James Franco’s performance, and Danny Boyle’s magnificent style of directing are a must watch for any cinema goer this season. One might be aware of mountaineer Aron Ralston’s story of fighting five days of thirst and pain with his arm stuck under a bolder in Blue John Canyon, Utah. But the movie makes one shudder not only at the thought of pain Aron suffered, but also the sense of life and relief he had felt after chopping off his arm by himself.

127 Hours is shot with an gripping camera work on James Franco, which undoubtedly could make this role as one of his biggest. The movie shows the lead heading and jumping and crashing into rugged terrains, until he meets with the fateful accident. The camera not just manages to capture the hounding beauty of the area under Boyle, but also brings to life the minute feelings which Aron had felt as hours ticked into days, and he longed for freedom under desperation.

Although one knows that James will meet a horrid end, it is the journey of self-talk alongside the spirit to survive which keeps the watcher engaged in the movie’s narration. The movie is a journey not just for the actor and the director, but also the one watching it. given the music by A. R. Rahman and the strong sense of restlessness clubbed with the sense of adventure, this looks like one more Oscar winning material.

--Sampurn Wire