What kind of films can not leave any spectator indifferent, despite the variety of feelings overwhelming him?
âHachikoâ, âImpossibleâ, â1 + 1â, âEarthquakeâ - all these popular movies are based on real events. The film â127 Hoursâ stood on a par with them, reviews of which for the most part are the most positive. Having heard about it for the first time, many certainly ask themselves questions: why 127? Is this the time needed to escape, or perhaps to save the beloved girl? Or maybe so many hours left to live the main character? We suggest to sort this out.
The origins of film history
The story in the film "127 Hours", the plot of which was based on the real events of the life of Aron Ralston, will not leave anyone indifferent. To be more precise, the basis for starting work on the film was the book of memoirs by Aron Ralston âBetween the Hammer and the Anvilâ. In it, the author talks about the events that happened to him in April 2003 in the US state of Utah.
Aron, being an extreme traveler and climber, dreamed of conquering all 55 peaks of America, each at least 4 thousand meters high.
On April 26, 2003, Aron Ralston set off on his next adventure. The Blue Jack Canyon of Utah National Park is a place of unprecedented beauty. Walking through a deserted and almost deserted area, contemplating the natural strength and power, Aron did not even suspect how this journey would end.
At some point in his campaign, Aron noticed three huge boulders, they covered a small narrow passage away from the main route. He was interested in this gorge, and, trying to climb the boulders, Aron staggered one of them. A huge block came into motion and tightly clamped the traveler's right hand between himself and the rock.
Overcoming yourself
Aron tried to loosen, at least slightly move the boulder, but in vain. A stone weighing almost 400 kg did not succumb to the persistent actions of one person.
So Aron Ralston was left alone with a huge boulder in the middle of the desert. As his father, Larry Ralston, said afterwards, Aron determined for himself 5 possible ways to get out of this situation: still, loosen the boulder with the equipment at his disposal, break the canyon wall until you can reach out, patiently wait for rescuers or amputate the wrist yourself stuck between a boulder and a rock. There was another way out - suicide, but Aron, incredibly strong in spirit, immediately rejected this option.
Despite all attempts to defeat a boulder or rock, Aron had been in a deadly canyon for several days. It was pointless to wait for the rescuers, because none of his relatives and friends knew in advance the new route of Aron. He ran out of meager supplies of food and food, and he made a terrible decision: cut off his hand. At his disposal was only a stupid Chinese knife - a cheap fake, and several bicycle spokes, from which Aron constructs himself an impromptu bones. He independently breaks the radius and ulnar bones, and then takes a knife in his left hand ...
Salvation of Aron
Overcoming the infernal pain, he gets out of the gorge. Salvation Aron Ralston waited only after a few painful hours, walking through the desert, hungry and dehydrated, more than 12 km. Aron came across tourists from the Netherlands, it was they who called a rescue helicopter.
After discharge from the hospital, Aron continued to conquer the remaining peaks, four thousandths, and also did not give up extreme sports. In 2009, Aron married, a few months later his first child was born. Aron now is a real example of incredible courage and will to live.
127 hours: start
A year and a half after the rescue, Aron Ralston released an autobiographical book in which he described in detail the events that happened to him during those terrible 5 days.
And after a few years, after reading this book, the famous director Danny Boyle decides to again assemble a team of first-class specialists in his field and make a high-quality film. With producer Christian Colson and screenwriter Simon Bofoy, Boyle worked on Slumdog Millionaire.
Boyleâs desire to make this film initially frightened many: they were afraid that the viewer would not like to see the face of the same actor throughout the film. But, having read the book of Aron and learning about his story, everyone came to the same conclusion: worth it!
Boyleâs main idea was to immerse the viewer in that terrible gorge and, together with Aron Ralston, make him endure pain and all-consuming fear, noticing how the heroâs emotions change from panic to the desire to get out and survive at all costs.
Ralson and Boyle: first meeting
The first thing the director had to do so that when watching the movie, the viewer believed him, was to contact the real Aron Ralston, invite him to shoot.
Aron met with Boyle in Utah in July 2009. The canyon did not scare him, and, according to Ralston himself, he thanked this place for the life that it had opened for him.
Before being imprisoned in that narrow gorge, Aron was a secretive individualist by nature, he did not think about how his mother and father worry about him when he goes on his campaigns full of danger. But during those most difficult lonely five days, when during the day there was nowhere to hide from the scorching sun, and at night - to escape from the ever-growing cold, Aron had time to rethink all his actions. It can rightfully be said that his second birth took place in Blue John.
The ideological component of the film
According to Ralston himself, by the end of the sixth day he was too exhausted, exhausted by thirst, the sun and cold - and all this cleared his thoughts, âso long as there were no emotional attachments left in themâ that did not allow them to give up and give up their hands even in such a difficult situation .
Danny Boyle transferred this idea to the film: he showed not only the ability to survive in a hopeless situation, but also the desire to overcome the barrier in himself in relation to society and the closest people.
