127 Hours tells the true story of Aron Ralston (Franco), an engineer who gets trapped under a boulder while canyon-exploring alone. I think just about everybody knows what he had to do to escape, but I won't ruin it for you if you don't (perhaps because you're the one who's been living under a rock, huzzah!). Knowing how the film ends--you know, from hearing about it on the news in real life--turned out to be a huge detractor from the film's thrill and excitement. Lingering scenes that would normally build tension just feel like unwanted guests in your home that you want to kick out so you can get on with your day. Pacing became critical, as everyone is just waiting for the eventual finale to come. Luckily the movie didn't overstay its welcome too much, thanks to pitch-perfect acting and on-point editing. The directing also helped keep the film interesting, using hallucination scenes and unique POV shots to explore Ralston's internal struggles and emotions. All in all, this is a well-made film about last year's water cooler topic that will likely soon be forgotten.
IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1542344/