Buried (2010)

 

This movie took me by surprise. And in a good way!  I was skeptical when I found out this movie was 90 minutes of Ryan Reynolds in a box, but this movie keeps you on the edge of your seat and takes you on an emotional ride throughout. 

Ok, so Reynolds plays Paul Conroy, an American truck driver who has been contracted to work in Iraq as part of a humanitarian aid program. While on a delivery, he is captured by insurgent guerrillas who intend to hold him hostage. He wakes up buried underground in a coffin-like box. All he has on him is a lighter and a cell phone. Trapped underground with a limited supply of air, he frantically calls his family, his employer, and American military and political representatives, trying to remain calm as his chances of survival slip farther away with each passing minute. It is truly one of those race against time thrillers that keeps you nerve-wracked until the very end. 

While the movie is confined within a tiny space, the plot seems to feel immense. Paul is in a fight for his life and tries to utilize all available options, although there aren't many at his disposal. As an audience member, you keep thinking -- you keep hoping he's going to get out of there. You are left feeling just as buried in that box as he is, which is truly a stroke of genius on the director's part for never leaving the coffin scene. The more you learn about the character, the more you care about him. Reynolds really showcases his talent with this one. There are moments of sadness, desperation and even some humor. 

But it's the end that really makes the movie. This film keeps you holding your breath all the way up until the very last second. 

*spoiler* At the very end, the sand is pouring into the coffin and Paul has only a matter of minutes until he suffocates to death. He is on the phone with the agent who has been corresponding with him throughout the film and has been part of the effort to locate him, and you think they are only seconds from getting to him. They think they've found his location and they are digging frantically to save him, and just when you hear them open the lid, you realize they are at the wrong location. They have unearthed a former American hostage who had also gone through a similar situation and was never found. All you hear is the agent saying "I am so sorry, Paul." That's an ending that sticks with you long after the film is over.

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R, 1 hr. 34 min.
Mystery & Suspense

Directed By: Rodrigo Cortés 

In Theaters: Sep 24, 2010 Limited
On DVD: Jan 18, 2011
Box Office:$1.0M

Lionsgate

Limitless (2011)

 

This movie made me wish that NZT was a real drug. 

"Limitless" is the story of a struggling writer named Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) who is generally lacking in ambition and any real direction in life. His girlfriend leaves him and the book he has been "working on" for the past several years doesn't actually have a word on the page yet. Anyway, Eddie runs into an old acquaintance on the street -- his ex-brother-in-law. The former deadbeat seems to have his life together and informs Eddie that its all thanks to this brand new drug that hasn't hit the market yet. He lets Eddie try one on the house and Eddie soon discovers that this mysterious pill, which they call NZT, has some pretty incredible effects. The pill allows you to use all of your brain -- anything you've ever read or heard in your lifetime can be accessed instantly like you were pulling an old file from the shelf. You can become fluent in a new language within hours, think your way out of life-threatening situations, or in Eddie's case, you can write that book you've been sitting on for years in the course of a few days. 

Of course, there are downsides to the miracle drug. Eddie finds out that those who used to take the drug are either dead or have serious mental illnesses. Eddie, who has been taking the drug more frequently now and has come into quite a different lifestyle as a high-powered consultant in the financial world, finds himself unable to account for what he's been doing during periodic blackouts that sometimes last for hours. Eddie also finds that his life is in danger. The drug, obviously in high demand by those who know about it, drives some to go to great lengths to ensure they can get it.

In the middle of all of this, Eddie makes the acquaintance of business mogul Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro), who he manages to impress with his new-found business insight. However, things become much more complicated as Eddie fights for survival -- both against the drug's fatal effects and the hit-men who are trying to kill him. 

It's a great action-thriller. Very entertaining and it really showcases Bradley Cooper's acting ability. I didn't know for sure if Cooper would be able to carry an entire film as the lead, but he did. Most of the films I've seen him in have been comedies where he performs with a strong ensemble cast. But "Limitless" proves that there is more to Mr. Cooper than just good looks and witty quips. The man has some range.

It also makes you consider what you could accomplish if you had the chance to sample some NZT. As a writer, I often find myself suffering from the painful debilitation of writer's block. Just the other day I thought to myself "If only I had just one of those small, clear pills..."

And for those who have seen the film, I am interested to know what you thought of the end. Eddie's claim that he successfully weaned himself off the drug with no side effects yet he was still able to retain everything he learned seems highly debatable. The way the ending was depicted, I think that was the director's intention. I don't think we are supposed to know for sure.

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Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Synopsis: A writer discovers a top-secret drug which bestows him with super human abilities.

Rated: PG-13   for thematic material involving a drug, violence including disturbing images, sexuality and language
Running Time: 1 hr. 45 min.
In Theaters: Mar 18, 2011 Wide
Box Office:$41.1M

Distributor: Relativity Media
Directed By: Neil Burger