127 Hours [open spoilers]

Cafe Society
1

I haven’t seen a discussion here yet about this movie, figured I’d start one.

I remember following Aron Ralston’s story as soon as it happened in May of 2003. I knew he had written a book covering his ordeal (which I’m now almost finished with), but I had no idea up until about a month ago that Danny Boyle had made a movie.

As soon as I saw the trailer, I knew it was going to be a great film. I just saw it with my sister about a week ago, and I was right. What Boyle and James Franco pulled off recounting the 5 days of Aron being stuck in a 3 foot wide canyon, his arm crushed under a boulder, pinning him in one position, is incredibly refreshing from not only a filmmaking standpoint, but also from telling a human survival story.

There are so many aspects about this film I love, and am hoping Danny gets another Oscar nom. Franco deserves one too.

2

I like how Boyle did a digital scan of the canyon and then re-created it on a soundstage so they wouldn’t have to do all of the filming on location. I’ve been to Horseshoe Canyon (where the rock art is), and it’s really out in the middle of nowhere. The one shot that zooms out of the canyon and shows the “satellite view” gives you an idea of how royally screwed he was.

3

Ahh, I didn’t know he used lidar to recreate the canyon. Great idea… it was totally seamless.

And yes, I’ve looked the area up on Google Earth. Amazingly remote. Aron even says in his book that he knew it was pointless to call for help, figuring his voice would carry for probably only 500 yards or so. He deemed it a waste of energy and even became disturbed by his own desperate cries.