Drive - Ryan Gosling & Carey Mulligan [** SPOILERS FROM POST 219 ONWARD **]

jayspooney

so i just watched the film drive twice in two days and i have to say that its one of the best films i have seen in a while, the film leaves you wanting all the time.
i would suggest anyone with a thing for car movies should watch it, and the soundtrack!!!! not my thing normally but wow does it work in the film i love the tracks, been youtubing them since lol:D

kraggy

jayspooney wrote: »

so i just watched the film drive twice in two days and i have to say that its one of the best films i have seen in a while, the film leaves you wanting all the time.
i would suggest anyone with a thing for car movies should watch it, and the soundtrack!!!! not my thing normally but wow does it work in the film i love the tracks, been youtubing them since lol:D

1. There is a thread on this film already.
2. Drive is overhyped and overated with lots wrong with it.
3. The soundtrack is decent.

Sindri

Do you happen to work for the production company OP?

jayspooney

i am open to debate? whats your views on its problems??
i am not saying its perfect by any means but did thoroughly enjoy it, there is alot of crap being made lately i thought this was bringing back the good old movie.

Pintoplain

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

some of Gosling's considered pauses dragged on a few seconds too long, and Refn has a unique and engaging sense of pace. Yet the formulaic, overstretched story is the one thing that, IMO, stops it from being truly great.

"Considered pauses" is an understatement! I found myself wondering, with improbable frequency, if my dvd player was stuck on pause.

e_e

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Maybe it's just me, but Arthouse films are crap.

Worst term ever. Making very enjoyable and original films seem like they're going to be a chore and creating unnecessary snobbery when it comes to cinema.

All films are art by definition. Sorry I just think it's a completely redundant term. /rant

Sad Professor

Arthouse usually refers to arthouse cinemas, i.e. smaller cinemas that show less-mainstream fare as opposed to the big multiplexes showing Hollywood blockbusters. The IFI would be an example of an "arthouse" cinema. It's a distinction that clearly exists whether we like it or not.

While Drive was an independent film, it's a good example of how the "arthouse" label can do a film more harm than good. I remember reading some hilarious comments on IMDb in which people said they felt "weird" watching an "arthouse film" and were surprised that it was so entertaining.

Tigger

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Watched this tonight, and i have to say it was complete and utter shite. Maybe it's just me, but Arthouse films are crap. It's right up there with Donnie Darko as one of the worst films i've ever seen.

lol

briany

When I think of arthouse, I think of films that try to put across a certain feeling or atmosphere but don't rely on the expected conventions in doing so. For example, I'd think of The Possession as an arthouse film. Two minutes of Isabel Adjame laughing hysterically and thrashing around in an empty subway station to show her descent into madness or whatever the hell she's descending into, maybe a hell for leather attempt to wake the viewer's neighbours.

Oafley Jones

Pintoplain wrote: »

"Considered pauses" is an understatement! I found myself wondering, with improbable frequency, if my dvd player was stuck on pause.

Found this to be fairly underwhelming myself. Thought Albert Brooks was the stand out performance in it.

Pintoplain

Excellent clip Oafley! Thought the film was a waste of a great cast, especially the supporting characters. And he can wear that jacket all he wants, that still doesn't make it iconic.

fitz

I enjoyed the film, but I thought the scoring/music supervision was terrible.
Completely at odds with what was going on a lot of the time.

Also, regarding the ending:

I saw it as a Sopranos style visual cue - the closing scene shows his POV, which then cuts to black. I took that as the point where he died. I've since read that the director would like to do a sequel, so I guess I got the intention wrong :-/

scico rocks

fitz wrote: »

I enjoyed the film, but I thought the scoring/music supervision was terrible.
Completely at odds with what was going on a lot of the time.
[/spoiler]

Seriously? Best soundtrack in ages - maybe because it was at odds with what was going on. I appreciate its not everyones cup of tea, I loved it. Watched it several times now and if anything, I'm enjoying it more each time.

Mickeroo

scico rocks wrote: »

Seriously? Best soundtrack in ages - maybe because it was at odds with what was going on. I appreciate its not everyones cup of tea, I loved it. Watched it several times now and if anything, I'm enjoying it more each time.

