Journalism Practice

Review of "127 Hours" for NME magazine.

Danny Boyle has dabbled in a few genres of movie making; thrillers, drama, horror and even a bit of Romance with the award winning "Slumdog Millionaire". For four years Boyle had wanted to try something a bit different, focusing on a true story. Finally he got round to it, and produced "127 Hours" which is based on the true story of "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" by Aron Ralston. James Franco plays the part of Aron. He makes the character likeable and almost acts as a kind of heart-throb; but his daredevil antics across the Grand Canyon end up taking their toll and leaving him in a dreadful situation. If you're expecting this film to be hours of staring at a rock face then you'd be wrong. The storyline is more than that; we follow Aron as he leaves out of the blue to travel to the middle of nowhere in search of adventure and adrenelin. After becoming attached to his adorable, light-hearted character we feel his distress when he falls and get's his arm wedged between a boulder and the rock face. This is truely a emotional, exhilerating film, a must-see.

Review of "127 Hours" for Rolling Stone magazine.

The long awaited film "127 Hours" directed by Danny Boyle is an emotional true story of Aron Ralston's struggle when he becomes trapped between a boulder and rock face. It is based on the novel written by Ralston himself called "Betwen a Rock and a Hard Place". The actor James Franco who has played roles in such films as "Eat Pray Love" "Spiderman" "Batman" and "Pineapple Express" plays the part of Aron Ralston and manages to portray the emotions exactly as they would have been at the time. We admire his strength and determination to survive and when trapped in the rocks Danny Boyle adds effects to make us feel the claustophobia of being there alongside him. This is a captivating and heart-wrenching film that will send shivers down your spine.