Alone in the expansive Blue John Canyon in Utah and immobilized by an 800-pound boulder crushing his arm, Aron Ralston was faced with a seemingly impossible choice. Does he cut off his own arm with a makeshift tourniquet and a dull knife or does he face a slow and painful death?

 The movie, 127 Hours, depicts the true story of infamous rock climber Aron Ralston who made headlines in 2003 with his incredible tale of his life-altering hike in the Utah mountains.

 This movie is the brain child of Danny Boyle, Academy Award winning director most known for the film Slumdog Millionaire.

 Ralston, played by James Franco, becomes trapped between a boulder and mountain wall after he foolishly decided not only to go hiking alone, but also not to tell anyone where he was going.

Ralston is then forced to spend the next five days with limited amounts of food and water, unable to move. As the reality of his situation begins to set in, Ralston goes crazy and has hallucinations about his first love, family, and future.

Ralston’s loss of sanity leads to the most enjoyable part of the movie in which he films himself as though he is on a talk show where he is both the host and the guest. Though this scene elicits a chuckle out of the audience, it also leads to Ralston’s realization that he is doomed.

 With the knowledge that he was facing almost certain death, Ralston decides he has to take drastic measures. He courageously does the unthinkable and amputates his own arm in a scene that is both impossible to watch and impossible to turn away from.

 Though this movie had the definite possibility of being dreadfully boring because it took place in just one location and mainly focused on just one actor, it was surprisingly captivating. Boyle created a movie so charged with raw emotion that its lack of theatrical effects in no way hindered the excellence of the film.

Boyle should also be praised for his ability to maintain suspense even when the viewer is already aware of Ralston’s outcome. The audience’s knowledge of the inevitable amputation actually worked in Boyle’s favor as they anticipated the gruesome and disturbing scene to come. This knowledge actually led to an even more stressful buildup.

127 Hours would not have been the same without Franco’s mesmerizing performance. Franco was able to make the audience laugh in the tensest of situations, yet also feel the fear surging through Ralston’s veins and the courage it took in order for Aron to save his life.

However, this film should come with a disclaimer. Many viewers may find the scene where Ralston amputates his own arm to be too much to handle. In fact, two couples left the theater during the film because it was so unsettling. This movie is not recommended for the faint of heart.

This powerful film ultimately shows just how strong the human will to survive is. It also leaves the viewer wondering: If I were in that position, what would I do?

I give this film a 9/10, definitely worth a watch.