Mini movie review: 127 Hours

127 Hours* is absolutely amazing in that it is a movie that Mr. Mouse has repeatedly requested that I get and we both liked it.  It is the slightly movie-fied true story of Aron Ralston who, whilst solo hiking in Canyonlands National Park, got his hand trapped by a rock in Bluejohn Canyon and ended up SPOILER cutting off his own arm to save his life.  Directed by Danny Boyle (I looooove Danny Boyle: Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Sunshine ... I haven't seen Slumdog Millionaire or Millions yet) - who has yet to find a genre he can't do - 127 Hours is a short (94 min.), taut little film.  It is to James Franco's credit, however, that we are even able to bear what is basically an hour and a half of a guy standing trapped in a slot canyon; Franco is on screen always and does a wonderful job.  I remember reading that when this movie came out, people were fuh-reaking out about the self amputation: fainting at the sound effects and getting sick from the gore.  Maybe I've seen too many horror movies but I didn't think it was all that horrific - and even Mr. Mouse, who is NOT a horror film fan, had no problem with it.

The one issue we had with the movie is that it didn't really let you know what Ralston was feeling - how horrible his legs must have felt after standing in one position for all that time, for example - but I don't know how they could have done that other than the actor talking about it, and that wouldn't work.  I suspect we'll probably read Ralston's book to get the full story, but that's a pretty minor quibble about a solid film.

* Filmed entirely on location in Canyonlands and in a sound stage in SLC ... Utah represent!