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The online film magazine Combustible Celluloid offers new movie reviews, DVD reviews, film reviews, actor interviews, actress interviews, director interviews, film books and all things cinema related for the thoughtful and passionate. Online for ten years! Over 3000 reviews!

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Oxygen (1999)

Rating: 3 Stars (out of 4)

Fresh Air

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy Oxygen on DVD.

With Adrien Brody currently starring in Roman Polanski's masterpiece The Pianist, fans might like to get a look at another side of his repertoire. Here he plays a cruel kidnapper called "Harry" who buries his victim alive, giving the family members only about 24 hours to pony up the cash before the air runs out.

The always-wonderful Maura Tierney plays a complex role as Madeline Foster, a burnt-out cop whose life is so numb she secretly visits a sadist to get tortured and burned with cigarettes.

It's hot and sticky in New York City and everyone's tempers are on the rise. When Madeline and her team catch Harry, he latches on to her as the one he wants to deal with exclusively. They toy with each other until one finally comes out ahead.

Though a straight-to-video item, writer/director Richard Shepard (The Linguini Incident) manages a skilled, brilliantly-acted thriller with plenty of genuine suspense and fresh ideas.

DVD Details: The DVD (1999, A-Pix Entertainment, $9.98) comes with his commentary track, joined by Tierney and Brody, as well as storyboards and filmographies.

Starring: Maura Tierney, Adrien Brody, Dylan Baker, Terry Kinney, James Naughton, Laila Robins, Paul Calderon, Olek Krupa
Written by: Richard Shepard
Directed by: Richard Shepard
MPAA Rating: R for violence and language
Running Time: 92 minutes
Date: April 17, 2003