127 Hours ****

Trapped by a boulder, a lone hiker who told no one where he was going faces a grim choice: certain death, or a chance at life but without one arm. The true story of Aron Ralston's ordeal powerfully depicts his isolation, but this is not a claustrophobic movie. Flashbacks, dreams, hallucinations, ultra close-up angles, even x-ray views populate this remarkable film. From the teeming slums of Mumbai to the solitary challenge of a trapped hiker is quite a leap, but director/writer Danny Boyle transitions from "Slumdog Millionaire" to "127 Hours" with grace and concentration on his subject. James Franco give an Oscar-caliber performance, and A.R. Rahman produces a score that is equally stellar. Don't fear the subject, for it is ultimately an affirmation of life, and you can easily close your eyes in the few sequences that might disturb the squeamish.

Rated R. 94 minutes. Danny Boyle - Director / Writer (screenplay) / Producer, Simon Beaufoy - Writer (screenplay), Aron Ralston - Writer (book "Between a Rock and a Hard Place"), Christian Colson- Producer, John Smithson - Producer, Enrique Chediak - Cinematographer, Anthony Dod Mantle - Cinematographer, A.R, Rahman - Composer, Suttirat Larlarb - Production Designer, Jon Harris - Editor. Distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Principal actors: James Franco, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara.