Buried Review
by David N. Butterworth (butterworthdavidn AT gmail DOT com)April 15th, 2011
BURIED
A film review by David N. Butterworth
Copyright 2011 David N. Butterworth
*** (out of ****)
Skeptics believing Ryan Reynolds ("People" magazine's Sexiest Man Alive for 2010) to be incapable of acting his way out of a paper bag should watch him attempt something considerably harder -- a wooden box -- in "Buried." For 95 tense, claustrophobic minutes Reynolds lies (mostly) on his back, pushes against his rigid confines, struggles into corners, burns his fingers, fusses with a flashlight, curses on a cell phone, and generally tries to convince others of who he is (Paul Conroy, truck driver), where he is (buried six feet underground in the Iraqi desert), and what he needs (help, soon, before his air runs out). This experiment in minimalist filmmaking succeeds in part because of Reynolds' tight, controlled performance and by Rodrigo
Cortis' equally tight, controlled direction. And it helps immeasurably that the script, by Chris Sparling, follows those same tight, controlled guidelines. Reynolds' hapless contractor was part of a civilian convoy that was attacked by insurgents; most of his colleagues were killed. But Conroy comes to in a coffin with only a cell phone and cigarette lighter for company. Getting a call out isn't a problem. Getting someone who won't put him on hold is. As told, "Buried" will leave you breathless.
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David N. Butterworth
butterworthdavidn@gmail.com
www.offoffoff.com/film
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
