If you know anything about the true story that this film is based upon then you will understand why I was very hesitant to see this.
And I'm glad I did...
I'm a fan of director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Millions, Slumdog Millionaire, 28 Days Later) and only he could pull this story off.
The central dramatic moment of this film arrives when the climber Aron Ralston (James Franco), whose arm becomes trapped under a heavy boulder, who is miles and miles from civilization, who has exhausted all of his food and water resources, makes the bold and necessary decision to cut off his own arm to save his life.
And that, my friends, is worth spending some time pondering...
Could you, if you were in a similar situation, actually cut off your own arm to save your life. Is your will to survive really as strong as that? Is it?
Thankfully most of us will never be forced to actually make a decision like this but it really makes you think about what is truly important in your life. How much are you willing to sacrifice to preserve your life?
This is the central moment of the film and the audience knows what's coming and that's part of the appeal, which is to see how Danny Boyle keeps us gripped in Aron's predicament leading up to that fateful moment...
A simple story, with one big dramatically central event, told with flair and respect.