I agree the soundtrack was great. I didn't find it at odds with what was going on at all though. The songs practically sing whats happening on screen imho.

The Driver befriending & helping the family was his attempt at some sort of redemption i.e. to be a real human being and a real hero. Thats just my interpretation of course but i thought it was kind of obvious.

scico rocks

Mickeroo wrote: »

The Driver befriending & helping the family was his attempt at some sort of redemption i.e. to be a real human being and a real hero. Thats just my interpretation of course but i thought it was kind of obvious.

Agreed. A chance to help someone "innocent". Without sounding corny, he had a chance to feel normal, maybe?

Mickeroo

scico rocks wrote: »

Agreed. A chance to help someone "innocent". Without sounding corny, he had a chance to feel normal, maybe?

Thats pretty much what I took from it yeah.

fitz

Mickeroo wrote: »

scico rocks wrote: »

Seriously? Best soundtrack in ages - maybe because it was at odds with what was going on. I appreciate its not everyones cup of tea, I loved it. Watched it several times now and if anything, I'm enjoying it more each time.

I agree the soundtrack was great. I didn't find it at odds with what was going on at all though. The songs practically sing whats happening on screen imho.

The Driver befriending & helping the family was his attempt at some sort of redemption i.e. to be a real human being and a real hero. Thats just my interpretation of course but i thought it was kind of obvious.

I thought that lyrical idea was overused and far too obvious. It was more the style/production side of the music I found at odds with what was on screen though. And not in a "sucker you in" kind of way. I found it jarring. The best scores, even when dramatic, work with the visuals. I though the visual tone of the move and the aesthetic of the score were way off kilter.

I can understand why people would like the music itself, but I didn't think it was the right choice for the film.

Mickeroo

fitz wrote: »

I thought that lyrical idea was overused and far too obvious. It was more the style/production side of the music I found at odds with what was on screen though. And not in a "sucker you in" kind of way. I found it jarring. The best scores, even when dramatic, work with the visuals. I though the visual tone of the move and the aesthetic of the score were way off kilter.

I can understand why people would like the music itself, but I didn't think it was the right choice for the film.

I get where you're coming from, but i thought it suited the tone perfectly, if the music was more sombre and less brash I'm not sure the film would have appealed to me quite as much as it did. They went for a very specific 80's style with the movie and the music(even though the music itself is contemporary, the style is not) was very much in keeping with that style. I watched Michael Mann's Thief the other night and it was very like Drive in terms of the visual style and music. I think the key factor in whether someone thinks the music suited the movie or not is if you actually like the style of the films the style of drive was more or less taken from.

krudler

fitz wrote: »

I enjoyed the film, but I thought the scoring/music supervision was terrible.
Completely at odds with what was going on a lot of the time.

Also, regarding the ending:

I saw it as a Sopranos style visual cue - the closing scene shows his POV, which then cuts to black. I took that as the point where he died. I've since read that the director would like to do a sequel, so I guess I got the intention wrong :-/

I thought the soundtrack was fantastic, was downloading it as the movie was ending

karma_

krudler wrote: »

I thought the soundtrack was fantastic, was downloading it as the movie was ending

+1. One of the best soundtracks I've ever heard.

2ndcoming

I love the way this film polarises opinion so much.

Just watched it the other night and for me I thought it was superb. Excellent acting, paricularly the two leads for me, the chemistry was believable and the little prolonged silences and glances just made it more palpable.

Visually at times beautiful and soft and at times unbelievably violent and shocking, and of course that soundtrack.

It's one of those ones destined for cult status, as the people who love it can't understand how others could hate it!

WHIP IT!

2ndcoming wrote: »

I love the way this film polarises opinion so much.

Just watched it the other night and for me I thought it was superb. Excellent acting, paricularly the two leads for me, the chemistry was believable and the little prolonged silences and glances just made it more palpable.

Visually at times beautiful and soft and at times unbelievably violent and shocking, and of course that soundtrack.

It's one of those ones destined for cult status, as the people who love it can't understand how others could hate it!

