127 Hours

 127 Hours (2010)
 written for the screen by Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy

[filmography: Slumdog Millionaire]

 directed by Danny Boyle

[filmography: Slumdog Millionaire, Sunshine, Millions, 28 Days Later..., The Beach, Trainspotting, and Shallow Grave]

starring James Franco

   

ENJOYMENT: **** (out of 5)

"Really like it"

PROS:

-Amazing style on part of Danny Boyle and cinematographers Anthony Dod Mantle (Antichrist, Slumdog Millionaire, Millions, Dogville, 28 Days Later...) and Enrique Chediak (28 Weeks Later..., The Faculty).

-Brought me back to Boyle's old days of lucid daydreaming scenes, surreal visuals, and interesting chronology, with a mastery that gets better each film

-Incredible performance on part of James Franco, especially the last third of the film

-Great philosophy in a couple scenes that is applicable to more than that character in the film but to everyone's lives, urging us to be better to people

-As interesting as possible considering the subject matter, never boring its audience somehow

CONS:

-Despite its inspiring nature, it's a simple story that is somewhat limited in scope.

-Though Franco's performance is marvelous, somewhere in my head he is still categorized under "B actor", and that made it a little less memorable in the long run.   

AWARD PREDICTIONS: 127 Hours will receive a nomination for Best Picture, Best Actor James Franco, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing at the Academy Awards. Maybe Best Director.  No wins.