Danny Boyle has to be my favorite director. Let’s take a second and appreciate him. Trainspotting. A Life Less Ordinary. The Beach. 28 Days Later. Millions. Sunshine and of course his oscar winner - Slumdog Millionaire.
I love all of these flicks and he’s hit almost every genre of filmmaking, its incredible.
He continues his streak of perfection with 127 Hours. The true story of Aron Ralston. A risk taker who is hiking and gets trapped standing up. Pinned by a huge rock. He has only one arm to use and has to survive. I’m sure everyone knows the story, but I won’t ruin it right now. I’ll do that later.
James Franco HAS to be nominated for a best acting Oscar for this. He has to. I won’t have it any other way. It’s the performance of a lifetime and it just proves once again that he can do anything. Comedy? You got it. Check out Pineapple Express. Drama? Please, he thrives in drama. James Dean. The Great Raid. Howl. Soap Opera? Sure why the hell not. He gave General Hospital a try because he felt like it.
There’s very little in the way of supporting cast. He has visions of his family and old flames. (It’s not as cheesy as it sounds. AT ALL.) But they all do what they’re there to do. Make you feel even more for Aron. Which you do by the end. In spades.
Danny Boyle uses every cinematic trick in his handbook to make this film one of the most beautiful of the year. Its bright and vibrant and never ever gets boring. You’d think a movie about a guy being pinned in a cave would start to get on your nerves, but it never does. The combination of Franco’s brilliant acting and Boyle’s stellar directing along with the cinematography of Enrique Chediak and Anthony Dod Mantle make this a truly breathtaking film to behold. I was in awe of some of the shots of the rocks, desert, water and even Franco pinned.
I also have to say. Danny Boyle knows how to shoot a dream sequence. Never have I seen one in a movie that really honestly depicted what a dream is like and I was wide eyed through it.
This is where I will spoil the end of the movie. But to be fair, this movie is labeled as “The movie about the guy who got pinned by a rock and had to…” So, if you don’t wanna be spoiled, don’t read on. Just go see it. Now.
Ok, so. This is a movie about a guy who got pinned and had to cut his arm off to get out. It’s brutal, people. The acting, music, camera work and just sheer grossness of it make it hard to watch. Boyle doesn’t give an eff if you get queasy. THIS IS HAPPENING. It’s pretty amazing and gross and I felt my entire body tense up as it started. So go see it, but know this…you will be uncomfortable.
127 Hours is a true tour-de-force of filmmaking and acting and CAN’T be missed this holiday season. I hope this does as well as Slumdog did with the awards, because I personally think it’s a better film.
I give this a very strong 10/10. It has to be seen. It’s beautiful. Its SO well acted. The music is incredible and it’s all around a flawless flick.
-Todd
