127 Hours: The Film for the Soul
Starring: James Franco…and that’s pretty much it
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Other Nominated Categories: Best Actor, Film Editing, Original Score, Original Song, Adapted Screenplay
127 Hours was one of the more pleasantly surprising films of the season. The film is executed so brilliantly that the audience won’t mind seeing a single man in a single position for the majority of the 94-minute run-time. This is especially true considering the popularity of Aron Ralston’s story. There are no spoilers. We all know how the movie will end, but getting there is no easy feat.
The summary:
For those of you who remain unaware, 127 Hours is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston (Franco), who, after being trapped by a boulder in Utah’s Blue John Canyon for 127 hours, is forced to amputate his own arm. The film begins on that fateful day in 2003 when Ralston decides to go canyoneering without telling anyone. He meets two girls, spends the afternoon with them then decides to climb solo in his soul-searching way. He climbs down into the “belly of the beast” and pulls a boulder onto his right hand. Wedged between “a rock and a hard place” (the title of his memoir), Ralston contemplates the true meaning of life, mostly through hallucinations and personal messages to family members on his handheld video camera. Just when he thinks that giving up is the only way, Ralston is greeted by a vision of his future son. This gives him the courage to do what he must to survive. Using his engineering education and climbing tools, Ralston breaks bone and begins the grueling task of cutting off his own arm. He succeeds, escapes and is rescued. Life is a beautiful thing.
The genuis:
Perhaps the most genius aspect about this film is its authenticity. From the clothes to the canyon, the film is spot on. And the real Aron Ralston is to thank for that because he documented every major moment and thought he experienced with both his digital and video cameras. The man even takes a photograph of his arm after it’s been removed. Talk about gruesome! And you can see it all in his memoir, where he’s published photographs of himself before, during and after the accident. As for the videos he took of himself in the canyon, those are real, too. Ralston talks about them in the book, but those are yet to be part of public domain. The only people besides Ralston’s closest family members to have seen them are director Danny Boyle and Ralston’s screen counterpart James Franco.
While the book gives a lot of insight into Ralston’s personality, the videos are what carry the action. It is only through the rough, raw footage that the audience really gets a sense of his desperation. He’s up, he’s down, but most importantly, he’s resilient. This is not simply a cautionary tale or a survivor’s story; it’s about the triumphant nature of the human soul.
“This is a feature film that proves the cliché that no man is an island,” Boyle says. “And that even in — especially in — the loneliest place in the world, it begins and ends with people. They’re what sustained Ralston, and they’re who he speaks to on his camera.”
The Franco:
And those cameras commanded a genuine performance from Franco, one he delivered most affectionately. Franco captures the playfulness of Ralston’s nature and mixes it with the mental and physical agony endured during those lonely days. It’s hard to imagine now who could have played Ralston better. For film’s sake, we’re lucky Franco is able to keep the audience’s attention in this one-man performance where dialogue and scene changes are minimal. His Oscar nomination is very much deserved, and I’m sure the Academy will see more great work from him to honor soon. Let’s just hope he doesn’t bomb his hosting duties come Feb. 27, although I highly doubt he will.
The directing:
As I mentioned in a previous post, I was surprised and disappointed by Christopher Nolan’s Oscar snub for directing. Now, I’m saying the same thing for Danny Boyle. I think that when the average audience member goes to a movie, the film’s directing isn’t exactly something that’s given the most attention (unless it’s absolutely atrocious). But 127 Hours wouldn’t have been the same film without Boyle’s directing. This is an instance when the average audience member recognizes the directing and understands the achievement. Boyle’s use of the handheld video camera and lack of space (hello, trapped in a canyon) is something that Academy should have commended. Perhaps they felt they made up for it in the Film Editing category. I say no way. At least Boyle is recognized for the screenplay, along with Slumdog Millionaire writing partner Simon Beaufoy. While the script is exceptional, the lack of dialogue and overall movement may hurt its chances when compared to others nominated in the Adapted Screenplay category.
While I am an adoring James Franco fan, perhaps my favorite part of this movie was the incorporation of the real Aron Ralston. In films about real people, viewers are often left with a single photo and caption displaying the after-life of the hero. This film has a beautiful scene at the end of the film where Franco is swimming toward the real Ralston, who is sitting on a couch beside the pool. On the couch with him are his wife and toddler son. It’s the most captivating scene. And I may have cried a little. But, hey, at least I didn’t faint.
The bottom line:
This movie is so realistic, you’ll probably do a double take when you see James Franco with both arms attached. And try not to pass out in the theater.
SOURCES:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/4648985/Film-review-127-Hours
http://www.tsweekly.com/screen/film/cut-off-your-arm-win-an-oscar-the-ca…
http://incontention.com/2011/02/07/oscar-guide-best-writing-adapted-scre…
http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/survival/stories/127-hours-movi…