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Created Jul 19, 2011 08:35AM PST • Edited Jul 19, 2011 08:35AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   Trapped beneath a crushing boulder, Aron Ralston (James Franco) struggles to stay alive, work through hallucinations, escape, and find someone to rescue him in the movie 127 Hours. Ralston has to resort to self-amputation to escape his confinement, which many moviegoers found unsettling to watch, but as Wick noted in his fine assessment, was needed to keep the story going. In many ways, the highlight of this film is the ability to keep the viewers attention while watching a man in a confined space, not unlike the dilemma faced in the recent flick Buried. Projecting the hallucinations helps to give temporary reprieves from a confined space that seems to be inescapable.

   But, in the end, the movie left something to be desired. Yes, the story of his heroic perseverance is inspiring, and yes, the uniqueness of the film’s story-telling elements added spice to the plot. But in the end, it felt at time like it too was trapped, making me uncomfortable. I got to the point where I was thinking, "Just do it already.”

   A good movie, with great acting by Franco, and an inspiring story.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   James Franco does a brilliant job portraying the young and foolhardy thrill seeker, who arrogantly doesn’t tell people where he is going.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

10. Film

    Good 3.0

11. Direction Good 3.0

    Danny Boyle’s upbeat direcytion helps to keep the action simmering in this film. Without his sometimes chaotic imagery, it could have easily become stuck in the mud.

12. Play OK 2.5

13. Music Good 3.0

    The use of electric guitar while cutting through nerves was a neat idea.

14. Visuals Good 3.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Sordid 2.8

17. Sex Innocent 1.4

18. Violence Savage 3.6

19. Rudeness Profane 3.3

21. Reality

    Natural 1.0

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.1

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0