127 Hours/Unstoppable: An Awesome Double Feature

There was something interesting about seeing these two films back-to-back. Both are about overcoming human adversity and how the struggles of each character emerges as a true heroic act. Danny Boyle is on fire with 127 Hours, not only showcasing one of 2010's finest offerings, but certainly letting the world know that he is a director to be reckon with. I am also on board for pushing James Franco to the top of the list for the Best Actor Oscar race. This is his show, and without him, the movie would have been nothing more than a flat and tiresome tale.

Thank heavens real life hero Aron Rolston didn't give in when the minds behind the Saw franchise approached him and asked if they could tell his story. I can imagine his response (at least in his head) involved words that would be dubbed over with asterisks. I'm sure it was tempting at first, making your courageous tale into a film for millions to see, but he couldn't have possibly sold out that way. With Danny Boyle at the helm, I'm sure he felt the complete opposite. After being pinned in between a rock a hard place in the middle of Moab, Utah, Aron spent 127 hours trying to break free. Along the way, he learned what was important in his life and naturally began to fill it with regret. Soon however, he realized that he was not ready to die, and with one extraordinary act, he literally cut himself free.

I'm telling you things you already know. This isn't about finding out what happens in the end. It's about the journey, and how in our crazy and hectic world, there was a moment of stillness, a moment of choice, and a moment of truth. Aron's choice was an incredible one, allowing moviegoers to not only experience an incredible story, but an incredible movie.

Now, Tony Scott's Unstoppable with Denzel Washington and Chris Pine is not at all similar to 127 Hours in terms of subject, but in terms of relevance and being put to the test, they are. Scott's best movie in years is a simplistic and tremendously exciting tale about two men who do everything in their power to stop an unmanned speeding freight train ("the size of the Chrysler building," says one character) from plowing into the town of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Oh, and the train also has nuclear material on board, making it a fast-moving bomb.

Denzel plays Frank, a veteran engineer who teams up with young conductor Will (Chris Pine, from Star Trek fame) to find a way to stop the threat. We learn about their everyday struggles, and through this event, they find a way to make peace with their past wrongdoings. While the creative minds behind the movie may have not planned on the timing of this movie, it worked out extremely well in their favor. In a time where America is down (but not out), these are the stories that fill people with hope. It's about stopping the train. Through this, we learn how courageous people can be. If the end credits was the only thing I hated about this movie, then I think it's safe to say Tony Scott and company did something right.

127 Hours: **** stars
Unstoppable: ***1/2 stars