plays out in an awe inspiring way, especially seeing as there's only so much you can reveal from one location. The way Rodrigo Cortes handled the filming is truly exceptional. From the start the camera switches between closely claustrophobic, and flying high above Ryan, showing the box with him inside and black all around. It's constantly on the move just like our main character's thoughts. Diving in when the action is intense, and then cutting to black when you don't think you can take any more.The pacing and plot of the film were nothing short of genius. And Chris Sparling, the writer, should be commended for his work. He said after the showing, that after having his scripts rejected for their cost of locations he decided to go for a cheep but genius idea. One location, one star, and a wealth of idea's. It makes a film like 'Salt' look like a giant waste of resources, when Buried does what even some of the best thrillers can't do, it brings us inside the character's head, and does it all without a romp through the city, or blowing things up.If you're one of those people who loves to sit on the edge of your seat, chewing at your fingernails, while you're constantly asking yourself what's going to happen next. Then by all means watch Buried, and consider yourself lucky that you're not in his shoes...

suspension and an awesome thriller you won't be disappointed, a true pearl.Sypher1982

You were trapped along with him and it certainly felt that way. It is a high tension film that constantly keeps you in awe with anticipation and leaves you wanting more. The acting is spot on and really shows off the work that Chris and Rodrigo have done. It's a must see film.

cell-phone and his lighter to help him out, things develop through his series of fraught, occasionally bleakly amusing and increasingly desperate communications with the outside world. Its rather interesting to see a film so based around interactions on a mobile phone, devices so often objects of fear, suspicion, or in the case of some horror films and of course the cinematic experience for the viewer, irritations. Here every ring is crucial, the battery bar is nail-biting, even the light of the screen is important. For me, just as interesting was the choice of lead. I've never had time for Ryan Reynolds, a face from some of the worst in lowbrow comedy and someone I never expected to appreciate breaking through into not just serious film but something as bold in its structure as this. A lot of people are likely to dislike the film on a fundamental level, but Reynolds gives the performance of his life here, running through a rainbow of emotions, angry, sarcastic and terrified are but a few. Compelling and sympathetic, likely physically arduous too though I'd don't know how the film was made it must have been tough, barring serious trickery he holds the film wonderfully. The script is of course of utmost importance too, and writer Chris Sparling does mostly terrific work. An ordinary man reacting as best he can to a nightmare, drawing on the sort of resourcefulness he probably hoped he'd never need, occasionally breaking down but keeping ploughing on, shades of dark humour in the protagonist's travails on the phone, its endlessly interesting and as time goes on, nail-bitingly suspenseful. I had minor issues with realism in the film, and there was at least one interesting little aside that could have been developed a bit more, but overall this is a great achievement. It surely won't appeal to everyone and my rating might seem generous, but for doing this well on such a risky concept, and putting together a suspenser that remains thought provoking after, a 9/10 from me.

a challenging role? The movie is literally his. Sure, there are those he speaks to over the phone he's buried with a Zippo and a Blackberry but for the film's length, he is the only physical presence on screen. He goes through every emotion possible: fear, panic, anger, sadness, happiness, depression, acceptance, and all of it played so convincingly that you almost wonder whether they genuinely buried the actor and left a camera in there with him.There are minor gripes, all predominantly found in the first half. It feels somewhat episodic at times and there's a lack of any real tension during the first forty minutes but this is a pressure cooker of a film and the last half is unrelenting to the point of nausea, culminating in a truly great finale that caused me to shout-out in the quiet, near empty cinema.Buried is extraordinary. The only performance to beat Reynolds' in recent years is Sam Rockwell's stunning turn in Moon. High concept thrillers like this rise or fall on the delivery of their challenging set ups. Fortunately, Buried works.It really, really works.

such to different areas of Iraq. The film begins with Paul waking up to find himself trapped inside of a coffin. While it is quite believable that finding yourself buried alive would cause any person to begin hyperventilating, it does get annoying rather quickly because Paul's heavy breathing and a black screen is all the audience gets to experience for the first five minutes of the film. Once the movie kicks into gear it's quite amazing how quickly you feel your heart pounding. No truer words were ever uttered as director Rodrigo Cortes introduced the film by stating "take a deep breath because it will be the last one you take before the film ends."

panicky! The fact that you can't see what is going on above ground adds to the tension and you are never quite sure what to believe.I also found this a thought provoking film on another level. It's very easy to immediately dismiss the hostage takers as "the baddies" but I think this is a very shallow and naive view of human nature. It made me think, that transcending race, religion and nationality, what would any human be capable of doing in the their situation. These are sometimes hard working law abiding people who have seen their country torn apart by war, who have seen their children dying and who no longer have any other way of making money, and who see the Americans as to blame for this....not that I want to sound like I was on their side at all or that I condone it in any way, which I don't, but I found this film a very interesting study into human survival instinct and desperation. A very good film, probably the best thing out at the moment, along with The Town, and definitely worth the ticket price. And to the reviewer that felt this was a 95 minute terrorist propaganda movie, shame on you! You clearly misunderstood the entire film!

throughout the course of the film. But, while the audience's attention may hinge at times on the development of the narrative, it is the inventiveness of Cortes and the heart-felt performance by Reynolds that keeps the tension and the suspense of the film at a constant high throughout providing one of the best thrillers to see a theatrical release in years.Cortes takes the minimalist, one-room concept to new heights as he provides only the confines of a basic coffin for the setting of a film. Continually providing diverse camera angles to explore the tiny locational hotspot, while differentiating from close-up to medium shots, allows the audience to be drawn into Conroy's horrifying situation and encounter each obstacle with the character himself. The lighting of the setting is also meticulously used to create mood and experience, Conroy is trapped within six panels of wood, and natural light is nowhere to be seen, so his use of artificial light is key his changing emotions and the narrative itself. And changing emotions is an understatement; Anger, sadness, surprise, fear, contempt, aggression, and submission, all develop and explode from under the surface of Conroy as he attempts to challenge one of man's greatest mysteries; understanding the unknown. Reynolds gives quite possibly the performance of his career as he literally providing one-man-cinematic show, while his passionately explosive show-piece alongside the beautifully simplistic cinematography, editing and lighting create a film that keeps audiences on the edge of their seat for its entire duration.'Buried' is an ambitious project, pulled off by an enthusiastic director which breathes a little life into the mystery thriller genre in general. Cortes and Reynolds essentially provide a two-man show that would eclipse most big-budget thrillers by simply sticking to an effective script, concept and performance. It does have its technological flaws, but if you can look past those ever-so-slightly unrealistic aspects, then 'Buried' is an incredibly enjoyable suspense-fuelled ride beyond the grave.

blends in a terrific experience.I really don't care for people saying the lighter should have burned most of the available oxygen, or that the cell phone shouldn't get any reception. Given the plot those concerns are stupid.A few words about the man of the hour, Ryan Reynolds gives an excellent performance here indeed, but how to put that right? it didn't seem like a very hard role to pull off. Maybe I'm wrong, and he pulled that off effortlessly. Anyway dumb me thought he was just a pretty face romcom actor but I learned that he enjoyed playing parts in many indies that I missed and will try to check out.The ending may or may not satisfy you, anyway like in most good movies, and often in life, the journey is more interesting than the destination.