127 Hours

Danny Boyle is a good director and this adrenaline bite is far more impactful than it might seem at first glance. He turns a a banal storyline into a psychedelic affair of the highest caliber. The desire to survive is beautifully displayed in full force. From minimal resources, he achieved the maximum outcome; this film is definitely worth seeing. It is a simple, yet highly watchable affair. (02/19/2011)

Ninety-four minutes of film... And I wasn't bored with a single one. I read the book in one sitting, so I was "just" waiting to see how Danny Boyle would handle it. I have to say, he did a great job. It's not clear to me why the plot deviated so much from the book and Ralston's real story in the beginning of the film (the swimming with a couple of girls is a purely cinematic, completely unnecessary addition and also the only minus), but everything that came after that was sensational, believable thanks to Franco and constantly imaginative thanks to Boyle (you wouldn't believe how many possibilities there are to place the camera in such a narrow canyon). The film looks amazing, features an impeccable soundtrack and won't get out of my head any time soon. (04/21/2012)

Yeah, Boyle and Franco probably did the best they could under the circumstances, but the fears I had before the screening turned out to be true: the premise is good for an autobiography, but not for a feature film. To allow the camera to leave that unfortunate wedged guy at least for a while, the script includes flashbacks and hallucinations that are pretty annoying and pathetic, though I understand the dramatic reasons behind them. But, considering the possibilities the creators had, the film is very brisk and energetic and Boyle again shows his strength: the blend of music and images. The ending (when the “action” is behind) managed to arouse some emotions. However, I still have mixed feelings about 127 Hours and I would love it if next time Danny chose more story-rich material. 7/10 (02/07/2011)

I didn't waver for a minute over any rating other than 5 stars. James Franco played his role perfectly, movingly, and naturally. My hand ached for him from the beginning and my heart was pounding until the end. The imaginative and, most importantly, original ending only made me believe that this film is 100%. (06/02/2011)

Desire for adventure, desire for solitude, desire to live. Danny Boyle translates a relatively trivial story into a highly personal level, where no hallucination is purposeless and no flashback empty. With the breathtaking James Franco and a visual that never rests, 127 Hours becomes a magnificent spiritual cleansing and also the most intimate story. It is simply a difficult task that passed with flying colours and made me, despite the inconspicuous warning, desire to rush somewhere headlong, making it perhaps the biggest surprise of the season. (01/11/2011)