127 Hours is a 2010 drama-thriller film directed by Danny Boyle, written by Boyle and Simon Beaufoy and produced by Christian Colson, who previously teamed up for Slumdog Millionaire, and John Smithson. The film stars James Franco and is based on the true story of Aron Ralston, the American mountain climber who was trapped by a boulder in Robbers Roost, Utah for nearly five days in May 2003. The film will be released in the United States on November 5, 2010.
Synopsis
Hiker Aron Ralston (James Franco) is trapped in an isolated canyon after a fallen boulder crushes his arm while he is hiking in Utah. Over the next five days, Ralston examines his life and survives the elements before amputating his own arm to free himself from the boulder. Ralston then scales a 65 foot wall and hikes over eight miles before he is finally rescued.[2]
Danny Boyle had been wanting to make a film about Ralston's ordeal for four years.[4] Boyle wrote a treatment for the film and Simon Beaufoy wrote the screenplay.[5] Boyle describes 127 Hours as "very much a British film", and as "an action movie with a guy who can't move".[6]
Filming was reported to begin in March 2010 in Utah.[8] Boyle intended to shoot the first part of the film with no dialogue.[4] By June 17, 2010, the film was in post-production.[9]
The "amputation scene" was the handiwork of makeup effects artist Tony Gardner and his team at Alterian, Inc. They strove to be medically accurate in every minute detail, as Danny Boyle shot the entire scene in one take and every aspect of the scene needed to be functional as well as realistic.[citation needed]
Ralston's favorite band, Phish, is mentioned in the movie. During production, Boyle asked Ralston how Phish lyrics could be included in the film. Ralston sings lines from the Phish song "Sleeping Monkey" when swimming in one of the early scenes of the movie. [10]
Release
127 Hours was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2010, following its premiere at the 2010 Telluride Film Festival.[11] The film closed the 2010 London Film Festival on 28 October 2010.[12] It goes on general release in the US on November 5, 2010.[13]
During the screenings at Telluride Film Festival, two people required medical attention. At the first screening, an audience member suffered from lightheadedness and was taken out of the screening on a gurney. During a subsequent screening, another viewer suffered a panic attack. It is unknown as to whether or not the "amputation scene" was the cause of the incidents.[14] Similar reactions were reported at the Toronto International Film Festival.[15]
Reception
127 Hours has so far received critical acclaim. Review aggregate Rotten Tomatoes reports that 92% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 24 reviews, with an average score of 8.1/10.[16]
Soundtrack
Untitled
The original score of the film was composed by A. R. Rahman, Boyle's previous collaborator on Slumdog Millionaire. The score centred around guitar was recorded in London and was completed in three weeks.[17] The soundtrack, which will be released on 2 November by Interscope Records, features several original score along with songs composed by Rahman and songs by Free Blood, Bill Withers, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Plastic Bertrand, Esther Phillips and Sigur Rós.[18] The track listing was revealed on Amazon.com on 25 October.[19] The first responses about the soundtrack are generally positive.[20]
The soundtrack album includes the track "Never Hear Surf Music Again" by the band Free Blood, "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers, "Nocturne No.2 in E flat, Op.9 No.2" by Vladimir Ashkenazy, "Ca Plane Pour Moi" by Plastic Bertrand, "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)" by Esther Phillips and "Festival" by Sigur Rós are also included. "If I Rise" is composed by A. R. Rahman, and performed by Dido, a song featured in the climax scene of the movie.[21]
