Director Danny Boyle’s next film is scheduled to be 127 Hours, the true story of mountaineer Aron Ralston who famously got pinned under a boulder for five days before amputating his arm with a dull knife in order to free himself. Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) is writing the script based on Boyle’s own treatment. Fox Searchlight and Pathe are handling financing and distribution.
I’ll never deny that this is a hell of a story, but would it really make a good film? There’s not much that’s cinematic about being pinned beneath a boulder for 127 hours. Sure, he proceeded to rappel down a 65-foot cliff face with one arm and scour the area for help, but it all seems more interesting in the form of an interview or a detailed article. I’m not sure how these events translate into 100-120 minutes of interesting drama. Do people want to watch in excruciating detail the manner in which he snapped his bones, cut away the soft tissue and attacked his tendons with pliers?
Anyway, the plan is for filming to begin in the spring with a release targeted for 2010’s end.
