Buried

The male breed must be in deep trouble if even someone like Ryan Reynolds who can boast the title of Most Attractive Man in the World 2010 isn’t able to deal with a situation that members of the gentler sex can get out of blindfold (Uma) and (Noomi). And although overall he does this in an entertaining and appealing way, I can’t help feeling that this movie could have been a little shorter. (10.01.2011)

The equipment from which MacGyver would make a mining drill, an air supply that exceeds the physical limit of volume and a phone signal that would make a regular operator pay in gold are compensated by an unpredictable plot and an excellent Ryan Reynolds. What is most surprising is that the director squeezes the original concept throughout the entire runtime, without any significant slump or climax. Rodrigo Cortés is a concept for the future, and not just for those opening "Hitchcock credits." 4 ½. (29.12.2010)

Logic gets a beating in a much harsher way than I'm used to in the thriller genre, and everything relies solely on Ryan Reynolds. He delivers an equally likable performance as usual, but unfortunately, he doesn't have and couldn't have the ability to carry the whole film on the surface of a single coffin, even with enough oxygen and signal. The salvation of the poorly executed, good concept is the ending, which, despite my slight apathy towards the protagonist's actions, stretched me to the brink of breaking. (09.01.2011)

Yeah, Buried is a very interesting film that takes place in one coffin with one man, one lighter, one mobile phone, one pen… but to tell you the truth, all that minimalism ends up being almost too limiting. I would have liked to have a look somewhere out of that box, which is proof that the creators didn’t fully manage to turn an attractive premise into a feature film. Buried is certainly worth watching, it’s one of the best thrillers of the year, but it didn’t make me bite my nails or get up from my chair in tension, and the logic leaves the stage too often for my taste. 70 % (24.12.2010)

Buried is surprising in that it’s not an indie festival flick, but a mainstream movie. Some viewers may consider that to be a drawback, but for me, the film’s ability to captivate and move the masses with a single actor in such a small place is its greatest asset. It thus comes closest to Joel Schumacher’s Phone Booth, in which the desperate protagonist squirms in an equally confined space, though standing upright and with a better view:-). Buried is superbly written, filmed and acted, with an ending that delivers an uncompromising knock-out blow. (06.12.2011)