My Movie Review: 127 Hours

My Movie Review: 127 Hours
3.5/5

Opening Statement: Canyoneer Aron Ralston was out by himself hiking when an accident happened and he was forced to amputate his own arm in order to survive. '127 Hours' is Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy's retelling of that story through ever sip of water and every drop of blood.


What's Good: James Franco is in the limelight for every second of this picture and even in the dark crevice of the canyon he shines. This is an actor who studied Ralston very closely and somehow discovered a way to channel him during the performance in front of the audience. We also have very notable talent behind the camera, and on the computer. Director Danny Boyle's films embodied poetic, fast-paced cinematography that act as a musical toward Rahman's gorgeous score. The script is very well done as well by Simon Beafoy who had to adapt Ralston's experience and handled it with care while still revealing Ralston's selfish flaws. 
                         This is a story of survival against all odds that develops into a a character study of a selfish man slowly accepting his own death before he has a moment of epiphany and realization that all he has in this reality is life and wants to grow old and create a family. This a gorgeously photographed re-telling of something amazing. Something overall incredible and I respect and adore it on all those levels.


What's Bad: It brings a bunch of inspiration but still not as much as would "Slumdog Millionaire" however the simple fact that this is non-fiction that causes its inspiration to over-ride the majority of movies in existence. The flashback's are kind of what killed bits of this experience for me. While they are handled with care it still pushes the edge of the emotion that we are experience what Ralston experience when at times it does very much feel we are. My reasoning for not giving this a higher rating is brutally subjective, so take it with a grain of salt.


Oscar Possibilities: Franco is in for a nod for sure, unfortunately I am hearing Firth in The King's Speech will take it from him. Besides that there is a very likely nominee for Picture and Director (doubtful wins) then we have the screenplay for an adaptation of the book "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" but the adapted script for "The Social Network" will certainly take that home. Technically we have Score. Cinematography, Possible Art Direction, and sound editing/mixing. 


Consensus: A movie based around this story could not have been done any better. Boyle for great directing, Rahman for score, Beaufoy for script, and most importantly Franco's incredible tour de force as Ralston. It may not be a classic, but it is definitely the most you will get out of inspiration in a film.