Buried: A Review
I have something to confess. I am not a fan of all things 3D. Avatar was good but I couldn’t help but think that it was another gimmick for James Cameron to collectively sweep humanity into his bank account, though I think he pulled it off pretty well. That aside, I am getting slightly irritated by the fact that 3D movies are infiltrating the theatres here, including some redundant ones, like Step Up 3D, in my opinion.
I caught Rodrigo Cortés’ Buried recently at the cinema and am relieved that there is for once, a good, decent non-3D film. After reading rave reviews about the movie, I have an immense need for an edge-of-the-seat experience. And boy, I was not disappointed at all. The movie opens with Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds) – an American truck driver employed by an American firm – Creston Roland and Thomas (CRT) in Iraq. He wakes up only to find himself trapped in a wooden coffin, and his last memory was that of his convoy being ambushed by a group of people (As Conroy puts it – terrorists, insurgents). “Armed” with a cellphone (with Arabic settings) and a Zippo lighter, he is left to think out of the box (pun intended) and get himself out of it before the oxygen supply runs out. The plot builds with Conroy discovering more items around him, including a pocket-knife, pencil, fluorescent stick light, and a supply of anti-anxiety pills. Clues are revealed along the way as we find out that Conroy has anxiety problems, hence the pills. The abductors demand a ransom of US$5 million within a stipulated time, and Convoy has to struggle to meet requests (including posting video of his kidnap online, and severing his last finger to exemplify his dire state). Without revealing too much of the movie for those of you who haven’t watched it, I shall leave you to figure how all these aid (or worsen) his quest for survival.
At a more contemplative level, I couldn’t help but think of the intended messages behind the movie. In my opinion, it is a satirical view of the American society, and how the big giant is being trapped in a situation that he couldn’t get out of, despite the availability of technology and proliferation of capitalism and multinationals abound (Doesn’t the name Creston Roland Thomas sound impressive?) The robotic call operators and the somewhat lack of compassion are disturbing indeed. It almost seems to allude to the notion that the American government sending troops to Iraq is a big mistake to start with (And how patriotism is viewed as a bigger priority). Paul Conroy’s repetitive pleading to the abductor over the phone that he is not a soldier but an ordinary truck driver is poignant, yet provocative. Surely, he is not armed with weapons like the M-16, but only a lighter, cellphone, pencil, and a wide-awake mind that is desperately trying to “contain” its sanity. (Not that he is not “contained” enough).
Sure, technology seems to be the “saviour” here. Putting the slightly unrealistic possibilities aside (how reception is virtually impossible underground), there are still questions raised regarding the effectiveness of the GPS (Global Positioning System). No matter how advanced is the technology, the FBI is shown to be inefficient in light of an unusual crisis like this. Does this go to show that the American security systems have its flaws, and that even technology can cripple a man’s hope for survival?
Nevertheless, I must commend the Spanish director for bringing experimental films like this to greater heights. This is easily one of the better ones among its league. And honestly, directing (and acting in) an entire 95-minute movie in an enclosed area is no easy feat. Rodrigo Cortés sure has a nimble eye for making things interesting for the audience. Not a single moment in the movie was left without you thinking, what’s going to happen next? Ryan Reynolds has, through this film, proven that he is not just another pretty face in the industry. His portrayal of emotions – cynicism, distress, frustration, anger – are especially well conceived. The cinematographer Eduard Grau did a fantastic job too, making the best out of just two light sources in a dark enclosure. The result? A well-blended atmosphere of suspense and thrills. So many details and emotions are laid out in such a little space. Breathtaking? In all sense of the word, yes.
Buried is out in cinemas.
