Review: 127 Hours

The true story of the life defining experience of Aron Ralston based on his appropriately named memoir “Between a rock and a hard place.” is one of mental fortitude and toughness not only for Ralstom (James Franco) but also for the viewer.

This film focuses on the experiences of Aron Ralston who in 2003 went hiking in the remote Canyonlands National Park to find himself pinned hopelessly beneath a boulder with no hope of rescue and scarce rations to survive. Ralstom a resourceful, energetic and adventurous individual is left isolated with little else to do than to face his own death.

Director Danny Boyle does an unparalleled job of being able to draw a viewer into the trauma of a 5 daylong struggle against not only nature but Ralstom’s own mind. As if trapped in a canyon they, the viewer has only the briefest of reprieves from the desperate scene in front of them.

The film’s only true character is Aron Ralsto played by James Franco. He serves as the films hero, villain, joker and narrator. In a Q&A, Danny Boyle stated that “You don’t see Aron Ralston, you see James Franco going through Aron Ralston’s experience.” And Franco’s outstanding performance is definitely worth seeing.

He enters the film as an adventure junkie, drawing adrenaline from nature, which he continues to challenge whether it’s traversing a canyon, racing across treacherous terrain at daring speeds or trying to shift an immovable boulder. His ultimate battle though however is when his fortress of physical ability and mental toughness is slowly dismantled by nature as in every instance where the eventual delirium wears off or a hallucination fades; Ralstom wakes up only to his nightmare.

Through the whole film you realise that the character of Ralstom isn’t alone throughout this ordeal, he is instead joined by allies and enemies within his own mind, those of a man who has turned his back on the bustling urban crowds and humanity. He’s able to relay his ordeal to his loved ones through his video camera which acts as a portal to the civilization he has abandoned. During his time in the canyon, Ralstom’s superhuman physicality and independence is eroded away and he progresses to become a man once again, realising his reliance on those he loves and has left behind.

The cinematography throughout the film is remarkable; the connection between the camera and the subject is hauntingly in sync. Working in such confined spaces, presents its obvious challenges however directors of photography Anthony Dod Mantle and Enrique Chediak, overcome these obstacles with brilliant innovation and place you with front row seats to witness Ralstom and his plight.

The score to the movie keeps this high bar hitting spectacle in place constantly as both original music and licensed music is positioned perfectly to portray desperate, bleak and surreal situations. Boyle draws songs from the collective libraries which we all have, to tremendous affect, in particular Bill Wither’s “Lovely Day” which is applied with great irony.

A viewer’s psyche will be taxed throughout which only nurses the empathy that one has to the subject, one which evolves into a genuine sense of respect for the person that James Franco portrays and for that, the viewer is rewarded with an incredibly powerful piece of cinema.

Not everyone will be trapped in a canyon pinned by a boulder however at some point in everyone’s lives; people will be able to relate to the adversity of facing an impossible situation and 127 hours will tug on those emotions evoked from such a scenario.

This review can also be found at MyVillage

The Social Network Review

In July 2009, the script for The Social Network was leaked on the internet. Critics were puzzled with who would be interested in a film about a website, especially one which has a relatively small amount of controversy and with little to no input by any of the real life principals. Regardless of the source information, as a film The Social Network has gone on to receive critical acclaim. I personally didn’t watch any of the trailers nor did I register it as one of my must see films, however the opportunity to watch it came up recently so I decided to see what the buzz was about.

The story revolves around the life of Mark Zuckerberg when he created Facebook from a dorm room in Harvard and how he and others developed it, to become what we all know today.

Jesse Eisenberg takes on the role of Mark Zuckerberg and delivers a fantastic performance of a geeky sociopath. While reserved the majority of the time, his brief outbursts of social interaction are strong, confident and clever. Eisenberg’s performance dominates the scene every time he walks into a room and even when he leaves one. Throughout the film though, the character of Mark Zuckerberg is continually under attack by the Winklevoss twins (both played by Armie Stammer), Divya Narenda (Max Minghella) and Zuckerberg’s then best friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield).

The performances by all the aforementioned actors are outstanding, in particular Armie Stammer’s. The ability to deliver not one but two strong and memorable roles each with a unique personality is a feat which is rarely accomplished although recent memory does remind me of Jeff Bridges’ performance in Tron: Legacy. Not a bad name to be mentioned with in a conversation.

The soundtrack for The Social Network is something special indeed. Composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Social Network soundtrack ranges from hauntingly beautiful to pulsingly hypnotic to grandiose and overwhelming. Each song suits its scene perfectly. The soundtrack draws you into the rollercoaster world which is being told while still registering as a standalone piece of brilliance. Of note is “In the Hall of the Mountain King” written by the 18^th century Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. Reznor and Ross put a slight electronic twist to it that allows it to stand alone in a scene where all other audio is muted. And it works.

The storyline is both The Social Network’s strongest forte as well as its primary source of controversy. As a film, the story is fantastic, gripping and is told in a way which keeps the viewer constantly engrossed, constantly focused in and soaking up all the information that is dispensed. Nothing in the film seems to be put in for no reason whatsoever and every scene is delivered with brilliant dialogue and impact, while at the same time not being too overwhelming. The audience doesn’t need to know all the computer whiz techno-jargon or in-jokes however it all is still appreciated. The Social Network is not about the site itself but is first and foremost a story of relationships and how they’re affected by business.

At the same time, it should be noted that the big controversy that surrounds The Social Network is around the accuracy of the story. The screenwriter Aaron Sorkin stated that “I don’t want my fidelity to be to the truth; I want it to be to storytelling. What is the big deal about accuracy purely for accuracy’s sake, and can we not have the true be the enemy of the good?”

Much of the screenplay is fictionalised and it is definitely a dramatization of history. While the names are the same, the characters do not portray their real life personas whatsoever. The underlying story arc in The Social Network is of the relationship between Mark Zuckerberg and his ex-girlfriend Erica Albright and how Facebook was a way for him to prove himself. Whether this was the case or not, no one truly knows however much of the film is based on these loose rumours turned fact. Ultimately The Social Network is not a documentary. If you wish to find out who Mark Zuckerberg actually is, then The Social Network is not essential viewing.

Leaving the cinema I had a conversation with a friend about who our favourite characters was and the answers were definitely polarised. There’s something special to be said about a story where everyone can find a hero in it but they won’t necessarily be the same character. It gets you to ask questions and keeps you in the dramatised world even after leaving the cinema. It is a fantastic process to experience, one that unfortunately not enough films impart on viewers.

For a great story, strong acting and an all around well delivered film. The Social Network definitely delivers on that part. However don’t go in expecting a documentary on the life and story of Mark Zuckerberg and the genesis of Facebook.