So I caught a sneak peak of the upcoming movie Buried last night. Since walking out of the movie I have been trying to find the proper words to describe the film. I still haven't found them. It'll be hard for me to review this without spoiling anything but I'll try my best. This movie to me was an incredible concept. It is a unique idea. An American man, Paul Conroy, is working as a truck driver in Iraq when his convoy is ambushed. The movie begins in complete darkness with Paul discovering he has been buried alive in a wooden coffin. The movie spends essentially all of it's 95 minute entirety in this box with Ryan Reynolds as his character desperately tries to find a way to get out.To start, Ryan Reynolds put on a good performance. His character wasn't a hero, he wasn't anyone special, he was just a normal, confused, and very frustrated guy thrust into a horrible situation. The look of this movie was so simplistic but worked so well that it was incredible. I'm surprised at how well the filmmakers managed to use their limited (and sometimes less limited but artistically acceptable) space. The movie did it's job so well that I left with a feeling of claustrophobia and I heard numerous comments from other moviegoers about nausea. The story of the movie was so straightforward that it couldn't help but keep you enthralled. You wanted Paul to get out. The various twists and conversations in the movie kept you involved the whole time. The music was decent, nothing special, but it had some great cues. What shocked me most about this movie was that it actually made me laugh at parts. It was a very quick-witted movie at times and Paul and some of the people he speaks to on the phone have some almost comical exchanges. For all it's merits, this movie frustrated me to no end. Literally, no end. The thing is, that's exactly what it's supposed to do, disappoint you. I left the movie wanting to cry or throw up (I'm not even sure which) and feeling like I didn't have enough air. Overall, this movie was incredible due to it's simplicity. Rodrigo Cortés is twisted. I can't say that it's one of my favorite movies, but only because I hated everything that happened to Paul so much. Overall I give this movie an 8.5 out of 10, which probably would be higher if I could get over my frustration. If you want to see something novel, I can guarantee you won't find another movie like this one. But be warned, only watch this if you're willing to go through 90+ minutes of torture and if you're not claustrophobic. You will be buried right next to Paul Conroy.
