It would be glib, and in questionable taste, to give “127 Hours” the subtitle “A Farewell to Arm.” It would also be misleading and diminishing to lead with that punny but accurate wisecrack. Today’s harrowing thriller does indeed recount the incredible true story of what happened in 2003 to trapped Utah mountaineer Aron Ralston. He became famous for having to amputate his own limb with a dull knife after five days stuck alone at the bottom of a remote crevice in the red-rock wilderness.
Rating » 5 out of 5 starsStars » James Franco, Amber Tamblyn, Kate MaraDirector » Danny BoyleRated R for language and some disturbing violent content/bloody imagesRunning time » 93 minutes
Yet while that gruesome depiction — a relatively short, single scene — is garnering much of the advance press, it has little to do with why “127 Hours” is one of the best movies of 2010. Rather, filmmaker Danny Boyle and star James Franco have created a brilliantly fleshed-out character study and inspirational adventure that goes far beyond the flesh.
Based on the real Aron’s aptly titled book “Between a Rock and a Hard Place” and on the private videos he shot of himself during the ordeal, Franco’s Aron takes us on the most exciting journey of physical survival and spiritual epiphany imaginable. It works wonderfully on both levels, as a flawed hero’s odyssey and as a metaphor for overcoming any life struggle: Remain calm, remember love, and solve the freakin’ problem!
Director-co-writer Boyle (“Slumdog Millionaire,” “Trainspotting”) continues to hone his unique, dynamic way of telling stories with pictures that move — in both senses of that word. With kinetic and emotional imagery, this bold stylist also layers in music that can be as memorable as any dialogue. You could practically write a book about the subtext and whimsy of Boyle’s genius soundtracks.
In “127 Hours,” with music director A.R. Rahman, he uses such songs as Free Blood’s bustling “Never Hear Surf Music Again,” Bill Withers’ languid-cool “Lovely Day,” and Plastic Bertrand’s exuberant “Ca Plane Pour Moi” to evoke moods and memories. In conjunction with Franco’s bravura performance, they reflect the mind of a young man who hid behind extreme sport to isolate himself. As starvation, pain and despair encroach, he finds thoughts of his parents (Treat Williams, Kate Burton), an old girlfriend, and strong fantasies of a future family become his motivation to endure.
Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara play two hikers who briefly meet Aron. Through their eyes, we can see how ruled by ego he is before the horrible, humbling Moment. But then he falls into that secluded crack, jammed in by that immovable boulder. And Franco and Boyle plunge you down into the depths right along with him.
His heart-pounding rise over those 127 hours is, well, a call to arms for fans of great film.
