I remember hearing about Aron Ralston’s entrapment in Blue John Canyon after his appearance on the Today Show in 2003. I was immediately drawn to Aron’s ordeal, and also the circumstances that lead up to it. My thoughts went to Pete – the son of my parents’ dearest and oldest friends – an avid mountaineer who often climbed on his own.
Shortly after seeing Aron’s segment on the air I sent Pete a message, asking him to never climb alone again – or at least that he not climb alone without someone knowing his whereabouts. I know it had nothing to do with my request, but I’m happy to report that shortly afterwards Pete married a lovely woman – a non-climber – who has kept him safe and made him the father of three.
What happened to Aron could’ve happened to anybody. Yet to this day, even after seeing the story adapted to film, I wonder if I could’ve saved my own life in the same manner. Most of us have thought,
“you never know what you’re capable of until the situation is upon you,” but if given that situation, I’m pretty sure I couldn't muster up the courage to cut off my own arm.
127 Hours was an excellent film, and beautifully shot – something not unexpected from one of my favorite directors. It was very Danny Boyle – very Trainspotting and 28 Days Later - multiple frames exposing intricate angles at once, and hand-held camera work that brings us all closer to the character at hand.
I was particularly “Trainspotted” during the opening scenes when Aron (James Franco) is driving through the typical American road trip scenery – sign upon sign, advertising fast food and cheap gas. It’s all a blur of a mostly ugly landscape – until you get to where Aron was headed – the great and open outdoors.
I’ve read ¾ of Ralston’s memoire, “
Between a Rock and a Hard Place", and from what I’ve read the movie is very faithful to Ralston’s harrowing tale.
Aron hallucinated significantly during his entrapment and the film managed to portray this in a way that allows a bit of light humor, but having read most of the book I couldn’t really share in the laughter. I saw a young man breeching the edge of reality and struggling to hold it together in order to survive.
Knowing the end of a movie can really affect one’s reaction, and I was slightly surprised at mine. The end of the film is extremely intense, emotional and heightened by some very overpowering music that nearly brought me to tears – perhaps in a happy way.
I don’t think I’ve given anything away since it’s obvious that Aron is still among the living – a daddy in fact!
Go see 127 hours. It’s inspiring, raw and intensely visceral. I kept at least one eye opened for the entire film, but I won’t try to say that was easy. It is graphically realistic and hard to watch – but it is also, in turn, hard to look away from.
