“127 Hours” is a film about Aron Ralston, who famously got his hand smashed and stuck between a boulder and a slot canyon wall in Utah’s Blue John Canyon. What made Ralston famous is the fact that he was trapped there for days (hence the title “127 Hours”) and when rescue never came, he cut off his hand with a dull knife to free himself, saving his own life.
Danny Boyle, the director made famous for the film “Slumdog Millionaire,” chose Ralston’s story as his next project, and based the movie on Ralston’s book, “Betweeen a Rock and a Hard Place.” To stay true to the book and the location where the incident happened, parts of “127 Hours” were filmed in Blue John Canyon. Judging by the trailer, it looks like the filmmakers shot a lot of Utah’s redrock desert for the film.
Of course nothing is ever without controversy, and many people feel that Ralston is banking on his stupidity of entering Blue John Canyon alone, without telling anybody where he was going or when anyone could expect him to return. This mistake was almost fatal for him, but it’s also making him rich with book deals and this new movie. Meanwhile, other admire him for his bravery and courage for doing what needed to be done to survive, and that making a living from that ordeal is well deserved. Here’s the trailer for the film.
Either way, Ralston’s story on the big screen will turn a lot of attention to Utah’s canyon country, and if “127 Hours” is successful, it may increase tourism numbers and dollars for the state. And like opinions of Ralston’s life story, this potential exposure will likely have numerous critics as well. Personally, I have my doubts about how exciting a movie can be that takes place in one location with a unresponsive rock as an antagonist, but judging from the director’s previous films, I have faith he can make it work. “127 Hours” opens on November 5th.