127 Hours (2010)

127 Hours (2010) is a biographical adventure-thriller based on the true experiences of canyoneer Aron Ralston.

Well… I’m going to be in for another rude awakening! I’m not a huge Danny Boyle fan. Not always, anyway. I don’t like Trainspotting (1996). I haven’t seen its sequel. I don’t love The Beach (2000)… or at least not as much as the song in the All Saints film. I don’t love Slumdog Millionaire (2008) as much as most people I’ve known. A Life Less Ordinary (1997) has some great moments, but it will never make my list of essential films. As for Steve Jobs (2015), it’s not bad at all. I’d even like to see it again. I haven’t yet seen Sunshine (2007), Trance (2013), or Yesterday (2019). And finally, the ones I really love are Shallow Grave (1994) and 28 Days Later (2002). I also loved its sequel, 28 Weeks Later (2007), directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, who, however, had made the not-so-great Intruders (2011). I haven’t seen his Intacto (also released in 2002). So that’s another little list of films to catch up on for those who are interested.

As for this film… it’s one of my favorites by Danny! Yes, you read that right!!! A very well-adapted film. Even if this true story (which happened to Aron Ralston) had been badly adapted for the cinema, you couldn’t remain insensitive to what was going on. I was a bit skeptical at first, but this film really won me over. Superb images, good acting, and a lot to take in from a fairly simple story. I can only recommend this film, by far one of the best of 2010! I’d never have thought it possible to make such a good film with such a simple story! At first, I thought it was going to be very long… but I really recognize Boyle’s style, as he manages to go into some very psychedelic delirium that is both disturbing and entertaining.

The first quarter of an hour looks like a video clip like we saw so many of on MTV in the 90s. Surprisingly, there’s a lot of good footage! If this hadn’t been the case, many would have stopped and not seen the film through to the end. Simply sensational. A difficult subject on which more than one director would have failed. On the one hand, because you have to keep the viewer on the edge of their seats with a story that is clear in itself, and on the other, because most people already know the story and its outcome. Someone once wrote: ‘Boyle sails over all the pitfalls with the assurance of a sleepwalker. He introduces the plot lightly and playfully and allows us to really become one with the unfortunate.’ Beautifully written!

A fantastic performance from James Franco, who surprises me once again. I always feel like he’s going to irritate me with his smile, which can seem so hypocritical, unlike his brother Dave Franco‘s beautiful smile. No, seriously, these two brothers are excellent and a pleasure to watch on a regular basis. Anthony Dod Mantle‘s camera work is truly brilliant. The fatal accident is captured so authentically that it’s a masterpiece in itself. The camera movements across the unique landscapes are equally superb. The crudely photographed amputation is extremely well balanced: it doesn’t let anything get by with its clarity but doesn’t indulge in it unnecessarily. A milestone in cinematic art, and I bow to Danny Boyle. Hats off to him!

Someone wrote: ‘The book and the film convinced me across the board.’ Of course, this film is based on the book ‘Between a Rock and a Hard Place.’ Of course, as always, there are those who will say things like: ‘For once, Danny Boyle’s film isn’t a success; James Franco isn’t well directed; Aron Ralston’s performance often seems implausible when you think of the situation he finds himself in; the overall direction is boring…’ but let’s not forget that everything that is good and appreciated by millions of people… is also hated. Of course, you have to get to grips with the real story before you can fully understand and appreciate it. The film then takes on a whole new flavor. Boyle has directed the film with talent and force. Despite the fact that the film has only one setting and ‘only’ lives from its lead actor, it is never boring. It is exciting and shocking at the same time. The flashbacks, the emotions, the disintegration – simply great cinema!

The soundtrack is incredible. So much good music. And with Sigur Rós at the end, no eye is left dry. An enormous, grandiose film that sticks with you and has a lasting effect! A big WOW! What more can we say? Superb camera movements, Mr. Franco in one of his best roles and films, perfect editing… landscapes… images… It’s not a horror film, but it’s based on horrific real events, and it’s very impressive. It’s a survival film about someone trapped in a place. You might think of films like Breaking Surface (2020) or its remake The Dive (2023), except that here it doesn’t take place underwater.

Here’s a review that will fill in and almost conclude mine: ‘A good film to see. But to be avoided by those who like action films that explode every second. It’s a bit flat, but you quickly get under the character’s skin, especially as it’s based on a true story…’ Released in the US in November 2010, it was nominated six times for the 2011 Oscars, with actor James himself co-presenting the ceremony. With its near-perfect technical execution, I recommend it, without hesitation, without reservation! A must-see… but not for the faint of heart!

Warning: Spoilers!!! For the record, Aron Ralston (whose real face we see at the end of the film) had finally met a family of Dutch tourists who were able to provide him with water, a little food, and moral support. A few minutes later, a helicopter spotted them and took Aron to the hospital in Moab, just as he was about to succumb to his hemorrhage. The men of the National Park Service went to Blue John Canyon two days later to recover the remains of Ralston’s right forearm. Thirteen men and heavy equipment were needed to rotate the huge boulder and free the arm. The arm was then cremated, and the ashes returned to Aron. Six months after his accident, he went back to the exact spot of his adventure and scattered the ashes of his forearm there. Since then, Aron has returned to the scene of the accident a dozen times. Aron Ralston continues to hike and climb.