I saw this one last night - and am actually being prompt in my review - whaddya know? Every once in a while there's a news story that's so damned insane that no fiction could possibly match it. Most of you surely remember the story about Aron Ralston, the man who got trapped alone in a canyon in Utah and cut off his own arm to survive. It doesn't seem to me like it'd have enough substance for a feature film without a bevy of flashbacks (which are played out), but when one of the better directors working today, Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Slumdog Millionaire) was attached, I became intrigued. When they cast James Franco - who I've been a huge fan of since he stole the show in "Pineapple Express" - my interest was piqued. This is basically a two-man show, as Director and lead craft a tale of human perseverance, determination and growth, while largely working within the tight confines of a narrow canyon. Aron Ralston is a loner and adrenaline junkie. A man who needs nothing an no one other than himself, and sets out every weekend to prove to himself just how independent he can be and what he can do. The weekend of April 24, 2010, he sets out alone to Blue John Canyon in Utah without telling anyone where he's gone or how long he'll be away. After a brief run-in with some female hikers, he sets back off alone to do some rappelling. A freak slip ends with him trapped and pinned beneath a boulder for the next several days as his supplies and morale slowly dwindle.
This film is a celebration of the individual will, of the strength that comes from determination to survive. Shot on location in Utah, Boyle makes the most of the immaculate (and desolate) vistas, cliffs and rock formations present in one of America's true natural wonders. While I'm not much of an "outdoors" type myself, I can certainly respect and understand what would drive someone to lose themselves in the majesty of nature. Through flashbacks, hallucinations, visions and the like, Boyle expands the narrative from simply a man and a boulder to help express the despair and thought process one would experience in such a bleak, desperate situation. Through different camera angles and speeds, Boyle heightens the experience and joy followed by crushing devastation of what should have been a fun weekend for an adrenaline junkie.
But make no mistake, Mr. Franco is the true star of this production. He brings a charm, wit and "joi de vivre" necessary for a film where 99% of the shots feature him prominently. This is one of the great performances of our time. Franco is riveting, and manages to (along with Boyle) make this about more than a guy stuck under a rock, but about personal growth and what the sheer determination to survive can drive us to. It kind of makes you feel like a pussy for complaining about the minor problems in your life.
Make no mistake kids, this is must-see.
8.5/10.
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