Refn Teaming with Gosling for Drive

[PWN3R]

Cult status all over this...

Spoiler

Driver is a super hero, mythos character and a psychopath

Its like Fight Club...Gotta see it again to appreciate it....This write-up by someone on IMDB absolutely nails the film for me the same way.

I suggest those who have seen the film to read it.



P.S. I have found my theme music

Good read. Essentially, it's the best super hero movie of the year.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

While I disliked the film, I found myself going back to the foundation of the film.

There are two scenes that stand out to me significantly:

1.) The short scene where Driver and Benicio are sitting on the couch watching tv (more than likely cartoons). Driver asks Benicio who the "bad guy" is and Benicio responds "the shark...". Driver then questions Benicio why he assumes the shark is the villain and Benicio responds back to him analyzing the appearance of bad guys. This brief and subtle conversation was crucial, in my opinion. It established and set forth Driver's dual personality or alter ego.

Driver: "How do you know what a bad guy looks like?" (smiling)

2.) The cluster of scenes (which I count as one) involving his relationship with Irene being halted, the welcome home party/brooding dark room and the hallway. This emotional piece was beautifully done, and if it connected with me then I'm positive that it connected with almost every one attending. To me, the hallway scene anchors all of it together. Driver steps out of his apartment and sees Irene plastered on the floor with her back against the wall. Irene instantly apologizes for the noise. Driver makes a humorous gesture to show he retains no animosity for what transpired, and that he still has feelings for her. Irene, at this point, makes an interesting remark.

Driver: "I was gonna call the cops."

Irene: "I wish you would."


Shame this film had such a deplorable anti-climatic third act...

 

[jacobed]

I thought this was a great movie. Phenomenal acting and action. Warrior is without a doubt still the best movie of the year but this is up there with that and Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

 

[Marvin]

great analysis poeman, I don't agree with some of it but it's a very interesting take. I think if Gosling kept the mask in the final scenes that would have been a very strong finish.

The couch scene was a major blow to the film imo. That could have been done in a more intelligible way. However it did establish that the driver may have actually been [BLACKOUT]slow[/BLACKOUT] which is kinda neat/tragic

 

[DoomsdayApex]

great analysis poeman, I don't agree with some of it but it's a very interesting take. I think if Gosling kept the mask in the final scenes that would have been a very strong finish.

The couch scene was a major blow to the film imo. That could have been done in a more intelligible way. However it did establish that the driver may have actually been [BLACKOUT]slow[/BLACKOUT] which is kinda neat/tragic

It could have been done better but I think the director didn't want to overinflate it. I'm guessing he wanted to keep the hero/anti-hero angle on the downlow.

At first, I suspected that Driver was stoic and introverted but as soon as the character's darker side was unveiled, I proceeded into thinking that Driver [BLACKOUT]suffered from a mental disorder (perhaps being a full blown sociopath[/BLACKOUT]).

 

[flickchick85]

Is this, this years The Town. The movie that got raves and all kinds of love and yet I don't see anything beyond a good action movie?

The Town was much more standard than Drive (not meant as an insult - I liked the Town, but it was a pretty well-made-but-straightforward cops and robbers movie). Love or hate this movie, it definitely has a lot of personality stylistically. It's more of a unique experience.

 

[CrypticOne]

Just got back from seeing this. Amazing movie. Gotta see it again.

 

[jmc]

Man I gotta wait another 6 weeks for this.

 

[Fanticon]

Loved it! 9/10 One of the best of the year...I predict oscar noms. I will say though that the elevator scene's contrast of going from beautiful to horrific did make feel like that was one scene where it wasn't totally necessary to show the violence. Kinda took me out of it for a moment as far as the film being totally enjoyable and then..um...really uncomfortable. Of course, that was the point though, I just didn't agree with it. Anyway, artfully done, and wonderfully unique. Gosling was a badass, and all supporting characters were great with their bit parts. Some will find it slow and the third act possibly a let down but I'm glad this didn't end up being the proposed 60m budgeted movie with hugh jackman. We wouldn't have gotten something as special as this.

 

[Marvin]

The town of this year, released at just the right time for the audience/critics to find solace(end of the summer), but will be brushed to the side come oscar time amongst the "real best of the year"

 

[Master Chief]

I bought the soundtrack lol I love the song that plays at the party.

[YT]9K7rmxjk5RQ[/YT]

I totally forgot about it given everything that happens afterwards.

 

[EML420]

I saw it a little earlier today wow it blew me away in my top 5 favorite movies I really enjoyed it. Ryaan Gosling was bad ass and I agree this movie looks like it will for sure become a cult classic.
Oh yea does any body else get a Brando vibe from Gosling not just from this movie but from a view of how his career is going?

