127 Hours is a 2010 drama-thriller film directed by Danny Boyle, written by Boyle and Simon Beaufoy and produced by Christian Colson, who previously teamed up for Slumdog Millionaire, and John Smithson. The film is based on the true story of Aron Ralston, the American mountain climber who amputated his own arm to free himself after being trapped by a boulder in Robbers Roost, Utah for nearly five days in May 2003. James Franco stars as Ralston. The film will be released in the United States on November 5, 2010. The film's score is composed by Boyle's previous collaborator on Slumdog Millionaire, Academy Award winner A.R. Rahman.

Synopsis

Hiker Aron Ralston (James Franco) is trapped in an isolated canyon after a fallen boulder crushes his arm while he is hiking in Utah. Over the next five days, Ralston examines his life and survives the elements before amputating his own arm to free himself from the boulder. Ralston then scales a 65 foot wall and hikes over eight miles before he is finally rescued.^[1]

Cast

• James Franco as Aron Ralston^[1]
• Amber Tamblyn as Megan, one of two hikers Ralston met before the accident.^[1]
• Kate Mara as Christie, one of two hikers Ralston met before the accident.^[1]
• Clémence Poésy as Ralston's lover.^[1]
• Lizzy Caplan as Sonja, Ralston's sister.^[2]

Production

Danny Boyle had been wanting to make a film about Ralston's ordeal for four years.^[3] Boyle wrote a treatment for the film and Simon Beaufoy wrote the screenplay.^[4] Boyle describes 127 Hours as "very much a British film", and as "an action movie with a guy who can't move".^[5]

News of the World reported in November 2009 that Cillian Murphy was Boyle's top choice to play Ralston.^[6] Ryan Gosling was also rumored to play Ralston.^[4] In January 2010, James Franco was cast as Ralston.^[7] Lizzy Caplan plays his sister.^[2]

Filming was reported to begin in March 2010 in Utah.^[7] Boyle intended to shoot the first part of the film with no dialogue.^[3] As of June 17, 2010, the film is in post-production.^[8]

The "amputation scene" was the handiwork of makeup effects artist Tony Gardner and his team at Alterian, Inc. They strove to be medically accurate in every minute detail, as Danny Boyle shot the entire scene in one take and every aspect of the scene needed to be functional as well as realistic.^{[citation needed]}

Ralston's favorite band, Phish, is mentioned in the movie. During production, Boyle asked Ralston how Phish lyrics could be included in the film. Ralston sings lines from the Phish song "Sleeping Monkey" when swimming in one of the early scenes of the movie. ^[9]

Release

127 Hours was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2010, following its premiere at the 2010 Telluride Film Festival.^[10] The film has been selected to close the 2010 London Film Festival on 28 October 2010.^[11] It goes on general release in the US on November 5, 2010.^[12]

During the screenings at Telluride Film Festival, two people required medical attention. At the first screening, an audience member suffered from lightheadedness and was taken out of the screening on a gurney. During a subsequent screening, another viewer suffered a panic attack. It is unknown as to whether or not the "amputation scene" was the cause of the incidents.^[13] Similar reactions were reported at the Toronto International Film Festival.^[14]

Reception

127 Hours has received positive reviews. Review aggregate Rotten Tomatoes reports that 92% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 9 reviews, with an average score of 7.9/10.^[15]

References

External links

• Official website
• 127 Hours at the Internet Movie Database
• 127 Hours at Allmovie
• 127 Hours at Box Office Mojo
• 127 Hours at Rotten Tomatoes
• Video of Boyle talking about the film at Movie-Con