'127 Hours'

'127 Hours' (R) (3 1/2 stars)

Writers: Simon Beaufoy and Danny Boyle
Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: James Franco, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara, Treat Williams, Kate Burton, Lizzy Kaplan, Clemence Poesy

For the brave viewer "127 Hours" is a must see movie that is not easy to watch but ends up inspiring and powerful. It also has easily one of the best performances of 2010 by James Franco. I have been championing James Franco ever since "Freaks and Geeks" predicting that soon he would be nominated for an Oscar. Well my prediction will come true because Franco is a shoo in. This is tough material and Franco is up to the task with a maddening performance that is flawless and powerful. "127 Hours" is the true story of Aron Ralston who was a mountain climber who was trapped underneath a boulder. The boulder pinned Ralston's arm and he was trapped there for days. Now I really can't describe this movie without telling you the grisly details. It has to be done because some of what happens is tough to watch but adds to the power so don't read further if you don't want to know what happens. Ralston was trapped for so many days, runs out of water, gets a monsoon of water dumped on him almost drowning him and finally has to cut off his arm to escape.

I love how Danny Boyle films everything that happens with out making the movie tedious for it could have turned out that way. He brings energy to the beginning and inspires us at the end. There are compelling moments where Ralston has hallucinations, talks into his camera to loved ones and does a mock television talk show. James Franco is outstanding in making us feel his madness and pain. It is a difficult role but from the start he engages us and by the end he has us cheering. Ralston might have been reckless but due to Franco he comes off as likable. This movie made me squirm in my seat and it captures the feeling of being trapped perfectly. The scene where Ralston cuts off his arm is not for the weak of heart for it is shocking and bloody. I forgot and loved how the movie showed me that if you try to cut off an arm there are tendons there. Without anesthesia it probably hurts like hell to cut one of those tendons off so if that is too much for you, stay away from this movie. "127 Hours is a very powerful movie that is filmed uniquely by Danny Boyle who has always brought energy to his films. Also James Franco's performance is by itself worth it to see this movie. I can't totally embrace this movie for it stops short of real greatness for me. Though I can say that James Franco gives one of the best performances I have seen this or any other year.