127 Hours (2010)

Jack said even the fun parts of this are intense. Adapted from the memoir of extreme sportsman Aron Ralston, it tells his story of getting trapped while hiking alone in Utah and how he escaped. You probably know how, but, if you don't, be warned that there is significant blood involved and I looked away (Jack watched it and was okay afterward) (apparently many people have been so affected by that scene late in the movie--I tried to remember when, but you'll know when it starts--that a few needed "medical attention"). That said, it's still a good movie, and has 9 Satellite Awards nominations as well as 4 from the Washington DC Film Critics, with many more to come, I predict. One can't help but compare it to Into the Wild (2007), another tale of a young man on a quest for adventure. That one was wonderful and sad, too, but won't cause you to cover your eyes in horror.

Director Danny Boyle (I loved the twisted Shallow Grave (1994) and Trainspotting (1996), as well as the scary 28 Days Later... (2002), the sunny Millions, and the unclassifiable Slumdog Millionaire, which won him a directing Oscar) adapted the screenplay with his Slumdog Millionaire Oscar-winning writer Simon Beaufoy (whose first feature screenplay was The Full Monty (1997), a fun must-see which got him an Oscar nomination, and later he wrote Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, which I also loved, and others).

Though plenty of good actors are in the credits--including Kate Mara (I wrote about her in happythankyoumoreplease), Amber Tamblyn (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005 and 08), plenty of TV, including Dr. House's latest team member), Treat Williams (my faves from his long resumé are Hair (1979), The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper (1981), Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995), and Mulholland Falls (1996)), Kate Burton (Richard's daughter by Sybil Williams, played Meredith Grey's mom in Grey's Anatomy and much more), Lizzy Caplan (4 episodes of Freaks and Geeks, "Janis Ian" in Mean Girls (2004), and the love interest in Hot Tub Time Machine) who doesn't even have a line as the future version of Aron's little sister, and Clémence Poésy (In Bruges (2008), among others; I have never watched Gossip Girl) who does, as Aron's blonde girlfriend with the accent--most of the screen time goes to the multi-talented James Franco who can play good, evil, achiever, slacker, fun guy, worst friend, bad boyfriend, gay, straight, hunk, loser, you name it (I've written about him in Milk, Date Night, Eat Pray Love, and Howl).

The cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle (Oscar winner for Slumdog, also shot 28 Days Later..., The Last King of Scotland (2006), more) and Enrique Chediak (some that I liked: A Home at the End of the World (2004), Down in the Valley (2005), and 28 Weeks Later (2007), which was the sequel to 28 days Later... with no recurring cast or crew) is bright and compelling, as is the music by A.R. Rahman (Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), Oscar winner for Slumdog, and over 100 titles in India) plus a few extra tracks. The movie opens with crowd scenes of marathons beginning and people doing the wave and reminded us a little of Slumdog. It ends with shots of the real Aron after the ordeal. Twelfth at the box office last week, this movie has a very high 93% on rottentomatoes. So, go ahead. Just cover your eyes after the really loud CRACK noise.