Skip to main content

Drive (2011)

Drive is about a stuntman and mechanic who also does a side job where he a getaway driver. Things get heated when he gets involved with the mob by helping his neighbor.

The film is directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. He's worked with Gosling before when he did Only God Forgives a mediocre film but regardless very well directed. Refn directs one of the best performances from Gosling and Mulligan. This film also has one of the best car chases I've ever seen as well as the introduction of the main character. Everything has a place in a film like this, even a shot of the back of Gosling's jacket shifting.

Ryan Gosling plays the Driver. He has one of the best examples of minimalist dialogue with only speaking 116 lines. He has intensity and emotion in his expressions and the delivery of his lines. There's a scene especially when he talks with his neighbor's kid and asks him how he knows who the bad guys are. It's great. Look deeper and you'll find gems.

Oscar Isaac could have played the run of the mil Hispanic ex-convict but chose to change it up and become more relatable and realistic. Even though he's a challenge to the main character he still knows that he holds a place in Irene's heart because of the son they share. He knows the Driver has intentions with her but there aren't stereotypical actions.

This film introduced me to Carey Mulligan as a wonderful actress. I mean she was in Public Enemies and Wall Street before this but her performances were forgettable and nothing really worthy of note. This was her first time she really impressed me and again in The Great Gatsby. She can really sponge up the vulnerable and let it ooze out with Refn's camera work.

Who would have thought Albert Brooks would make such a wonderful villain. It's apparent from the first time he meets the Driver and comments on how his hands are dirty. I can't remember specifically the line but it was great. The driver says literally, "My hands are a little dirty."To which Burnie Rose replies "So are mine," meaning it more metaphorically. It's great.

Result: A+ (One of my favorite movies. I've seen it over fifty times)
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The End of Oak Street (2026)

The End of Oak Street starts with Anne Hathaway immediately establishing herself as the film's strongest performer, especially when compared to the wooden performance from Ewan McGregor . The premise of a writer struggling with an unsupportive spouse hits close to home for me. The split-focus direction from David Robert Mitchell isn't particularly new or uniquely executed. Instead, it often feels disorienting without accomplishing what I assume was the intention. Mitchell also struggles with the screenplay, as the dialogue can be atrocious at times and boring the rest of the time. This isn't his first failed attempt at writing interesting characters, which makes it understandable why he hasn't written or directed anything in eight years. Anne Hathaway is easily the best part of the film. She brings enough personality and emotional weight to keep the movie watchable despite the material surrounding her. Unfortunately, even Hathaway can't carry the entire film. Ew...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sleepwalker (2026)

Sleepwalker is a horror thriller written and directed by Brandon Auman , who quickly reminds us why his career has primarily been in television rather than feature films. Writing for children's television can sometimes get away with simplistic dialogue and storytelling, but those weaknesses become glaring when stretched into a feature-length horror movie. The screenplay is filled with clunky dialogue and predictable horror beats, while the jump scares rarely land. Instead of creating tension, the film repeatedly left me sighing in boredom. Hayden Panettiere delivers a strong performance despite the material she's been given. It's clear that many of her lines weren't written with much care, but she does what she can to make the character feel believable. Knowing this is her final film makes the performance bittersweet, especially because she deserved a much better script to go out on. Fortunately, her performance here doesn't diminish the work she's done in bet...
Post a Comment
Read more

Lanterns EP1 (2026)

Lanterns is one of the few television shows I've felt compelled to review because I'm a big fan of Green Lantern , particularly Kyle Rayner and John Stewart . While the story focuses somewhat more on Hal Jordan , I'm glad we get a solid actor playing John. The first episode does a good job establishing that John is still green and new to the situation, pun intended. The show has a solid foundation, although its interpretation of the Green Lantern characters isn't always what I would have preferred. Aaron Pierre immediately makes an impression as John Stewart . I had never seen him in anything before this, but his presence is undeniable, and his chemistry with Kyle Chandler is one of the show's strongest elements. Their banter is entertaining and gives the relationship some much-needed energy. John being inexperienced works well for the first episode, but I'm hoping the character develops into the confident leader he becomes in the comics. Kyle Chandler play...
Post a Comment
Read more