If you’d like to boil it down to its simplest form, "Buried" -- opening in a limited release this Friday and going wide on October 8 -- is a movie that features actor Ryan Reynolds in a box. Which is, coincidentally, precisely how I like my Ryan Reynolds served up (preferably with a bow on top, delivered overnight express to my front door). Obviously, upon first hearing the premise, my feminine sensibilities were intrigued.
As for the rest of you, I’m not surprised that the concept is a harder sell. After all, the entirety of the film is set in a coffin. That’s 94 minutes of a dude in an 84x28x23-inch space. What Reynolds’ character, Paul Conroy, endures over those 94 minutes is an intense, claustrophobic, emotional ride (complete with multiple action sequences inside the wooden casket – believe it!). Not only is the film an adrenaline rush until the bitter end, but its underlying themes also serve as sage political and sociological commentary on the nature of war, government accountability, hostage negotiation and terrorism.
The director of “Buried,” Rodrigo Cortés, cites Alfred Hitchcock – iconic master of suspense – as a major influence on the film’s style. Those of you who’ve seen Hitchcock’s tales are familiar with the trademark psychological and stylistic elements that make his narratives wildly terrifying and affecting.
The Hitchcock themes within “Buried” are so plentiful that I decided to speak to an expert on the subject in order to create something of a primer to enhance your viewing experience.
Enter: Richard Allen, professor of the Department of Cinematic Studies at New York University, author of “Hitchcock’s Romantic Irony” and editor of “The Hitchcock Annual.” As Professor Allen explains, “Hitchcock is still alive and well 30 years after his death” thanks to the immortalization of his devices in popular cinema today. Read More...
Tags Alfred Hitchcock, Buried, Rodrigo Cortes, ryan reynolds
The 10 Best Movie Posters of 2010
Posted 12/21/10 12:20 pm EST by Brian Warmoth in Best of 2010, Commentary, Posters
2010 was great year for HD imagery on the walls outside of theaters, as well as on indoor screens. The mark of a great poster comes when you get to the end of the year and remember a design and title even if you never made it to the box office to see the film. The exceptional ones may have even convinced you to make Friday night plans and dole out 12 bucks for a ticket.
Boasting some innovative layouts and homages to masterpieces of the past, as well as a keen grasp of what catches the eye, here are our top 10 picks for 2010 movie posters that will still be imprinted on our minds in 2011, 2012 and long after. Read More...
Tags Best of 2010, Buried, harry potter and the deathly hallows, I Love You Phillip Morris, machete, piranha 3d, The Human Centipede, The Last Exorcism, The Losers, the runaways, the town