While not the crowd pleaser that Slumdog Millionaire was (and let’s be honest, few films are), 127 Hours has all the makings of another Oscar-caliber film for Danny Boyle.  Based on the true story of a young man who got trapped in a Utah canyon and had to cut off his own arm to survive, James Franco gives possibly his best overall performance in this film (and that’s saying something in what already has been one hell of an acting career).

I was at a screening where Danny Boyle and the writer (fellow Oscar winner Simon Beaufoy) acknowledged that the pitch (a man is stuck in a canyon for five days and cuts his arm off) is…not the most cinematic idea you will hear.  It’s a testament to the script, direction, and acting that they found ‘the human element’ in the story and kept the film engaging throughout.  When we get to the inevitable gruesome part, even though everyone in the theatre is completely aware that James Franco has both arms and is simply acting, you still get squeamish when he does what he has to do to get out of his situation.  (And I’m personally thankful the guy sitting next to me went out like a complete sissy; he made me clenching my teeth seem normal by comparison).

Hosting duties aside, I’m sure I’ll be talking about Franco and this performance again in the next couple months.