And with that, we have a favorite.

Up until yesterday, when somebody asked me which of the six films I’d seen so far was my favorite, I tended to answer with L’ILLUSIONISTE or THE TRIP…both of which were fun and memorable. But yesterday afternoon, I was rocked to the core by a film that will be difficult to knock off as my festival favorite – even with more than a dozen screenings still to go. The film of course, is 127 HOURS.

127 HOURS is the true story of Aron Rolston (James Franco) an outdoors adventurer who managed to get himself stuck in the Blue John Canyon in Moab, Utah. Specifically, he dislodged a boulder and managed to get his arm pinned underneath it. Rolston is miles away from anything resembling help, he has limited water and precious little food, and no amazingly handy tools. Just moments after he has fallen, the clock starts to tick on his chances of survival.

127 HOURS is beautiful, gripping, and wickedly intense. There have been stories of people being taken out of this film by medic, and I can understand why. The big payoff is a moment of such uneasiness, that I darned near made the piece of gum I was chewing a permanent part of my upper molar.

James Franco has no problem carrying most of this film all his own, and director Danny Boyle has found an inventive way to keep us locked into a story about one many all alone for more than five days.

Despite the gritty subject matter, 127 HOURS is filled with humour and charm. I’ll get into deeper detail when it gets released, but I’m happy to say that one of the films I was anticipating most during this festival did not disappoint.

127 HOURS plays TIFF once more – Saturday September 18th at 6pm. It will get a limited release November 5th.