127 Hours

After the success of multi-award winning Slumdog Millionaire, expectations were high for Danny Boyle’s latest blockbuster. Critics and film-goers are always eager to see the newest release from the man that brought legendary flicks Trainspotting, Sunshine and 28 Days Later and this time the challenge for was on for the director to make a film that is not only as sensational as Slumdog but that also captures the audiences’ hearts and minds.

127 Hours is the real-life story of the young mountain climber Aron Ralston. It is based on his autobiography Between a Rock and a Hard Place and tells the grisly tale of his entrapment in a remote canyon in Utah. He spent five days there with one arm pinned beneath a boulder until eventually, after dehydration and hallucination, he used a knife to chop off part of his arm.

In terms of events, there’s not much to go on; most of the film is just Ralston in the gorge but Boyle presents his plight and his physical and mental torture to a sympathetic and somewhat repulsed audience in an intriguing fashion. He doesn’t need to sex it up because, with most of us knowing the ending, we’re already captivated to see Ralston’s emotional journey.

The hiring of Spider-Man star James Franco for the leading role was a winning decision and he gives a captivating performance in what is essentially a one-man show. His portrayal of the climber’s efforts to keep a grasp on reality stirs respect but towards the end of the film his lack of feeling and emotion during the amputation shows us exactly how much his mind and body has deteriorated. In the end any feelings of revulsion morph slowly to respect as the hero is rescued and flown to safety. Overall it’s a fine and convincing performance from Franco.

The film is visually compelling, exciting and emotional and is supported by a fantastic soundtrack. Even though most of the audience already know what happens in the end it doesn’t stop them becoming engrossed in Ralston’s moving journey. On the whole it is a fantastic cinematic experience and it certainly has the potential to follow the success of Slumdog at this year’s Oscars.

Samantha Taylor