127 Hours

If you want a uniquely filmed, true story that is inspiring and emotional, then this is the film for you. Directed by Danny Boyle, this film stars the very talented James Franco as Aron Ralston, an experienced hiker and climber, in 2003, who falls into a Canyon in Utah where a boulder wedges his right arm against a rock wall. For five days he is stuck in the canyon thinking he is going to die there until he musters up the courage to cut his arm off and walk out. So, you might say, "wow, that sounds depressing." Well, actually Boyle does a great job of including all emotions into the film that are realistically portrayed by Franco. The music in the movie also goes a long way in moving the audience to feel different emotions at different parts of the film. Some of the music is uplifting and inspiring when you don't expect it. Sometimes the music gets a bit trippy during some of the flashback and hallucination scenes, but it all works for the best. By the end of the film you have a sense that the movie is about hope and perseverance through the harshest of circumstances.
The camera movements are also different from your average movie. It is part of Boyle's signature style with crooked camera angles and a little shakiness every now and then, but never too much to where it's annoying, because we've all see that overdone before...ahem....Cloverfield! All of the awkward angles and various songs really are for the purpose of spicing up the film and making it more entertaining. I'm sure it would be no easy task to film someone stuck in a canyon for five days and make it as riveting to watch as Boyle has made it. No wonder there is Oscar buzz surrounding this film. I was especially impressed by the scenes of millions of people in different parts of the world that were in the opening credits, further allowing the audience to grasp the true feeling of loneliness that Aron Ralston must have felt in that canyon away from everything. The juxtaposition of all those scenes of people everywhere to Aron alone in the dark crevice made it all the more dramatic and horrifying and also made the rescue scene all the more rewarding for the audience.
In short, this is a brilliantly made film about an amazing true story. So, if you have a strong enough stomach, go and see this film. It's only 93 min. and worth the money.

Rating: 9 out of 10