Review: Buried (2010)

Director Rodrigo Cortes' Buried stars Ryan Reynolds as Paul Conroy- a U.S. Contractor who delivers supplies by truck to Iraq. For Paul, this day bears no resemblance to other days on the job. Conroy has awakened to darkness, feet below the surface of an unknown location in Iraq, after he and his crew were attached: killing his fellow truck drivers and leaving him alone in a coffin. Though exasperated, Conroy is filled with a sense of ambition as he discovers that his kidnappers have left him a cell phone, a knife, a Zippo lighter, a glow stick, and a flashlight. As an average joe, Paul desires nothing more than returning home to his family. Unfortunately for Paul, he lacks the position of royalty, therefore struggling to find answers or anyone that feels as desirous about his escape as he does. Will Paul reach his wife and son? Will this day end with vengeance over his Iraqi kidnappers?Will his battery die-or more pressingly- will he? Much similar to Neil Marshall's The Descent, by the end of this film the viewer and the protagonist will be gasping for the same breath of air. Whether or not they both receive I will reserve for the film to portray. From the beginning of Buried, the audience is plunged to the edge of their seat: much like classic Hitchcock. For a movie involving a single six by four foot set, there is enough struggle, action, and stimulation to keep an audience member counting down to closing time. Sure, Buried is at times so heavily claustrophobic, secluded, and uncomfortable that even the viewer feels the need to amplify- but what else should one expect from such a title? The one-man-show performance delivered by Reynolds deters fans of the actor from the belief that films such as The Proposal define his career. Reynolds performs an exceptional work of art in Buried. Such a role has the potential to make or break a film judging by the actor carrying the load- and Reynolds conveys Buried its full length. Never has a dying battery of a cell phone had such an intense effect on me. By the end of this film, you will have formed a liking for its protagonist, a passion for their survival, and a sense of unpredictability of their fate. Buried brings suspenseful film making back to its roots, earning it a strong 3 stars.