MOVIE OF THE WEEK #1: 127 HOURS
Credit: Chuck Zlotnick © 2010 Fox Searchlight. All rights reserved.
KEY CAST MEMBERS: James Franco, Amber Tamblyn, Clémence Poésy and the wide open spaces of Colorado/Utah
WRITER: Danny Boyle (screenplay); Aron Ralston (book)
DIRECTOR: Danny Boyle
WEB SITE: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/127hours/
THE PLOT: Based on the incredible true story as detailed in the book Between a Rock and a Hard Place, 127 Hours stars James Franco as Aron Ralston, a seemingly happy 20-something with a passion for the great outdoors. Setting out to trek along Robbers' Roost Canyon in Utah in April of 2003, Aron encounters two fellow hikers (Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara) on his path, enjoying a temporary break from his solo journey. Enjoying their company, Aron lets the young ladies know he may stop by their party Sunday night since it shouldn't be hard to find given the giant inflatable Scooby Doo they promise will be in the front yard of their place.
Aron never makes it to the party, however, after falling down an isolated slot canyon and a boulder crashes down on him, pinning his right arm, trapping him.
What happens next is truly a testament to one man's will to live through a journey of self-examination, reflection, regret, ingenuity and determination.
THE TAKE: If you have heard anything at all about this movie, you likely know what Ralston did to survive ... And some of the reactions it has caused among movie audiences when said action takes place. If you haven't heard, however, all I can tell you is to brace yourself (no pun intended) and be prepared for an unflinching 3-5 minute sequence of events that will likely make you flinch, squirm and likely have you looking through your fingers as you attempt to cover your face. (FYI - that won't be the only scene to make you do that, by far, but it certainly is the most extreme of the bunch.)
This scene is not for shock value, however, for without it, you [a] Would have no book, which means [b] No movie and [c] Aron Ralston's story would be nowhere near as incredible as it is. But trust me, the best performance of James Franco's career under the watchful eye of Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 28 Days Later, Trainspotting), 127 Hours is an incredible picture.
First things first - If Def Comedy Jam or BET's Comic View were still on the air, I'm quite certain some hacky comedian would talk about Ralston's plight in the standard "No black person would ever end up in this situation" manner. And if Boyle and Franco approached Ralston's life story with anything other than the care they did, the film would likely be ripe for such mockery.
Instead, Franco delivers an excellent performance in running through just about ever emotion a person in Ralston's situation would, all of which makes you grow more and more engaged with his character. Be it his various attempts to free himself and survival instinct to his dreams about past loves and future visions, Franco does the thing that is often the hardest for most actors to do well: Make a real person (in this case, Ralston) feel like a real person on-screen.
Boyle's talent, however, really shines through in 127 Hours as he sets up every scene to fit the emotion of the moment. From capturing Ralston's environment (he essentially turns Robber's Roost into a character in itself) to his growing paranoia, desperation and vast sorrow of his situation in relation to the rest of the world, Boyle shows why he is always an Academy Award threat if he's in the conversation. And with 127 Hours, not only is he in the conversation, he's likely to be the one doing the most talking. Through Boyle's careful craftsmanship, you are brought into Aron's world and all of the harrowing and heartwrenching drama taking place within in to the point you almost feel stuck inside the cave with him - and that is a testament to his prowess.
PARTING SHOT While the film will likely do for solo hiking what Jaws did for beaches back in the late 1970s/early 1980s, 127 Hours is worth investing 2 hours of your time if you want to see what may be the best movie of 2010.
RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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