MPAA Rating: R/ Genre: Survival Thriller/Stars: Ryan Reynolds; Voices of: José Luis García Pérez, Robert Paterson, Stephen Tobolowsky, Cade Dundish, Samantha Mathis, Ivana Miño, Warner Loughlin, Erik Palladino/Runtime: 95 minutes
I think it is safe to start this review off by providing you my dear reader with a wee bit of a disclaimer of sorts. That disclaimer being that if you are looking for a slice of cinema that is amusing, fun, whimsical, upbeat, happy-go-lucky, unlikely to induce a severe case of claustrophobia, or all of the above…..then you might want to think about watching something other than the slice of cinema I am reviewing for you today, 2010’s Buried. On the other hand if you are looking for something that is potent, taut, riveting, nightmarish, uneasy, and likely to make you think twice before going in an elevator or any sort of enclosed space….then I think this slice of cinema is definitely more in synch with your viewing preferences. Indeed, much in the same vein as seeing a horrific crash in a NASCAR race unfold, so too will you find yourself transfixed by this fairly simple yet thrilling story of a guy trying to survive after waking up to find himself imprisoned in a coffin buried (hence the title) underground. Yet even with that in mind, this is still one slice of cinema that the less you know about it before watching it, the more impactful it will be on you when you do decide to sit down and give it a try. Indeed this slice of cinema may be one that the viewing experience can best be described as the middle ground between an typical viewing experience and the cinematic equivalent of an endurance test, but when it has wrapped up it also manages to be one film that you won’t be forgetting any time soon due to how it not only puts you in the same situation as the main character, but then also gives off the impression that what happens to you is linked to what happens to him as the movie goes on. Suffice it to say that I know that the vast majority of movies out there may not always leave a mark on you that lasts longer than a solid minute, but that is exactly what this film is able to accomplish. Indeed it might not be the easiest slice of cinema to make your way through, but should you find yourself able to do so you will find that between capable work behind the camera and a downright incredible performance from Ryan Reynolds in front of the camera that there is quite a bit to appreciate from this riveting cinematic equivalent of a waking nightmare.
The plot is as follows: Taking place in the long-gone year of 2006, this slice of cinema gets underway in complete and utter darkness only to quickly showcase a number of sounds notably someone breathing, a couple of bumps, some coughing, and a bit of clawing at wood thrown in for good measure. In other words: this slice of cinema starts where that one episode of Tales from the Crypt did back in the day. In this one though, it takes the active flame from a Zippo cigarette lighter to reveal our guide in this one is not a calm, cool, and very much collected Joe Pantoliano, but rather a 30-year-old man by the name of Paul Conroy who is literally dripping with sweat and is also more than just a wee bit anxious about the predicament he has found himself in. This is because Paul, we rather quickly learn, was an American civilian working in that delightful locale known as Iraq as a driver only to see the convoy he was a part of horrifically besieged while attempting to deliver supplies to a community center by a group of vicious Iraqi militants. A group incidentally who our hero suspects might be responsible for his current predicament. We soon see that this belief is soon vindicated when, following several calls on the BlackBerry cellular device that was left in the coffin with him to several parties who aren’t exactly all that believing of his situation, our intrepid hero gets a call from an enigmatic man who calls himself Jabir. Jabir, we soon learn, not only claims to be the man who is responsible for Paul being kidnapped and placed in his current circumstances, but that he also wants Paul to do something for him. Namely pay him a ransom of no less than 5 million dollars in a few hours otherwise this coffin will become his final resting place if you get my drift. Thus, with a anxiously ticking away clock in play, the already-limited amount of air in the coffin starting to trickle out, and the majority of the outside world that he has contacted not exactly being the biggest helps in the world, it is up to our hero to find a way to rely on his own devices and ingenuity if he wants a chance, however slim it may be, of being found and rescued…..
