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How Can One Coffin Hold So Much Dreamboat?

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (14)

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It was just at the end of last summer when Ryan Reynolds signed on to the low-budget indie, Buried, as a means — I suppose — of keeping his acting cred up ahead of a couple of big-time blockbuster superhero movies (Green Lantern and Deadpool). I applaud the career move, and even sort of dig (*groan*) the movie’s premise — it’s about a man stuck inside a coffin with only a cell phone and a cigarette lighter — but the teaser trailer and the scene below actually aren’t that encouraging. In the teaser, R-Squared’s acting range is severely tested (he was two speeds: 1) Smarmy and 2) Wiseacre), and in the full length-scene, the premise quickly reveals its weaknesses, namely that the director is forced to dizzyingly spin the camera around inside the coffin in order to create the impression of chaos. I mean — if you already hate the shaky cam, can you imagine the close-up shaky cam? For 90 minutes?

I’m just not sure if there’s a full movie of material here — it seems like it’d get old awfully quick, and even if it doesn’t, the one minute scene feels awfully goddamn claustrophobic. The movie is set to premiere at Sundance next week, and while I have some doubts, it is Ryan Reynolds, and even though I’ve managed to extinguish my man crush (no, really!), I do think he’s a swell guy. I’d like it to succeed. I’m just not banking on it.


The teaser is first, followed by a scene from the movie:










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Comments

What's with the voice on the phone. Is Lord Voldemort in Iraq now?

Posted by: Nimue at January 21, 2010 10:01 AM

I’m just not sure if there’s a full movie of material here — it seems like it’d get old awfully quick, and even if it doesn’t, the one minute scene feels awfully goddamn claustrophobic.

That's almost word for word what I've been saying about this. I've seen a couple really tiny horror films try to pull this kind of thing off (though none with the political context) and I've yet to see one with enough steam to get to the final frame. The premise can get old quickly for a variety of reasons: bad acting, limited set, unnecessary cuts to outside of the coffin to pad the film, necessary cuts at very bad times to the outside world, bad film quality, blue/green filters. Does Ryan Reynolds have the chops to basically carry a film like this? I'm not sold. At least the filter is kind of yellow inside the coffin, so that's a plus. I'm eagerly anticipating the word from Sundance.

Posted by: Robert at January 21, 2010 10:04 AM

I couldn't watch this any more than I can go on those spinning teacup rides. Plus, claustrophobia! (Even with what appears to be an extra roomy coffin.) RyRey looks like he's handling it ok, but I'm thinking there have to be some scenes of outside goings-on.

Posted by: Cindy at January 21, 2010 10:05 AM

Prediction:

He put himself in the coffin and knows how to get out at any time in order to extort the money.

Posted by: Dave at January 21, 2010 10:08 AM

I had no idea this movie existed until yesterday when I was tooling around ONTD while on the phone at work (don't you judge me). And it made me nervous... Like, without having even watched the clips.

Honestly, I don't think I could watch them now. I'm not afraid of too many things, but the intense claustrophobia of being buried alive freaks me out. That and centipedes/milipedes. All of it makes my skin crawl. So I'm not sure I can watch those clips, let alone the whole movie.

And besides, there was a whole CSI episode about this and a great seen in Kill Bill. Why'd they need to make a whole movie? I mean, the camera angles are so freaking tight in those spaces and everything is dark and closed in and everything feels so... close and the lens is practically pressed up against the actor that it doesn't matter how big the room is that you're watching the scene in, everything feels like it's crushing in on you and-

I think I'm gonna go outside and breathe a lot of fresh air now.

Posted by: Kayanne at January 21, 2010 10:10 AM

I'm sorry...did noone else catch the significance of this: and even though I’ve managed to extinguish my man crush (no, really!),

Who are you kidding, Rowles? You'll be Ryan's manbitch til the end of time.

I dunno about the premise. I mean, in the right hands, it could be a true psychological thriller, along the lines of Bug. I think this'll hit a niche audience exactly the right way to get a huge buzz going, and the majority of people will find it a letdown (Ryan Reynolds is in it! It must be quirky and/or funny!) and it'll sit on the screen like a cinematic turd for a week or two before being relegated directly to the $5 bin at blockbuster, where it'll get a resurgence of popularity as people discover this indie edgy film.

Posted by: Shadows of Dakaron at January 21, 2010 10:19 AM

Yeah, like we're supposed to believe the crush has been extinguished after that headline. YOU ARE fULL Of LIES ROWLES.

Posted by: figgy at January 21, 2010 11:59 AM

...they get cell phone service underground in Iraq? And I can't use mine on the NYC subway???

Posted by: Your Mom at January 21, 2010 12:25 PM

I'm just wondering why someone would bury a dude alive, request one million dollars, and give him a pimp phone.

Seriously? You want a million dollars and can afford to just throw away a pimp phone? Fuck you hostage taker.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at January 21, 2010 4:33 PM

What kind of huge-ass coffin is that, anyways? Whoever built it clearly had an American presence in mind.

OOOOHHH!

Posted by: coryo at January 21, 2010 4:55 PM

I'm gonna chime in with Kayanne and say, yeah, there was the whole CSI episode with the guy in the coffin (+ ants! - it was the ants that really freaked me out), and Uma Thurman in a coffin... do we really need RyRey in a coffin? I say no.

Bring on the Deadpool thing, and make it reasonably entertaining and not a pile of shit. I cast my vote for that.

Posted by: MM at January 21, 2010 6:20 PM

Maybe i'm reaching here, but the spinning motion in the clip doesn't seem very fluid. Seems like it's not in-camera.
Like it was done in quickly in post, and poorly at that.

i'm thinking maybe this spinning was just done hastily for these promotional clips.

Posted by: Scott at January 21, 2010 8:00 PM

Yes, the CSI episode was directed by Quentin Tarantino, funny enough. It was a two episode special and really difficult to get through - claustrophobic, unpleasant and at times so drawn out I was forced to pick up a book to keep myself entertained. Really can't cope with the thought of a film based on a similar set up. *thumbs down*

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Posted by: Brad at January 23, 2010 6:31 AM