127 HOURS: quite literally gripping stuff

It's testimony to the talent and creativity of 127 HOURS director Danny Boyle and his star James Franco that they succeed in making a film about a man with his arm trapped by a boulder in a crevasse for more than 5 days not just compelling but also Oscar worthy.

The true story of mountaineer Aron Ralston is so well known that it gives nothing away to reveal that faced with the choice of dying slowly from thirst and hunger or cutting off his own arm he chooses to do what most of us could never imagine doing. And even though we know from the very start what he will do it takes nothing away from the power of the story which unfolds. If anything it adds to the tension. We know he's going to do it but the question remains of just when will he reach the point when the suffering compels him to do the unimaginable.
To call Ralston an outdoor kind of guy is an understatement. He lives for climbing, hiking and mountainbiking. Anything that gets him closer to nature and further away from civilisation is what he lives for. He's also selfish and singleminded, something that becomes clearer as he flashes back over his life while trapped in the crevasse.
Boyle makes very creative and sparing use of the flashback to not only fill us in on what's lead Ralston to this point but also to get inside the climber's head as he reflects (probably for the first time in his life) on what's brought him to this life-changing moment. These are are complemented by Ralston's entries in the video diary he starts when he realises the hopelessness of his situation. His musings both serious and lighthearted are intended to be viewed by whoever finds his body.
Franco is mighty impressive in a part which requires him to do an awful lot with very little except his own resources.. It's a performance shorn of melodramatic theatrics and ego. Franco immerses himself entirely in the character of Ralston creating someone we can believe in as a flesh and blood human being rather than a star name playing a role.
Franco's up for a Golden Globe next weekend as is Boyle (for screenplay but not direction) and 'Sumdog Millionaire' composer A.R.Rahman for his incredible soundtrack. Each faces tough competition but would be deserving winners, and I'm looking forward to seeing their names featuring prominently when the Oscar nominations are announced at the end of this month.