A welcome return from Danny Boyle, and a stunning cameo return for the junkie-swallowing couch last seen in Trainspotting.
James Franco does a fantastic job of fleshing out Arron, a thoroughly annoying canyon-leaping (or canyon-fail) extreme-sports loner-loser whose life undergoes a change for the better due to the miraculous healing properties of a rock more stubborn about lifelong commitment than a desperate fat chick.
It's no spoiler to point out he loses an arm as their relationship breaks down (no more than a holiday romance, ultimately). Could have been worse as Arron - now married - will find out if that goes wrong; he'll lose a leg as well (sage nod from many out there...).
However one-dimensional the premise sounds, what transpires for an hour and a half is as gripping as you could possibly imagine wringing out of it.
Tense and unnerving, gruesome, and heartwarming. And that was just my reaction to the reappearance of the Trainspotting couch (looking fitter and stronger; undoubtedly a method-couch).
Stunningly shot, a treat for the eye. An absorbing tale of one schmuck's bravery and redemption. Expect to see some alert mobile phone company jump all over it in future. If only he'd remembered...
Oh, and kudos to the camcorder company for the longest-life battery ever. If only mine lasted that long on babe-laden vacation beaches...
Watch this. See nature and geological time hate us and realise they await your one cosmic moment of wrong-footedness.
Then never leave the house.
A climbing Seven. And a half, because IMDb are an anti-fraction faction. ;))
James Franco does a fantastic job of fleshing out Arron, a thoroughly annoying canyon-leaping (or canyon-fail) extreme-sports loner-loser whose life undergoes a change for the better due to the miraculous healing properties of a rock more stubborn about lifelong commitment than a desperate fat chick.
It's no spoiler to point out he loses an arm as their relationship breaks down (no more than a holiday romance, ultimately). Could have been worse as Arron - now married - will find out if that goes wrong; he'll lose a leg as well (sage nod from many out there...).
However one-dimensional the premise sounds, what transpires for an hour and a half is as gripping as you could possibly imagine wringing out of it.
Tense and unnerving, gruesome, and heartwarming. And that was just my reaction to the reappearance of the Trainspotting couch (looking fitter and stronger; undoubtedly a method-couch).
Stunningly shot, a treat for the eye. An absorbing tale of one schmuck's bravery and redemption. Expect to see some alert mobile phone company jump all over it in future. If only he'd remembered...
Oh, and kudos to the camcorder company for the longest-life battery ever. If only mine lasted that long on babe-laden vacation beaches...
Watch this. See nature and geological time hate us and realise they await your one cosmic moment of wrong-footedness.
Then never leave the house.
A climbing Seven. And a half, because IMDb are an anti-fraction faction. ;))