The following review originally ran on Starpulse.com in 2010.
When faced with a life or death situation what lengths would you go to in order to survive? This very question becomes the crux of Aron Ralston’s dilemma in 127 Hours. Based on Ralston’s book Between a Rock and a Hard Place, this film directed by Brit Danny Boyle recounts the real life nightmare of being trapped alone in the wilderness.
In the opening of 127 Hours, we are introduced to Aron Ralston, a loner who gets high on two things: himself and the outdoors. We see him leave his apartment in the middle of the night so that he can make camp and eagerly begin a weekend of biking and rock climbing in the desert. Ralston chronicles his adventure by snapping pictures of himself and shooting a video diary.
Surprisingly he stops to play tour guide for some young women who are casually enjoying the scenery. Despite his normal loner attitude Ralston befriends the pair, showing them hidden treasures in the rock formation.
Soon enough though he is back on his own, climbing through a narrow passage when the unthinkable happens. A boulder falls on Ralston, trapping his body in the canyon. Alone and without help nearby, he must figure a way out of this pickle before he dies of starvation or dehydration.
The rest of the movie focuses on Aron’s desperate fight for survival as he deals with one key problem: in order to live he must amputate his limb trapped under the rock. While he comes to grips with this reality, we follow Aron’s painful journey through the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, and acceptance.
Danny Boyle presents a visually engrossing tale with the most effective use of split screen in recent memory. In the film’s opening Boyle divides the screen into three vertical frames which show interconnected actions in Ralston’s adventure. This format coupled with the grand shots Aron biking through the desert landscape convey the character’s enthusiasm and energy for the outdoors.
Do not worry too intensely about the split screen sequences though if it’s not your thing, this system does not continue as the story takes off. The style of shooting takes on a much more realistic tone, as the camera hugs the curves of the caverns and becomes a natural observer in the crevice where Aron is trapped.
Franco’s performance as Ralston is incredibly powerful. His courage and his strength of will through such difficult times are inspiring. What’s most impressive about Franco’s acting though is his remarkable levity in turmoil. You never feel like he has forgotten his dire circumstances but he can still find humor in them. There are several occasions you’ll find yourself enjoying a guilty chuckle as a result.
Probably the most difficult thing to watch in the film is the graphic depiction of Aron’s last ditch effort to escape. There is much more detail shown than you would think necessary for the movie to prove its point, so with that in mind, definitely do not go see this on a full stomach. This gut wrenching tale of survival is by no means for the faint of heart but it certainly leaves you with a profound appreciation for life.