However, despite the idea contained in the film â127 Hours,â reviews about it are very controversial. After watching, some considered this film an excellent motivating story, while others called Aron Ralston a crazy egoist who realized the value of the family only after the most tragic story of his life.
Boyle's main task
Having decided on the idea, the film team wondered who would play Aron Ralston, who was left alone with his misfortune, in the film. It was supposed to be, firstly, a very talented actor, and, secondly, his physical form should correspond to the physique of Aron, a professional athlete and climber.
The man playing Aron Ralston had to be ready to work in the most difficult physical conditions, where 99% of the time would be shot only by him. At the same time, he needed to show the whole possible palette of emotions, most reliably conveying the feelings, thoughts and actions of his character.
James Franco became the foreground actor (and, in fact, the only character in the picture) of the film â127 Hoursâ. Aron Ralston himself agreed with this choice: âI was very happy to know that this role would be played by a person with such a set of dramatic roles. I knew from other works of James that he really loves to live the life of the character he plays. â
In the footsteps of Ralston
Throughout almost the entire film, after the main character enters the gorge, the viewer watches Aron through a small tourist camera. For Franco, this experience was unique, he had for many hours on the site not to interact with other actors. He was very interested in this project by the novelty of filming. The basis of them was a film dialogue with the viewer. According to Franco, he was glad to work with Danny Boyle in this project, despite the difficult physical conditions, when for many hours he had to be in the same position in the layout of the room. Often the actor left the site with bruises and scratches.
Franco had to convey with his game all the personal experiences of his hero. In this he was very much helped by the real recordings of Aron Ralston. In a moment of complete despair, Aron recorded an appeal to his family and friends, a kind of testament in which he said goodbye to them.
Ralston also showed James Franco the possible poses in which he was during his long imprisonment, and even explained how he held the knife during amputation.
Having met, Ralston and Franco for a long time went together to the mountains. It was important for the actor to see the prototype of his hero in a real environment, in his native element.
127 Hours: Actors and Roles
The cast of the film is not rich, because in 90% of the entire film events unfold in a narrow gorge around James Franco.
Franco is not only involved in acting, he also works on films as a director and screenwriter, is a co-founder of a production company.
For his role in the film "127 Hours," James Franco was nominated for a Golden Globe and even an Oscar.
Speaking about the film â127 Hours,â actors playing the roles of a secondary plan cannot be ignored, because thanks to their work, the viewer watches how Aronâs desire to return to society increases over time. Lizzie Kaplan, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara, Clemence Poesy did an excellent job.
Poetry plays in the movie "127 Hours" Aron's girlfriend Rana. The actress received international recognition thanks to the role of Fleur Delacour in the film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Clemence Poesy is not only a talented actress, she is also involved in the modeling business. In 2007, Poetry became one of the faces of the Chloe brand.
Another close girlfriend of Aron Ralston in the film is his sister Sonia, who was played by Lizzy Kaplan. According to the plot of the film, Aron did not answer his sisterâs call before leaving for the canyon, which he regretted many times, being chained to the rock of the gorge. Lizzie Kaplan viewers can also see in the movie "Allies".
Many enthusiastic reviews of "127 hours" deserved precisely because of the game of its cast.
Last acquaintance
Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara at "127 hours" play Aron's new friends - Megan McBride and Christy Moore, whom he met in the canyon shortly before the tragedy.
The girls and Aron spent several hours together, strolling through the desert rocky terrain and diving into the mountain lake.
Their meeting would not be so remarkable if Megan and Christy were not the last ones whom Aron saw before the tragedy, and the only ones who knew where he could be.
Kate Mara has also played in such films as Brokeback Mountain, Martian, House of Cards, and Amber Tamblyn can be seen in films such as Doctor House, Bell, Django Unchained.
Due to the strong cast of the film â127 Hoursâ, reviews about it are mostly positive, because the viewer likes to look at the quality work done.
Interesting facts of the film "127 hours"
- Aron Ralston did not want to show his diaries to anyone except people close to him, but he also allowed Danny Boyle and James Franco to see them.
- The film was partially shot in the very gorge where Aron Ralston spent almost 6 days.
- The filmmakers recreated the full set of tools that Aron Ralston had.
- Danny Boyle was going to film the Ralston autobiography for four years.
- The main role in the film could play also Ryan Gosling, Killian Murphy, Sebastian Stan.
Musical accompaniment to the film
The soundtracks for the film "127 Hours" deserved separate reviews. The main author of the musical accompaniment of the tape was Alla Rakha Rahman, an Indian composer and performer with whom Danny Boyle, like Colson, worked on Slumdog Millionaire.
A. R. Rahman received the second Oscar in his life for the original soundtracks for the film â127 Hoursâ.
âThe Canyonâ, âLiberationâ, âTouch Of The Sunâ, âAcid Darbariâ - these and many other soundtracks created and performed by Rahman were forever included in the list of the best musical works of our time.