127 HOURS (2010)

127 Hours (2010)

Genre: Drama, Thriller, Adventure

Director: Danny Boyle

Writers: Danny Boyle (screenplay), Simon Beaufoy (screenplay)

Stars:James Franco, Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara 

My score 4/5

There are good movies and then there are great movies. There shouldn’t be an epic plot or dozens of well known cast in order for one to be a great one. But it’s a must to be something new and should have the capacity to explore the deepest human emotions and ability to inject them directly in to the viewers blood. ‘127 hours’ has all that packed with adrenalin gushing truly painful 94mts. 

The story is very simple and straight forward. Aron Ralston (Played by James Franco – Spider Man) who is a mountain climber sets off climbing in Utah with high spirits as usual on a one fine Saturday. But he finds himself to be in a death defying situation soon after he met with an accident and trapped in between boulders with a big rock crushing his arm. Now he faces the challenge of getting out alive before he runs out of supplies and most importantly his state of mind. (This situation which immediately reminds me of the similar Discovery- I shouldn’t be alive Episode ‘trapped under a boulder’. Though it has some resemblance it’s important to know that both of them are true life stories and very unique at some points. Recommended!)

The script is so strong that it will eventually force you to experience what Aron is going though. What kind of pain he must be bearing up and what emotions, hallucinations and memories he eventually gets trapped in. And most importantly what a man will become and can become when he is faced with the greatest challenge of his life. Aron at times looses hope and record himself saying sorry and good bye to his parents on the camcorder he has but on the next moment he mutter to himself ‘Do not loose it’ and struggle to overcome the situation. James Franco does a breath taking job making this character plain impossible to forget. 

Coming from the once Oscar winning director of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ Danny Boyle ‘127 Hours’ is not at all a disappointment.  Trust me it can be very hard to watch when the real ordeal roll out but if you manage to get though them with one piece of mind then I’m sure you will feel how heroic you are when everything is over. 

Cinematographically very challenging to pull off which mostly takes place in a very tight space with most of the close up shots, the job is well done. Time to time it gives you some space when Aron’s memories comes alive and the sets take place elsewhere but you are quickly returned to the tight spot abandoning all your craziest hopes of escape.

‘127 hours’ is not a super hero movie or even a story of a real life hero. It’s a story of a person like you and me with ambitions and interests who suddenly finds himself to be in a situation where he has to make real hard decisions to live further. Once the movie finished we all feel glad that he made correct decision even how hard it maybe. And that’s something for all of us to keep in mind. The most important decisions in life are not the easiest ones but they will make you live stronger afterwords. 

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