127 Hours: Blu Ray Review

127 Hours: Blu Ray Review

127 Hours
Rating: RP16
Released by Roadshow and 20th Century Fox

James Franco gives an Oscar-nominated performance as Aron Ralston, an American climber whose trip into the wild in 2003 changed his life forever when he became trapped down a canyon, with his arm crushed against a wall with a boulder.

He meets two girls (Mara and Tamblyn) before his life changes when he falls down a Utah canyon and is trapped by a boulder.

Over five days, his mental and physical health take their toll as Ralston reflects back on his life and faces the ultimate look at his own mortality.

127 Hours is claustrophobic, uncomfortable viewing in the extreme - thanks to one scene (more on that later).

But it's also terrific, with an undeniable energy and a mesmerising performance from Franco as Ralston.

Given Franco's on screen for most of the film solo, he really needed to pull out all the stops to chart the mental decline, hallucinations, guilt, and memories that Ralston goes through, and he delivers in spades in this total sensory experience of a film.

Every moment, as the camera tracks his wearying expressions, you can't tear your eyes away from Franco; partially that's because of the inevitability of knowing (slight spoiler ahead) he hacks off his own arm with a blunt knife to escape.

It's uncomfortable viewing but it's compelling too - I don't remember the last time I sat squirming and with nowhere to go, but it's so well done (thanks to bone-crunching sound effects) that it delivers the shock it needs and gives you the emotional and physical release you need after 80 minutes' worth of waiting.

Rating: 8/10