Buried (2010)

Person Who Matters: 

 Ryan Reynolds:  Paul Conroy

The first handful of seconds are completely black... you hear only the panting of an unseen person.  Soon, a lighter flicks on and you see the man you will be spending the next 90-some-odd minutes with.  Paul Conroy (Reynolds) is visibly (and understandably) freaked the fuck out, he doesn't know where he is or who put him there, and the light provided from the Zippo he found isn't nearly enough to produce comfort.  Soon confusion becomes a heart-wrenching reality, as he maneuvers his Zippo the best he can and realizes he is buried inside a coffin.  Thankfully, the coffin is larger than the norm so he is allowed a little more mobility than would usually be offered.  

Paul Conroy is a civilian contractor working in Iraq driving trucks.  The last thing he remembers is his convoy being attacked by terrorists (or someone) and him blacking out.  Upon waking up, his worst fears have surely been realized.  He finds a cell phone.  The writing is not in English.  Obviously his captors want him to use it... they will need to prove he is alive, after all.  He thinks quickly, calling anyone and everyone he can think of, desperately trying to obtain rescue from his horrendous situation.  

He calls his wife (no answer), 911 (no help, due to the bitch answering the phone), his workplace (no help), the State Department (not a lot of help, but they do refer him to someone who might be able to help).  The calls are extremely frustrating as it seems every person wants Paul's life story before they decide they can or cannot help him.  This is even more important because the battery on Paul's Crackberry isn't going to last forever.  Each second on the phone is precious, and I can't blame the guy for losing his cool on some of these people.  His captors call a few times, first demanding ransom that he couldn't possibly have, then demanding a video not unlike one that has been played on the news far too many times from a captured American in the Middle East. 

I guess it would be important to mention that the entirety of the movie takes place in the confines of the coffin.  While Paul is making his frantic phone calls, you hear the voices on the other end, but their faces and reactions are left up entirely to you as the viewer to imagine.  So, if you happen to be claustrophobic, this movie is probably more terrifying than the birthing scene from Knocked Up.  Shit, I'm not even claustrophobic and there were times I had to literally take a deep breath and remind myself I was fine, in a nice large comfortable room. 

I was sucked into the experience by Reynolds, who plays a fantastic Everyman.  He really could be anybody.  Just a normal, middle-class guy who wants to get back to his family.  Watching him become more frantic by the second as his air supply dwindles along with his cell phone battery made my spine tingle.  There are no laughs to be had in this one, and it's definitely not one for the weak of heart.  

feel like you're there yet?

There is so much going on during the 93 minutes, both internally as an audience and from what you see... it's just not something you expect to see in 2010.  Movies aren't supposed to be made like this... with one actor in a box and no cut-aways.  And they definitely aren't supposed to work.  But this one most definitely does.  Ryan Reynolds is fabulous from beginning to end.  It's an ending I wouldn't dream of ruining for you, but it's one you won't forget for a while, that's for sure.  

9 out of 10