In May, 2003, extreme adventurer Aron Ralson, JAMES FRANCO, set out to walk in Bluejohn Canyon, Utah. After a brief encounter with a couple of girls also out for adventure, Aron struck out on his own - but became trapped when his arm was pinned under an immovable rock.

The pain and frustration of his situation, during which his thoughts turn to his parents and a former girlfriend, culminate in his life or death decision to extricate himself. Aron Ralston's story is a remarkable one, and so is Danny Boyle's film of it and James Franco's astonishing performance in the very demanding leading role.

I suppose this isn't a film for the squeamish, given the lengths to which Aron is eventually driven to free himself - but it's a consummate piece of film craft thanks to the work of all concerned, especially cinema-tographers Anthony Dod Mantle and Enrique Chediak. As a follow-up to SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, 127 HOURS shows Danny Boyle at the top of his form - it's not a story many filmmakers would want to tackle, and few would handle it as well.
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