Now right off the bat, it should be noted that the work done by the various departments behind the camera on this cinematic endeavor is all pretty dang fantastic even if it is most assuredly one that I would not even remotely think of recommending to anyone with even a mild case of claustrophobia. This starts with the work done by Cortes at the helm and I must admit he does a really solid job at filming this slice of cinema within the limits set by its distinct yet singular location with a phenomenal degree of both creativity and professionalism whilst also tossing aside, short of a few hiccups here and there, next to nil in terms of pathos-driven tempo. Indeed there have been quite a few film helmers throughout the history of cinema who have decided to challenge themselves with assorted and fairly manufactured structures being placed on their directorial style, but this film’s helmer is able to make this slice of cinema ascend being merely gimmicky and instead a genuinely unnerving and taut as heck viewing experience. Along with that, we see that the crew behind the camera is able to do some absolutely incredible things with the camera in bringing this slice of cinema’s sole location, to say nothing of rather unique prison for the main character, vividly to life. Indeed, not only do they utilize the camera to make this area seem larger or tinier in the moments where it matters the most, but they also toy with the distinct types of light that are cast off by whatever tech the main character is utilizing at that point in time to light up his rather limited surroundings. Indeed each of these lights gives off a rather unique glow and this film’s crew utilize them brilliantly to conjure up a genuine range of color to brighten what is otherwise a deserted and unlit screen. Thus I think it is safe to say that this slice of cinema’s creative team do a masterful job at ensuring that you feel every degree of just how terrified, miserable, and exasperated the main character is at this waking nightmare he has been thrust into. Finally, it’s also worth noting that this slice of cinema is the blessed recipient of a fairly well-written script that not only incorporates a few ingenious surprises that I shan’t spoil here, but also does a relatively great job at making you feel like you are in the coffin right alongside the main character and sharing this plight with him every step of the way. Suffice it to say that despite the fact that this slice of cinema is saddled with some significant limits on a behind the camera level, it says quite a lot about this slice of cinema’s crew that not only were they able to meet these challenges head on more or less, but that they embraced them in such a way that the end result is a slice of cinema that is genuinely thrilling from start to finish.
Now normally this would be the section where you will find me praise some of the performances given by the assorted cast members in a given slice of cinema and that is still the case here. At the same time though, there is one thing that you should know about this slice of cinema. That being that this film is distinct in that this is very much a one-man show in quite a few senses of the word. Yes, in the name of fairness, there are other performers in this slice of cinema, but they are never seen in this. Rather, they are only heard courtesy of phone calls that our main protagonist makes throughout the course of this slice of cinema’s 95-minute, including credits, runtime. With that in mind, there is no denying that Ryan Reynolds is fantastic in this. Indeed I know that at the time this slice of cinema came out Reynolds was more known for his work in comedies (the infamous Green Lantern fiasco hadn’t happened yet), but here he manages to showcase some serious acting chops. Yes I cannot lie to you dear reader that there is not a whole lot in terms of character construction to be found in this slice of cinema, but the truth is that, unlike the vast majority of slices of cinema, this is one movie that really doesn’t require that. This is because, unlike for example another man-trapped-in-a-single-location movie known as Phone Booth, the main character in that film is such a lecherous jerk right from the word go that I really would not have been all that devastated if the sniper holding him at gunpoint in the phone booth had just shot him 15-20 minutes in and just called it a day, that is not the case with our character here. This is because, despite not knowing nearly as much about Paul, Reynolds plays this seemingly ordinary guy with such conviction and skill that we as movie goers find it a heck of a lot easier to empathize with this guy and the genuinely nightmarish situation he has been unwillingly placed in. That and as this film goes on Reynolds does such an authentic job of confronting in a head-on manner the emotions of fear, exasperation, distress, and hopelessness toward what he is dealing with and his potential fate that not only does it permit you, the viewer to more effectively view this circumstance through his anxiety-stricken perspective, but it also aids us as movie goers in feeling every single one of the aforementioned collection of emotions on the same terror-inflicted level that he does. With that being said though, if you are someone who clearly enjoys when Reynolds is letting his gift for comedy shine you shouldn’t worry too much. That’s because despite the fact that this character nor his situation are by no means an outright laugh riot, Reynolds still does get a few opportunities sprinkled throughout to at the very least make you chuckle with some of the lines that he utters in this. Suffice it to say that it is a truly fantastic performance from a guy who I don’t think gets nearly enough credit for being not just a legitimately funny guy, but also a genuinely great actor period when given the right material to work with.
All in all is Buried “2010” a perfect slice of cinema? Not even close and no I’m not just saying that because I may or may not have been breathing into a paper bag the entire hour and a half plus 5 minutes I decided to sit down and devote to watching this. At the same time though, is this one slice of cinema a complete and utter piece of trash that should just be discarded on the cinematic bonfire? Truthfully no. Indeed this slice of cinema might drive those of you out there with even a mild case of claustrophobia absolutely nuts, but for the rest of you movie goers out there, this slice of cinema still will provide you with quite a bit to be engaged and riveted by. Suffice it to say that when you factor in a potent solo performance from Ryan Reynolds in front of the camera and some wonderfully creative plus anxiety-inducing work from a gifted team of professionals behind the camera then what you are given is a taut slice of cinema that is sure to be one that you will be riveted and left on the very edge of your seat by no matter how times you find yourself watching it either through your hands or with your eyes even a little bit closed. Make of that dear reader what thou will. On a scale of 1-5 I give Buried “2010” a solid 3.5 out of 5.
