127 Hours tells the true story of Aron Ralston, who went canyoneering in Utah during April 2003. A serious misfortune occurred when he became trapped in a canyon; a boulder crushed his arm between the rock wall – literally between a rock and a hard place – leading to desperate measures to free himself. It’s easy to imagine this story as a big, action-packed movie with a heroic lead, worried family members, and dialogue filled with frantic pleas like "Where is my son? PLEASE FIND MY SON!!" (*intense sobbing*). However, director Danny Boyle chose a different approach. Instead of that kind of blockbuster spectacle, he created an incredibly realistic, documentary-style film. 127 Hours begins without any introductory explanation; we don’t even meet Aron's family. But any such introduction would have been unnecessary because, during the fast-paced opening credits, we see him enthusiastically preparing for and starting a hiking trip (ignoring his mother's phone call in the process). That establishes him as an overconfident adrenaline junkie – and that’s all we really need to know. This self-assurance gradually becomes the source of his problems when it's revealed he hadn't informed anyone about his plans. The film feels very much like a documentary, similar to something you might see on National Geographic. The filmmakers’ decision to cast James Franco was excellent; he delivers an amazing performance. Keep in mind that he spends roughly 95% of the movie alone, which requires an actor with both the courage and skill to carry the entire film. I admit, Franco wasn't my first choice, but I was pleasantly surprised by his work – he certainly deserves his Oscar nomination. He portrays a wide range of emotions convincingly: panic, disbelief, despair, delusion, pain, hallucinations, as well as confidence, composure, excitement, and rationality. Aron Ralston begins as a seemingly carefree guy who just wants to enjoy himself and do what he loves: exploring nature, without telling his family where he's going. As the film progresses, and he realizes the predicament he’s in, you can see a change happening within him. The fact that you begin to sympathize with and even admire him, despite his earlier recklessness, is all thanks to James Franco; he has proven himself to be a very capable character actor who can move an audience. There's one scene I found particularly captivating: during the "Tuesday" sequence, Aron records himself on his camcorder, pretending to be on a talk show and answering his own questions. This scene showcases outstanding acting and is where you really start to feel for him. Throughout Aron’s ordeal, we see flashbacks of his childhood, friends, family, and romantic relationships. While this might seem like a cliché, it's understandable – what else would someone think about when trapped in a canyon for five days? Some people have suggested that it’s odd Aron didn’t experience some kind of spiritual awakening while he was trapped, but I don’t believe it’s anyone’s place to judge what he thought and felt. Everyone deals with hardship differently; talking to God isn't necessarily an option for everyone. For some, support comes from family, love, and cherished memories. Regarding the technical aspects of the film, its sense of realism is enhanced by grainy, unsteady camera work and a graphic depiction of events. A warning is needed: this film isn’t for those easily upset. I was surprised at how visually intense the scene where Aron frees himself is; I won't go into detail, but viewers with sensitive stomachs should be cautious. There were only a few minor things that bothered me during the film. There are some moments which inevitably feel a little slow, but even that seems to fit within the story’s context. Personally, I also felt that the music wasn't always well-chosen; at times it didn't quite match the tone of the scene. However, these issues don't detract significantly from the overall experience. 127 Hours may not be as profound as Into the Wild, but it’s a very well-made film deserving of respect. The cinematography is beautiful and the canyon scenery is truly breathtaking; I would recommend it for the visuals alone. If you enjoy stories about survival situations, this film fits the bill.

Source on TMDB