Buried [DVD]

Buried features Ryan Reynolds (The Nines) as Paul Conroy, a man who wakes up in coffin with little idea how he got there other than a vague recollection of his supply convoy being attacked by insurgents. Buried in the desert with no way out, he resorts to the contents of his pockets for a life line and chance of escape.

Buried is an excellent concept, faced with the option of certain death, how far would you go to get out? Ryan Reynolds plays the role fantastically as he goes through the full range of emotions, from the initial terror, rage at being put on hold whilst in a life or death situation or even the joyful release when he finally gets in touch with his wife. He should be commended for carrying this entire film on his shoulders and making it a plausible and dramatic experience to boot, really inspiring empathy for his character.

Whilst one might find it strange to praise the cinematic direction of a film shot entirely inside of a coffin; the limited space and claustrophobic environ is used to absolute perfection. The film has marked themes signified by the colour of the light inside the coffin changing, moving from the yellow of a lighter flame to the screen-glow blue of the blackberry to the green of the glowsticks and finally the red of the signal-filter on a flashlight. Each motif is fitting with the pacing of the scene and resultantly I felt that Rodrigo Cortés' direction was truly impeccable.

Extra content: There is a making of featurette called "Unearthing Buried" which was pretty entertaining seeing how they managed the swooping shots inside of the coffin over the actor. There is also an interview with Ryan Reynolds on why he wanted to do Buried called "What attracted you to the film Buried" and finally there is the cinematic trailer. Nothing overly special, but wrapped up in a neat menu system.

All in all, a tense and claustrophobic thriller with excellent production values and a brilliant performance from Reynolds. Highly recommended!!

One actor and one set. I can't recall how many films in the last few years had attempted something as daring and audacious as Buried, but writer Chris Sparling and director Rodrigo Cortes pulled this thriller off wonderfully, aided by the performance of Ryan Reynolds, who single handedly demonstrates his acting range that continues to cement him as one of my favourite character actors (from films like Waiting... to Definitely, Maybe) and before he takes flight in next year's expected effects extravaganza in The Green Lantern, he first gets his wings clipped and finds himself grounded, a few feet under.

Reynolds stars as Paul Conroy, a truck driver working for a conglomerate who gets sent by his company to Iraq to work. En route to his convoy's delivery of supplies in rebuilding efforts, the group gets jumped by terrorists/insurgents/criminals, and he finds himself buried in a box underground, which is where we find him when the film opens, unaware of where he is, and anxious to get out. With him are a few items which to reveal will spoil the fun, but suffice to say there's a Blackberry included in the package.

This is no Kill Bill where The Bride can hammer her way out of a boxed coffin through the use of martial arts taught by Bai Mei. Here it's as real as it can get, with the bad guys giving you enough so as to control you to do their bidding, yet with the same tools serving as a double edged sword, especially when efforts to reach help are concerned. The story engages at a very personal level since it's a one man tour de force with little external distractions, and I suppose anyone caught in the same situation will probably employ some of the same techniques here when desperately seeking help to escape.

Writer Chris Sparling and director Rodrigo Cortes crafts a simple yet effective story that will put you on the edge together with his protagonist, allowing you to experience almost everything he does, from frustrations when interacting with external parties in scenarios which we are all too familiar with, yet understanding and grasping the impact that such issues bring forth if we're in the same shoes. It's very gutsy of him to set it all in a singular location that is sans any beautiful images, and employing inventive techniques to keep the visuals fresh, yet providing enough to share that sense of claustrophobia and confinement within the small physical dimensions. The story also throws up scenarios that will pump that adrenaline so that there's never a dull moment.

Ryan Reynolds deserves all the kudos for a fine performance delivered. You can imagine how audiences can get turned off if they don't share the same emotions experienced along the way, and this spans a spectrum from exasperation to that resignation of fate. He screams, he cries, and he relies on his wit to stay alive, and I thought Buried was that perfect opportunity presented for him to show he's quite the actor ready to take on bigger, leading roles, without the need to don a costume to serve as a masked avenger. The supporting cast providing those faceless voices at the other end of the line also deserve some credit in logically expanding the universe of this film, without which it'll literally be one man talking to himself.

Needless to say, this film is highly recommended for its bold vision and fine execution, which I suspect may start a trend of similar films soon, like how first-person type films have become popular.

excellent film, extremely thrilling till the very (unexpected) end. ryan reynolds ought to have been nominated for an academy award!!