Page 22 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • December 15, 2010 A desperate situation leads to extraordinary actions by Dennis Seuling Sometimes reality proves dramatic enough for a motion picture, and some of the best movies have been based on actual people and incidents. “GoodFellas,” “Awakenings,” “Rudy,” “Ed Wood,” “A Beautiful Mind,” and “Monster” are just a few of the successful films that were based on actual events. Joining the list is “127 Hours,” director Danny Boyle’s first film since his Academy Award-winning “Slumdog Millionaire.” Boyle had the major problem of dealing with only one character, though a couple of others briefly join him early on. That person is Aron Ralston (James Franco), who sets out into the Utah desert to explore its caves and deep, narrow gorges one weekend. Adept at climbing and dealing with the harshness of the desert, Ralston makes the trip alone. He runs into a couple of young female hikers (Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara) and, for a time, they hike and hang out together. Before long, however, they part ways and Aron is alone once again. He is climbing down into a crevice when a small boulder gives way, causing him to fall and pinning his right hand and lower arm against the crevice wall. Aron is trapped. He attempts to free himself using the equipment he has, but nothing works. In his knapsack, he has some snacks, bottled water, a knife, and assorted climbing gear. Director Boyle uses his camera to show clearly how Aron’s screams cannot be heard by anyone. The camera starts at the bottom of the crevice, pulls back and up to the surface and then even farther skyward as Aron’s voice is first reduced to a whisper and then disappears completely. Aron has told no one where he was going, so the chances of rescue are slim. He resolves to try to survive, however difficult it might be, and uses his camera to leave a video record of what he believes will be his last hours. Because Aron’s entrapment makes it impossible to take advantage of the usual kinds of movement that keep a film lively, director Boyle shows Aron’s thoughts and hallucinations as he imagines how friends and loved ones will react upon learning of his death in the wilderness. Initially, these visualizations of Aron’s thoughts are welcome and keep the viewer interested, but eventually they overstay their welcome. Franco is a versatile actor who has appeared in a variety of movie roles that range from actor James Dean to SpiderMan’s friend to a loopy stoner in “Pineapple Express.” Aron is probably the most dramatic role of his career. Shouldering an entire feature-length picture is not light duty, and Franco turns in a solid, believable performance. He has tremendous appeal and manages to connect with the viewer even though the subject matter is not pleasant. The viewer comes to admire his ingenuity in the face of death. I am predicting that Franco will receive a Best Actor Oscar James Franco in ‘127 Hours.’ State Line 375 State Highway 17 North, Mahwah Open 24 Hours, 7 Days Join Us For Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner The Best Got Better! Diner - Restaurant 201-529-3353 nomination in February. There was a movie a few years ago called “Open Water,” which involved two scuba divers stranded in the middle of the ocean when their boat leaves without them. They are in shark-infested waters and their fate looks bleak. Not knowing the outcome fueled the movie’s suspense. Similarly, director Boyle keeps the viewer riveted even though the story is real and many in the audience will already know how it ends. That should not be an issue. Boyle is so skillful and Franco so riveting that viewers will find themselves caught up in the story. 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