James Franco and local viewers talk about Aron Ralston's '127 Hours'

On Sunday 'Dateline' aired a 2 hour special on real-life mountaineer Aron Ralston that was trapped in Blue John Canyon.  Veteran anchor Tom Brokaw sat down with Ralston to talk about the incident and return to the scene of entrapment, that became the basis for Ralston’s book, ‘Between a Rock and a Hard Place’ and the Oscar nominated Danny Boyle Film, ‘127 Hours’, starring Best Actor Oscar nominee, James Franco as Ralston.  The film originally opened in limited release and didn’t make it to the Flint area until January 28th.  I spoke with some Flint area moviegoers last night who have seen the film and the ‘Dateline’ special.  Everyone I have talked to marvels at Ralston’s courage and Franco’s superb job in the film.  One Flint area fitness enthusiast said, ‘I’ve seen the movie and I watched ‘Dateline’.   The fact that Ralston lived through that experience is in my opinion, a miracle.  It was touching to see Tom Brokaw get emotional when Aron stepped down into the canyon again.  I could have never cut my own arm off and I don’t think if I survived it, I could ever go back.’  Another person said, ‘I cried at the ‘Dateline’ show.  Aron is just so brave.  It really puts a lot in perspective for me.  I mean, what is worse than cutting your own arm off?’

The film and the ‘Dateline’ special were both very intense.  Brokaw took Ralston to the scene of his entrapment, deep in Blue John Canyon in Utah.  Ralston was offered assistance by news crew, but he declined it, making his way to the exact spot where the boulder trapped his arm and he carved his own epitaph.  He was about 12 feet away when he stopped and said:

‘I was standing here a few moments ago, starting to get a little teary-eyed just seeing where it was and how pathetic it was, just such a pitiable situation.  I can see the stains on the wall and I know what those stains are from.  I know I left those there.  I did that.’

Ralston asked to go into the hole that almost became his grave first and alone.  Brokaw said, ‘This is emotional for me.  I can’t imagine what it’s like for you.’  Ralston was very emotional and almost instinctively assumed the position he’d been trapped in.  The boulder that had trapped him was now closer to the canyon floor.

The etching on the wall was what caused him to finally break down and cry.  He said, ‘I had taken the knife and I etched into the wall, the 4 letters of my name.  A-r-o-n, right there.  Just to identify who this body was.  I etched October 75 above my name and I etched 03 below my name.  Then I wrote, RIP.'

Ralston finally did the unthinkable, cut off his own arm to free himself from the boulder.  As he recalled it will Brokaw, he paused again with emotion just stating – ‘I was free.’  He then said, ‘There will never be a more powerful experience for me.  It was absolutely the greatest feeling to be given the chance to get out of here.  I knew I had a long trip left.  But, at least I was not going to die right here.  The power of that was astonishing.’

This story of triumph born from tragedy caught the eye of Academy Award winning director, Danny Boyle (‘Slumdog Millionaire’).  The film, ‘127 Hours’ stars Oscar nominee and this year’s Oscar co-host, James Franco.  Ralston commented on the film, saying:

‘Being the subject of this film, when I set out on that hike that day, I never could’ve imagined it would have led down this path.’ He said watching James Franco playing him was surreal.  He said, ‘And he’s wearing my clothes and he’s all bloodied up.  It was like watching a ghost or a phantom, like watching myself, those 8 years ago.’

Franco also commented and said the movie is not about what Aron did in that canyon, but what happened to him there.  He said, ‘He gets stuck in a canyon and in a film, it can’t just be a way to figure out logistically or physically how to get out, you have to also be the emotional gauntlet that he goes through.  And so you need the character to start at one place, a very sort of, kind of, arrogant place and thoughtless place in some respects and come out on the other side, kind of a different person.  Someone that appreciates the relationships in his life.’

Ralston told Brokaw he cried deeply for most of the movie when he saw it on the big screen for the first time.  Ralston does appreciate his life, his wife and his son.  He views his time in Blue John as a spiritual experience and rebirth.

‘127 Hours’ is playing in the Flint area at NCG Trillium Grand Blanc.  Click here for show times.

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards will air February 27th in Flint on WJRT TV ABC12 at 8 PM EST.