is a complete gift to this film. This man has finally come into his own. After paying his dues and suffering through films like “Flyboys,” “Tristan and Isolde,” and “Annapolis,” Franco is pitch-perfect in “127 Hours.” The oftentimes self-deprecating humor he brings to his role is brilliant, and it shows us the light even in Ralston’s darkest hours. We understand that this is a man who is not about to give up. Mostly shown in close-ups, every twitch in Franco’s face is crucial to his character.
Danny Boyle’s direction is flawless here as well. The choice and composition of the shots are interesting, even a shot of Ralston sipping water from his camel-back, as the water goes up from the pack, up the tube, and into his mouth. This isn’t a story that plunders on until Ralston cuts his arm off. The movie isn’t just solely told to show this graphic scene. The scene itself only lasts for a few minutes, and is indeed horrifying, but Boyle uses flashbacks, and hallucinations of Ralston’s past life and the future he might miss out on to bring this story to life.
A.R. Rahman’s musical scoring is also notable here, provides this film a pulse, a sense of constant motion and intensity. The music is fast-paced, frenetic, and full of energy, just like the film’s main character. A.R. Rahman is also great at providing a contemporary, hip hop-sounding soundtrack, making it fresh and wholly original. What he provided for “Slumdog Millionaire,” he exceeds even more in “127 Hours.” Expect an Oscar nomination for this magical score.
“127 Hours” is a raw, visceral cinematic experience that shouldn’t be missed. It is utterly incredible and a breathtaking piece of filmmaking. The last sequences are so uplifting as Ralston stumbles into a helicopter with what’s left of his arm. You can’t help but marvel at the endurance of the human spirit exhibited in this film. “127 Hours” will slowly be opening in a more wide release in the next couple of weeks, so you may have to go out and find this film, but if you’re looking for a film that is a thrilling, exhilarating ride, “127 Hours” is definitely worth the search.
Where to Find It: Limited release, 11/5
Rating: 4 ½ stars
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