Reviewed by Kate Rodger
A revised rating for this film gives accompanied younger audiences a chance to see this inspirational story, and while the graphic depiction of the horrific act our hero here must survive is hard to watch and even harder to stomach, there is nothing gratuitous in it.
Let me explain. 127 Hours is the true story of adventurer Aron Ralston. In 2003, he disappeared into the Canyonlands of Utah for a day of mountain-biking and hiking. Nothing unusual in that, Ralston was a committed adrenaline junkie, avid climber, and major risk-taker. On this occasion, he told not a soul where he was headed. So when he fell down a ravine, a loose boulder pinning his right arm, he was stranded in the middle of nowhere, going nowhere, and with nobody else knowing where nowhere was.
Five days later, eyeballing certain death from dehydration or starvation, Ralston did the unthinkable. He cut off his own arm, with a blunt knife, to free himself.
Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle had his eye on this story well before he turned the Mumbai slums into Oscar gold. Ralston fielded calls from Hollywood before he’d even made it from his hospital bed – his story was global headlines for weeks after he wandered out, near-death, from the Canyonlands. He wrote a bestselling book of his experience, and he envisaged a docu-drama on screen. Boyle saw it differently, and along with James Franco (Milk/Pineapple Express), brings us Ralston’s incredible tale as a feature film, one with six Oscar nominations to its credit.
Casting this right was key. Franco delivers, and that delivery was a heavy load. He’s the only man onscreen for a goodly portion of this film, and he has to carry this through to its punishing conclusion.
For his part, Boyle’s visionary storytelling elevates this film from a simple, one act survival tale, to an emotional, sensory and inspirational cinematic experience.
Four and a half stars.
3 News
127 Hours
:: Director: Danny Boyle
:: Starring: James Franco
:: Running Time: 93 mins
:: Rating: R16 - graphic content may disturb
:: Release Date: February 10, 2011
:: Trailer: Watch here
