To really enjoy this film, you need to love indie music and have a high tolerance for things icky

Rating: 7/10 (28 July 2011)

Each of the last several years, I have tried to watch all the Oscar nominees for Best Picture. Of last years' crop, "127 Hours" was the last I watched—and I dreaded it. After all, a real-life story about a guy who falls down a canyon and needed to saw off his own hand to survive is NOT the sort of movie I would rush out to see! Heck, "Winter's Bone" was practically a comedy compared to "127 Hours"! Yes, it was unpleasant, as it includes scenes involving the main character drinking urine, cutting off his hand (it wasn't THAT graphic) and all the blood make for a tough to watch film.
The film was co-written and directed by Danny Boyle—the guy who brought the world the Best Picture winner "Slumdog Millionaire". While I wasn't that thrilled with the screenplay (after all, the story is extremely simple and the film seems heavily padded to make it full length), I was impressed by a lot of the inventive camera-work and direction. But the story, overuse of indie-style music (which is great if you are a hipster—I certainly am NOT) and the gore makes it a hard sell for me and probably most out there. This film is definitely a niche film that is not for everyone.
By the way, this story is to have taken place over a period lasting more than four days. Then why is it the guy ALWAYS seems to have his camcorder on?! What brand is this that has a 127 hour-plus capacity?! I'd sure like to buy that one!