Around this time of year, a rash of movies are released that are considered "Oscar Bait," and every year, a few powerful, but smaller movies are overlooked. It is perhaps this fear of being disregarded that led Chris Sparling, screenwriter of Buried, to write a letter to the Academy's writers branch that may have violated several rules for selection.
Buried is a tightly-wound thriller that stars Ryan Reynolds as Paul Conroy. Paul wakes up in a coffin to find he has been buried alive as a hostage. The risk that the movie takes is that the coffin is the only setting for the whole movie - not a single flashback or cutaway. However, a powerful performance by Reynolds, who is alone onscreen and in a box for all of the film's 95 minutes, has garnered the film critical praise, including "Best Original Screenplay of 2010" by the National Board of Reviews
Sparling explained all of this and more in his letter, even though Academy rules state that "mailings that extol the merits of a film, an achievement or an individual are not permitted. Mailings containing quotes from reviews about a film or achievement are not permitted, nor should they refer to other honors or awards, past or present, that have been received by either the film or those involved in the production or distribution of the film."
Although the letter may disqualify Buried from the running for Best Original Screenplay, Sparling wasn't asking for much. "...while Buried might not end up being your first choice (or even second or third), please consider it for fourth or fifth."
Do you think Buried deserves the award?
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