Buried

Though you may be overwhelmed trying to get to the theater to see all the movies making a splash this award season, there are new DVDs out today that will justify your desire to stay in. These new releases may not have been Golden Globes nominees, but they still made an impression on me, and now they're yours for rental.

Buried

Ryan Reynolds puts on a one-man show in the thriller Buried, where he plays a truck driver in Iraq who gets taken hostage and subsequently buried alive. He has a cell phone, a light, and about 90 minutes to figure out how to get himself rescued before he runs out of oxygen. Though it sounds like a stressful premise, it's a riveting and engaging film in which Reynolds really gets to show off some impressive acting chops. I was blown away by the film and more than a little disappointed that it didn't get recognized this award season. DVD extras include a making-of featurette and the original trailer.

85%

Jack Goes Boating

Philip Seymour Hoffman both directs and leads the cast of this indie drama as a lonely man who falls for an equally lonely woman (Amy Ryan). As their connection grows, the married friends (John Ortiz and Daphne Rubin-Vega) who set them up must examine their own connection. It's wonderfully acted, but very subtle (if a little bit slow), so rent it if you're in the mood for an understated romance. The extras include deleted scenes, the trailer, a featurette about adapting the original play for the screen, and a feature called "Jack's New York."

67%

Find out the other notable new release when you read more

September continues to infuse the box office with exciting new movies (and plenty of hot leading men) to choose from. So should you spend your money in a box with Ryan Reynolds? On Wall Street with Shia LaBeouf? Or somewhere else entirely? Let the Buzz team help you decide with our video reviews.

Though I enjoy an escapist popcorn movie, there's something to be said for a film that doesn't let you escape. I'm talking about the movies that capture you, hold you hostage, and leave you rattled for an indeterminate amount of time afterward. This is the impact of Buried, which stars one solitary but capable actor: Ryan Reynolds. The effect the film has on the viewer mirrors the plight of his character, Paul Conroy. As a contracted truck driver in Iraq, Paul awakens inside a box after having been attacked and kidnapped by local, hostile forces.

It's every claustrophobe's worst nightmare: he's been buried alive. However, his fate hasn't been sealed yet, and Paul has a fighting chance of getting out of his coffin. With a small amount of supplies (a cell phone and a couple of light sources), he's able to negotiate with his captor for his release and simultaneously try to reach resources on the outside who can help him.

To clarify: yes, you are spending a solid, unrelenting 90 minutes inside the box with Reynolds, with no flashbacks or any other kind of cinematic break you might imagine. Though I realize that Buried may sound both stressful (it is) and boring (it's not), I'll tell you why it's worth enduring when you read more

The following excerpt is written by buggyGirl, who posted it on her blog, Love Affair W/ Gossip.

Ryan is getting ready to promote Buried.

This movie takes place from his POV the entire time . . . yeah, nothing else. It is basically Ryan Reynolds in a box, but judging from the trailer, I am actually looking forward to seeing this movie.

There hasn't been a good thriller in a long time. Plus, who cares, it's Ryan. And in all honesty, I think he is a very capable actor. He does the funny, but don't forget his amazing body in Blade (I think it was the third one). He can do the drama. Can't wait.

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In Buried, Ryan Reynolds leaves his comedic timing and heartthrob status behind to play an American truck driver trapped in a coffin in Iraq. The critically acclaimed film was one of my favorites out of Sundance, and I had plenty of questions to ask Reynolds when he sat down for an interview earlier this week. He talked about being the solo star of the film, revealed his biggest fear, and dished on who'd be number one on his speed dial if he ever found himself in a real-life crisis situation. Plus, he explains why even the most squeamish audience members should go see Buried when it hits theaters this Friday. Check it out!