 

[DoomsdayApex]

Loved it! 9/10 One of the best of the year...I predict oscar noms. I will say though that the elevator scene's contrast of going from beautiful to horrific did make feel like that was one scene where it wasn't totally necessary to show the violence. Kinda took me out of it for a moment as far as the film being totally enjoyable and then..um...really uncomfortable. Of course, that was the point though, I just didn't agree with it. Anyway, artfully done, and wonderfully unique. Gosling was a badass, and all supporting characters were great with their bit parts. Some will find it slow and the third act possibly a let down but I'm glad this didn't end up being the proposed 60m budgeted movie with hugh jackman. We wouldn't have gotten something as special as this.

Yes! The violence felt out of place. I never took it seriously at all. 90% of the death scenes garnered an over the top sensation, and they didn't flow naturally. The scene where Cook was picked off in the Pizzeria was distastefully done. The audienced laughed at it (not in a good way) as if it were a joke.

The third act was downright the worst part of the film. Shannon's death was emotionless, Nino's assassination held no impact of satisfaction, the confrontation with Bernie felt rushed and feeble, etc.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

I disagree that the violence was out of place. I think the violence not only helped show the grittiness of what The Driver got himself into, but it also shows how violent (and possibly unstable) The Driver character is.

 

[Poeman]

im glad people are digging the theme and theory of the film

 

[DoomsdayApex]

I disagree that the violence was out of place. I think the violence not only helped show the grittiness of what The Driver got himself into, but it also shows how violent (and possibly unstable) The Driver character is.

I don't know about that. The violence didn't feel gritty, it felt comical and awkward. I, without a doubt, speculate that Driver was a sociopath but these gory scenes weren't captured at their full potential.

It's understandable that the director wanted to represent Driver's image as "a man with no a place in the world" by making him committ these acts without hesitation and remorse but there was no tension or chilling feel to these scenes.

 

[Poeman]

Rotten Tomatoes interviewed Ryan Gosling and he makes a BIG CONFIRMATION

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dri..._gosling_on_drive_this_is_my_superhero_movie/

Spoiler

RT: You said that since everyone's been doing a superhero movie you thought, "Why not do one?" Have you been approached to do superhero movies?

Ryan Gosling: Yeah.

Many times?

Mmm-hmm, yep.

But Drive ended up being the superhero movie for you?

This is the one. I wanted to make this one. I didn't always know I was gonna get to make it, but I did.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

I wouldn't mind seeing Gosling as the next Bruce Wayne.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

I don't know about that. The violence didn't feel gritty, it felt comical and awkward. I, without a doubt, speculate that Driver was a sociopath but these gory scenes weren't captured at their full potential.

It's understandable that the director wanted to represent Driver's image as "a man with no a place in the world" by making him committ these acts without hesitation and remorse but there was no tension or chilling feel to these scenes.

I didn't find it to be either comical or awkward. It's not like there were blood geysers. There's nothing comical about [BLACKOUT]a guy getting his head stomped in or Shannon getting his arm slit open.[/BLACKOUT] The only one I felt was comical was cook, and that was supposed to be comical.

There was plenty of tension during some of those scenes, especially the elevator where you knew something was gonna go down when The Driver saw the guy with a gun and went in to kiss the girl.

There's also the end, in which I think was a great use of crosscutting in addition to the tension to what he was going to do.

 

[EML420]

Some people in the theater when I went to see it were laughing a little but I think its because people arent use to that.

Spoiler

He was intense in the elevator scene.

 

[Marvin]

I wish Blue Valentine got the praise this film has. It's always fun to watch Gosling use his tacit charm on the love interest, we're always rooting for him.

 

[flickchick85]

The town of this year, released at just the right time for the audience/critics to find solace(end of the summer), but will be brushed to the side come oscar time amongst the "real best of the year"

Nah, this was never an Oscar type of movie to begin with. It's a cult-y genre pic. Apples and oranges with The Town, imo.

BTW, I agree about Blue Valentine. Though it DID get the praise, just not the internet buzz of this one (because again, cult-y genre pic = internet buzz).

 

[SuperSoldier985]

Good, albeit over hyped movie. It might not make my top 10 of the year, but it's definitely up there in my top 15.

8/10

edit: I did my list of 2011 movies and Drive is at #16 in my 2011 movies list (out of 74 movies)

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

I don't think this will be or was ever an Oscar type movie either, though I wish Ryan Gosling would get at least Golden Globe consideration.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I loved this movie.

It had the shell of a grand theft auto video game and the soul of a samurai movie.

Along with Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Hanna this was my favorite of the year.