Thursday, September 29, 2011

Movie Review: Drive


I did not see this one coming. I really didn't. Some of you bloggers might remember how much I loved Nicolas Winding Refn's film Bronson, so naturally I had high hopes for his latest movie Drive. Well, Drive shattered all expectations and easily stands as my favorite movie of the year. Unless this coming holiday season brings it's A game, I'm almost certain Drive will end up on the top of my list.

First, Drive is not a car chase flick à la The Fast and the Furious. If you come into the theater expecting a macho muscle car ADD fest you will be horribly disappointed with this film. A few people walked out of the theater I attended and I wondered why? Then I went online and saw Drive's trailer and said, "Ohhhh." No matter how gnarly and testosterone filled the trailer might seem (guns drawn, cars flipping over, etc) don't fall for it. Drive is an entirely different beast altogether.

Try to imagine a Brothers Grim fairytale infused with Coen brothers Film Noir. Imagine what would happen if Clint Eastwood's "Man with no name" was transported to the grimy Downtown Los Angeles of James Cameron's Terminator. How about Michael Mann telling an existential love story, while sprinkling obscene bits of grindhouse violence for shits and giggles. If any of those descriptions tickled your fancy, Drive should be right up your alley.

Ryan Gosling is the film's protagonist. A Hollywood stunt driver/mechanic by day who moonlights as a wheel man for criminals at night. Gosling has the prototypical lone wolf shtick down to a science until he encounters Irene, a sorrowful damsel in distress played by Carey Mulligan. Our stoic driver swoops in on his horse/Chevy and must protect Irene's family from the scum and villainy that inhabit Refn's seedy Los Angeles.

Love in an elevator

Everything about this film is amazing. The cast is stellar. The cinematography is breathtaking. Hell, even the sound is awesome. I shit you not, listening to the wind blowing during the hotel scene or Gosling's leather gloves tighten will leave you jostled. Of course you can't talk about Drive and not mention the soundtrack. Refn's choice of 80's style synth-pop initially grated my ears after the opening scene but guess what? By the time the credits rolled I was humming along like an idiot and loving every second of it. Overall, Drive is a beautifully twisted film. It's sleek and hyper stylized without being soulless. On the contrary, Refn's film meticulously wrenches emotion from its audience. I could literally go on for days about how great this movie is. My advice is, go see Drive for yourself.

*NOTE*
Here's the part where I usually insert the film in question's trailer. Well, Drive's trailer has, in my humble opinion, way to many goddamn spoilers so instead I've got my favorite song off the film's soundtrack. Listen to this song with your eyes closed, imaging you're behind the wheel of a 1973 Chevy Malibu and you'll get the gist of it.


ok...here is the actual trailer for those who need more convincing. Be warned, SPOILER CITY.

23 comments:

  1. So its in similar vain to The Transporter. I think I'll stick with that movie tbh, I hate Gosling (minus in Young Hercules).

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  2. Why would you make me want to see something that I would have never wanted to see. Why.

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  3. I'll admit I thought it was one of those testosterone gun filled things like Fast And The Furious, but now I am tempted to check it out lol.

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  4. Oh and because I commented before listening to the song, I have to say I would love to hear that while driving a Chevy. If that's what this movie feels like, I am so watching it.

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  5. Wow. That's definitely quite the glowing endorsement for the film from yourself. Tempting me to check this out now.

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  6. Woah, I hadn't even heard of it until now, will definitely check it out if it impressed you that much.

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  7. I saw an ad for this a while back and it looked okay, but if you think it's great I might have to give it a watch!

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  8. I need to watch the movie myself to beleive.

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  9. This is one of the movies I would really like to see! :D

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  10. One of my top 3 films of the year. Great review

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  11. damn yo, this movie looks alot cooler than i thought it would be

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  13. You have me actually interested now. I was expecting it to be some lame fast driving movie and didn't want to waste my time on it.

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  14. Wow that actually looks pretty good despite the generic title

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  15. This movie looks sooo good, plus Ryan is hot as shit xD

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  16. Ranthrope- I am one of those who wanted to walk out of the movie but stayed till the end - hoping for "Planet of apes" kind of twist based on your review.
    This movie is crap. I liked Ryan Gosling only for his looks. Maybe without shirts would have made me feel worth for the money. And little ok for music.
    But movie is crap and a movie about car and driving, you expect to move faster. But this is like, a brokendown car which shallnt move more than 3miles per hour speed.

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  17. This review is dead on, BRAVO. What an amazing film this was and I agree it is at least one of my top three favorites for this year. Glad you ended up liking the soundtrack. I loved it but initially thought it was an odd mix but quickly changed my mind--it was perfect.

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