About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 2, 2011)
LIFE OR DEATH 127 HOURS (R) Another excellent film from Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle {Slumdog Millionaire), 127 Hours tells the remarkable survival story of Aron Ralston, an avid out- doorsman who whittled off his arm to escape dying in a canyon near Moab, UT. (Sorry, if you didn't know Ralston's well-publicized fate, but trust me when I say you want to know what the movie has in store for you. It gets gruesome.) Recently nominated for six Academy Awards, 127 Hours is the best film of 2010 Athens had to wait until 2011 to see. Boyle's contagious kineticism perfectly captures Ralston's indefatigable belief in his own invincibil ity. Opening with the flashy, sped-up preparation/drive to Ralston's nearly fatal act of hiking hubris, Boyle shows us in a few moments exactly who our protagonist is. Ralston is the kind of guy who hops up from a nasty bike crash (that would have sent most people home with a limp) and pedals the remaining 15-plus miles. Unfortunately, he's also the kind of guy who gets trapped by a rock in the middle of nowhere without anyone knowing where he is. Boyle and Slumdog scripter Simon Beaufoy keep us engaged throughout Ralston's multi day entrapment. Flashes of memories—some of his parents (Treat Williams and Kate Burton), some of his ex-girlfriend (Clemence Poesy)—take us away from his increasingly discouraging situation. Yet Ralston displays an inventive survival instinct unknown to most, and no actor could have better embodied our seemingly doomed hero than Academy Award nominee James Franco. He does what Tom Hanks did in Cast Away: carries an entire film on his shoulders and mag netic charisma. 127 Hours can be tough to watch. One patron sounded as if s/he was going to lose his/her popcorn and Coke as Ralston went to his great est lengths to survive the final hours of his predicament—too tiny sounding a word for what the young man went through. The film ultimately reaffirms the triumph of the human spirit and Boyle's mastery of all genres, while bringing much of the moviegoing population up to speed on Franco's extraordinary talent. Drew Wheeler James Franco id oceci fyof $33 Ooo/faxes r? % c xAterea' &r£> fle, Ust « iiTvT i.<xa aim fl FUCKSmNNY CL .^^ mNTe h W(1\-'0£aq Sbdewt" vs. Sew+ Id fo>M£ +o joi^TAe Y°?£S> B/ofci&tA+asK Wee. Sewsirvj Ims doObb (amge kis doObb ia Clas.5 (awganh JjaviYee Suiune), kis "WoW Sei/vls kit* te dpywvHce WiTK Wizened old ArtfWij wko's Sev\+ .i I fv . *» • « ^6^Pe<3&JS,CteS0S o £ieU blp Of blooA, ?oO( IAooIW asse*r-ti<«*5, wlifcely 4 °’"'\ls dekefttiria'' wi fcy r\6f lefbW ,,,»get uW in j 0*.. U)eAW*a r . Jl ic.:. 1 tttrt ->«**■ iV.l'M W. (\\1WjkiV kas a Sfef'davtt CWp SCAfeS(*V1Vi6 poiAV in G'neMo, \Vs Spife -fe assume. Gartxge W Gwtai«s clk dM/ieus -fekvit), ‘TVe. Kte' briAS out -b be. one of "The +iv\es+ exawbafitfrft of edfctf mode. Uss akoot leoi+ati^ objects <W SfiVMiry WAs, it bMs to Sty Wore gcooftM In rWiti (or os wocW'fealitg" <xa £fa(tiSV\ WoOie allowJs). X rtost-ftStelkoOgL, wkj • fljylojjs littlt fjtfls ««i oU Veofb? If x u)efcHfe Deolf s'k possess Sot>eooe J a.tM Mote Mevwcbng... SoutfiiL'cst Cafe Friday, February tl • 7:30pm ft THI Tickets $10 adv. $12 day of show l/aleift $> Dipper ] Appetize choice of 2 and a 196 Alps Rd. • 706.354.6655 athens rpThe thee LOUNGE ~N riT ■Til yimi georgia M frfp Open Mon-Fri 2pm-2am POPCORN! Sat 12pm-2am Pool Tables • Great Jukebox Friendly Neighborhood Bar Every Wednesday and Friday, Feb it • 9:30pm % s KARAOKE with Lvnn s J7 Thursday, Feb. 3 • 7pm BLUEGRASS PICKIN’ NIGHT 1 Saturday, Feb. 5 • 8pm THE HANDS OF TIME No t‘o\CP S 2455 JefTcrson Rd. in Homewood Hills 706.546.0840 DMjyUjNCHSPECJAjg Come Watch the Big 60 oz. Pitchers! Frozen Lime & {Strawberry Margaritas! and. Cheese Dip! P9WNT0WN T8C0 8T8NP •iiinrn i ikik • \/ I JJ C U L. I I III l 706-543-2288 • (Call to Reserve Movies) 1 mile south of 5 Points on Milledge NEW M POP STUFF Let Me In Monsters Never Let Me Go Welcome To Riley's NEW COOL STUFF Archers (BMnn u Californicatlon (Season 3) Cabinet of □r. Caligari Slave l » 3 5 a s a K WINTER SALE. BLU RAY • OVD • RECORDS • TV SHOWS iiiimi»i n gum £ offering Carolina Crabcakes • Georgia Pork BBQ Florida Key lame Pic • Charleston Shrimp & Grits Wed. Feb 9 BALVENIE SCOTCH TASTING with some special food selections. 21 & up. Limited Seating. Call for Reserv ations. Mon. Feb 14 VALENTINE’S DINNER Make your Reservations now. Saturday & Sunday • i tam-'jpm GluxsnsfUjXf+te flnunclt '2 Mimosas • *3 Blond) Marys • '(> l.g Phickles Blood) Marys Sundays -All Day LflWCnUNTfty StUL Open at 4pm Mon-Fri Open at 11am Sat & Sun - By the Loop - 2095 S. Milledge Ave. ■ 706-548-3359 I 706-353-0500 163 n. Jackson st alhens. ga FEBRUARY 2,2011 • FLAGPOLE.COM 11