And vice versa!

I'm amazed you've picked out the chemistry between the two leads. I thought there was absolutely zero between them.

I've mentioned earlier in this thread that I watched this film twice and I don't like it, yet I don't dislike it... I don't know how to feel about it! All in all, it left me very underwhelmed.

Josey Wales

I finally got around to watching Drive last night and was blown away by it. Had I seen this last year it would easily have topped my best of list from that year.

I was a little wary of it as a lot of people have complained about the long pauses but it didn't bother me at all. I had to rewatch the opening ten minutes again tonight (before the rental expired) because it was just so good. I don't often appreciate the work that goes into the soundtrack of a film but the I loved the music in this. So much so that I will probably end up getting the soundtrack.

A definite Bluray purchase.

tupac_healy

Totally Agree!

I loved Drive, Gosling as per usual is outstanding!!

As described above, the movie is actually totally different to the premise of 'stunt driver moonlighting as a getaway driver' it goes far deeper than that.

Drive is THE MUST SEE of 2011 :eek:

humbert

There is one very isolated scene which is very violent. It's certainly not what I would call a violent movie.

Mr. Loverman

humbert wrote: »

There is one very isolated scene which is very violent. It's certainly not what I would call a violent movie.

What about the

violence against women

?

Or the

slashing of the wrists

?

Or the

drowning of the mob boss

?

Etc.

twimkat

If you like this movie you should check out Diva the french film from the 80s. The plot is totally different but the style is similar and Diva is such a great film.

kop99

Best movie I have seen in years.

pookiesboo

Soundtrack is class too

ricero

heard their planning a sequel to this. i hope they do brilliant film and a brilliant character

Phoenix Park

ricero wrote: »

heard their planning a sequel to this. i hope they do brilliant film and a brilliant character

Nah, leave it alone i say, its almost perfect.

Lyaiera

I watched this last weekend and I absolutely loved it.

Contrary to what a lot of people are saying here I thought the first 40 or so minutes were the best of it. The opening scene was good but once you begin to see the chemistry between the two it really goes to an amazing level. I think you need to evaluate the film with what Refn actually said about it, it's based on the idea of a fairytale, and it's about character archetypes. The minimal conversation between Gosling and Mulligan but the long knowing looks brings them out perfectly. From what I could tell Gosling didn't even sleep with her, he was just nice to her, helpful, looked after her son and looked after her. And she loved him for it, and he loved doing it for them. When her husband comes back he's initially wary of Gosling but eventually it turns out Gosling is going to help him too, even though he knows he will be losing her and her son if he does because the husband is going straight.

Up to the robbery going wrong I felt so incredibly tense. I knew something was going to go wrong, I just didn't know what. I didn't know how this perfect situation was going to be ruined. Prior to that I thought the husband coming home was going to ruin it, or when she revealed he was in prison, or when he drove really fast for her and I thought she was going to give out about speeding with her kid there. Then the robbery goes wrong, and I felt that tension fall away. I knew Gosling was going to sort out the situation. That was the entire point of his being, to sort out the inevitable bad situation that happens.

Other bits I loved were the elevator scene. That's honestly one of the most beautiful scenes I can remember. He turns to her and kisses her (for the only time we know of) and he knows he's about to lose her because of what he's about to do, protect her. He stomps in yer man's head, saves him and her and her son, she knows this, he knows this, but she can't live with someone who could do that. And as the lift door closes their relationship is finished, but he's still going to protect her and her son because he's a "hero."

I think what's also great is the minimal effort that was needed to define the characters and how true to their character they were. You knew Mulligan wouldn't be with him knowing how violent he was, you knew he was going to sort out the situation, you knew the husband cared for his family, you knew Cranston was going to mess up, you knew Brooks was cold and collected and you knew Perlman was a lunatic. And once the film wanted you to have them figured out, you did, instantly. The direction of your attention towards the characters was superb.

Overall, this was one of the best films I've seen in a long time. I actually rate it above Bronson, one of Refn's other films. And for anyone interested in Refn's work you should watch Only God Forgives to see how absolutely amazingly Refn can **** up.