127 Hours (2011)

As I ventured forward through the dark double doors of the auditorium to view Danny Boyle's latest film, I was sightly skeptical. I've never been completely convinced of the merit of claustrophobic cinema (movies that take place, for the majority, in one location and with one character). If we're playing the blame game, the finger would have to be pointed at Rodrigo Cortes. Last year's 'Buried' should have been fantastic but left me feeling cold and questioning this new genre of cinema. But then again, Danny Boyle isn't a director who's afraid to take risks. So 127 hours (94 minutes in real time) later, is this film worth taking the plunge?

The tagline sums it up better than I ever could. 'Every second counts'. And this is particularly true for Danny Boyle's life-affirming tale of endurance and courage. You can't help but fall in love with Aron Ralston (James Franco). He's a live-on-the-edge kind of guy. This is a flawed man, sure, but he also has a refreshing air of honesty about him. Franco is perfect for this kind of character. It's almost like this is his persona off camera. At no time does it feel like he's running through the motions. Underneath an exterior layer of humour and confidence lies sadness and regrets. Aron is a loner when he sets out to climb an isolated canyon in Utah. Besides two women he meets near the start of the film (Kate Mara and Amber Tamblyn), the remainder of the film is mostly just Franco and his handheld camcorder. A few secondary characters appear in the form of flashbacks (including the beautiful Clemence Poesy of 'Harry Potter' fame).

Simply put, If Franco's performance failed, '127 Hours' would. In this genre of cinema, the audience needs to be able to connect with the character immediately or all is lost. Luckily Franco is a very genuine actor and perfectly portrays Aron Ralston. The fact that it's based on Ralston's autobiography is just the icing on the cake. Even if this wasn't a true story, it would still be a fantastic piece of cinema. Boyle is no stranger to uplifting films (see 'Slumdog Millionaire') but he really outshines himself here. The way the movie is shot is entirely unique. I was foolish enough to believe the film had nowhere to go when Aron is trapped early on but it was the exact opposite. A word of caution to viewers of a nervous disposition - the infamous scene where Aron cuts his arm off is handled very realistically. The scene was shot in one-take and Boyle wanted to make it as medically accurate as possible. The camera doesn't shy away from the more graphic details.

There are so many great aspects of '127 Hours' worth mentioning. The amazing story without which none of this would be possible. Danny Boyle's artistic direction. James Franco's worthy performance. The beauty of the Utah landscape. The realism which ozzes out of every seep of rock. I came out of '127 Hours' feeling grateful for my life and the people in it. I await your next film with quiet awe Mr Boyle.