A Rock and A Hard Place

Rating: 8/10 (7 September 2017)

With Danny Boyle being such a unique film maker it's a given that he will take a lot of risks in his careers and "127 Hours" is definitely one of them. Having a film mostly set in the same location, with one character can be tricky but Boyle and James Franco pulled it off fantastically.
Danny Boyle made this film as engaging as it is, the way he directed this movie ensured that you knew exactly how desperate this situation was, he used a lot of footage from the camcorder, a lot of fast edits to show Ralstons deteriorating mental health Anne he also didn't leave the location of the canyon that often, it made you feel as if you were in this location with this one character and helped you better buy into his situation.
I've always really liked James Franco, both in his comedy roles and more serious dramatic works he's consistently surprised me with his range but nothing more than his work in this movie with his amazing performance. Not only does he make him instantly likable and engaging with his natural charm but when things start to get more desperate Franco nails the more emotionally intense scenes that help you sympathise with the character a lot more than any of the flashbacks.
This film didn't pull any punches, the eventual scene where Ralston has to cut of his arm is breathtakingly realistic, the sound effects, Franco's performance and excellent prosthetics come together to make you believe that what is happening on screen is as close to what it must have been like in real life. It also doesn't hold back on the more emotionally devastating moments where Ralston confesses to his failings and short comings that help you to realise what someone will do or say when they are as close to death as this man was.
My only real issue with this movie is the rather on the nose flashbacks, I'm not saying that I objected to learning more about Ralston as a person, I just think that seeing anyone in this horrific situation is enough to get the viewer to sympathise with him. A lot of them did add something to his character but a lot didn't really do anything for me.
While I'm not going to rush back to watch this film, as a viewing experience this is a film that any major film fan should watch at some point. Thanks to Franco's amazing work, Boyles masterful direction and excellent use of the premises gritty tone this is something that I believe will stay with anyone who watches it.
8.6/10: A- (Fantastic)