Deliverance

Rating: Null/10 (5 September 2011)

A young man named Aron Ralston (James Franco) sets out on a solo hike into the empty and rugged Canyonlands of Utah. But his quest for adventure turns ugly when he encounters a villainous large rock. It's a story of wilderness survival reminiscent of the 1972 film "Deliverance". But whereas "Deliverance" is fictional, "127 Hours" is a true story.
There are several problems I have with this film, not the least of which is the character of Aron Ralston. In "127 Hours" he comes across as cocky, too sure of himself, disrespectful of the desert, and vain. He talks into a video cam as if the world fixates on every word he mumbles and every step he takes. He's inattentive. And he takes way too much for granted.
In addition, the film's script is poorly plotted. Aron's dilemma gets stretched out way too long, resulting in tedium and boredom for many viewers. With a runtime of 94 minutes, his plight consumes fully sixty minutes ... just Aron, that villainous rock, and various plot contrivances that pad the story, including hallucinations and dreams, story flashbacks, efforts to set himself free, and that annoying, ever-present video cam. A much better structure would have been for the script to have shown Aron on previous successful hikes, leading up to the midpoint plot turn, with his predicament postponed until the second half.
Further, the film's loud, intrusive music contradicts the silence of a wilderness trek. Yet it does foster the impression that Aron is basically an urban guy who, despite his yearn for wilderness, can't let go of modern conveniences. The flashy, gimmicky cinematography also is out of sync with a wilderness theme, and included seemingly to mask a story that otherwise is not really cinematic.
The scenery is beautiful. And the script's underlying premise is quite compelling, given that the events really happened.
A wilderness experience can be worthwhile and enjoyable if, and only if, a person takes seriously all of the things that could go wrong. Aron Ralston didn't do that. And for his recklessness he paid dearly.