2. 127 Hours (2010)
Based on the real life story of Aron Ralston's ill-fated trip to the chasm that would claim his right arm, Danny Boyle's visceral
127 Hours rightly earned its star, the "probably insane in real life" James Franco, an Oscar nomination. The actual Aron Ralston, of course, found himself pinned to a rockface after falling into a canyon in Utah. After being trapped for 127 hours, he made the decision to cut off his own arm so he could escape. Though the movie is directed with visual aplomb by Boyle, the movie is all Franco's, who makes Aaron realistic, likeable, and - most importantly - fun to watch for the entire movie, which remains in one location for the most part, with the occasional flashbacks to break things up. There are a few actors in the movie aside from Franco, who appear for a line now and again in bit parts, but this is a one-man show in every respect and proof against anyone who says Franco can't act.