Buried (2010)

Ryan Reynolds buried in a box—simple premise with mixed results. As a civilian contractor in Iraq, Paul Conroy (Reynolds) is attacked and kidnapped. He wakes up to find himself buried alive with a Zippo lighter, a Blackberry, a full flask, a couple of glow sticks, a knife and some pocket lint.

Buried is equal parts psychological thriller and sociopolitical commentary. Given the limited setting, both director Rodrigo Cortés and Reynolds have to get creative to convey claustrophobic terror with pretty good results. There are few laughable WTF moments that fully extinguish any suspense the viewer builds. But Reynolds gives a commendable performance to the end and keeps the viewer engaged despite the hiccups.

As I see it, Buried is a memorable thriller thanks to Reynolds. He continues to solidify himself as a Hollywood contender. Nerd Alert: Listen for Stephen Tobolowsky.