Squeamish. Squirmy. Stars. Beads of sweat forming on my forehead. But I managed to ward off fainting. No climactic scene has physically moved me more than Aron Ralston using a dull knife to cut off his own arm in director
Squeamish. Squirmy. Stars. Beads of sweat forming on my forehead. But I managed to ward off fainting.
No climactic scene has physically moved me more than Aron Ralston using a dull knife to cut off his own arm in director Danny Boyle’s “127 Hours.”
I was a bit apprehensive renting the movie last weekend after hearing about a guy at the gym who broke his nose when he passed out watching it at home. Apparently he regained consciousness in a pool of his own blood after crashing into the coffee table when he fainted.
Note to future viewers: Don’t watch this film alone.
I’ll keep my eyes on the screen through the most gruesome horror flicks and not flinch. “Saw,” “Exorcist,” bring it on. But this one got me.
Maybe it’s because the film is based on a true story. A little realism can go a long way.
James Franco plays Ralston, a rock climber who self-amputated his arm in 2003 after getting stuck in a Utah canyon. He eventually freed himself after spending five days trapped by a boulder that had fallen on his hand.
I’m glad I didn’t see this movie in the theater, as I can only imagine it being even more intense. “127 Hours” made headlines late last year when some viewers were fainting at early showings — not to mention vomiting and having seizures.
The film, nominated for six Oscars, did more than stir stomachs though. The universal story forced me to weigh some heavy questions. First and foremost, could I actually cut off my arm if it was life or death?
Having never witnessed such a graphic portrayal until seeing “127 Hours,” I’m not so sure I could anymore. Maybe if I had a way to do it quickly in one fell swoop.
My guess is I’d eventually give it a shot after exhausting all other options, but would probably faint a quarter of the way through the effort and it’d be game over.
There really is nothing stronger than the will to live.
The story also served as a serious reminder to — for lack of a better phrase — count my blessings. To really be thankful for what I have and not hesitate to let certain others know how glad I am that they are a part of my life.
Fond memories of friends and family seem to will Ralston through the ordeal, giving him the inner strength to persevere in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Maybe next weekend we’ll opt for something a bit lighter, like “Hereafter” or “Boardwalk Empire.” Even “A Clockwork Orange,” one of my favorite films albeit a bit disturbing, would seem like a walk in the park by comparison. You can check out Paul Booth’s insight into the Kubrick film in his Rental Review this week on page 7.
