Drive

saw a pre-screening of Drive over the weekend, had no idea what to expect, but I think it is perhaps one of the best I've seen this year.

A little violent at times, so not for the kiddies, but not more so than many other things that are out there. Don't see the trailer, I feel it weakens what you see in the film, just watch this clip and its tells you everything you need to know about the movie.

I've heard good things about this movie. The trailers make it look like a sort of generic action movie but from what I hear it's better than that. Add to that Cranston and Pearlman being in it...and I'm in. Oh, and let's not forget the hotness incarnate that is Christina Hendricks.

Yeah, the trailer actually ruins the movie for me. Just don't watch it is my opinion, watch the scenes. It is an action movie, in a way, but more in the Reservoir Dogs and Bullet sense of things. So much is done in the subtleties of the acting and style of the film that it just makes for a great experience. And when the action happens, its powerful, not just their for the sake of having some action sequence to get people into the theaters.

I'm pumped to see this flick. Looks great!

Gosling is shaping up to be the "man" in Hollywood - good for him! Glad to see a local boy make it big south of the border.

It was originally to be released on Sept 16th, but for some reason has been pushed to Sept 24th. Its getting amazing reviews from everyone and I personally can say that it is well worth the cost of a ticket these days. I actually want to see it again. its just an all around well told, well written, and well executed film. Look forward to hearing what others think when it is released.

Saw Drive last night and very much enjoyed it. The movie was shot really well, all of the actors did their job with class, and it was an "action" movie that actually let me see what was happening. The sound was excellent too, including the soundtrack. I wouldn't say it's a great movie but it's definitely a refreshing movie for me. I'll write a review on it later.

Ah, found the song from the beginning,

I'm sort of torn over your comment of it not being a 'great movie'. In no way is this to put down your opinion in anyway. I just read it and it got me to thinking about my impression of it.

Cause in some ways I do see it as being a 'great movie'. But, what does that mean? What am I holding it up to for a comparison. For me, Unforgiven was a Great Movie. Perfect in every way and should be seen as an example of perfect film making and story telling. Holding Drive up to this it maybe doesn't fit that 'Great movie' standard, but the bar it reaches is not too far below.

But, to hold it up to a movie like 'Taxi Driver', I would have to say that if that's your standard, perhaps it has achieved this level of greatness. Held up to Lawrence of Arabia, Casablanca, The Third Man, or The Godfather, its meets a much lower rung. This is just my personal rambling on the thoughts I have struggling with categorizing it.

I think your comment, Lord Rahl, about it being 'refreshing' is the key element though. Compared to what I've seen out there recently, with few exceptions, it truly is great. Its use of sound. The way information is given in simply the looks the characters give one another. The juxtaposition of passion and violence. The motivation of the characters. Perhaps I'm seeing it as more than it is, but I can't deny, that as a film maker, it really did impress me.

So, perhaps it doesn't hit the greatness bar in many ways, but all in all, I'm quite impressed and hope it finds a place in the modern pantheon of film classics. In the end, its just a film and meant to be enjoyed. I'm glad you enjoyed hope others do as well.

Originally Posted by Ramashan

I'm sort of torn over your comment of it not being a 'great movie'. In no way is this to put down your opinion in anyway. I just read it and it got me to thinking about my impression of it.

Let me expand a bit on that. I think it's definitely a very good movie, even excellent. For a movie to be "great" to me it has to be a movie that I'd consider to be genre-defining in a way. I think Drive could be on the cusp of that for an action crime drama but I think I'd have to see it again to get a better understanding of the movie.

Cause in some ways I do see it as being a 'great movie'. But, what does that mean? What am I holding it up to for a comparison. For me, Unforgiven was a Great Movie. Perfect in every way and should be seen as an example of perfect film making and story telling. Holding Drive up to this it maybe doesn't fit that 'Great movie' standard, but the bar it reaches is not too far below.

Agreed. I'd consider Unforgiven a genre-defining Western. Perhaps the reason why I do not consider Drive to be great or perfect is because I did have some minor problems with it.

I think your comment, Lord Rahl, about it being 'refreshing' is the key element though. Compared to what I've seen out there recently, with few exceptions, it truly is great. Its use of sound. The way information is given in simply the looks the characters give one another. The juxtaposition of passion and violence. The motivation of the characters. Perhaps I'm seeing it as more than it is, but I can't deny, that as a film maker, it really did impress me.

I appreciated it sort of minimalist presentation of character and story. Some movies rely on a lot of witty and expansive dialog to develop the characters, like Scorsese or Coen Brothers movies for example, but Drive in most cases uses minimal dialog, especially with Gosling's character, and I didn't mind it at all. Sort of how Eastwood's "Man With No Name" didn't need to say much, Gosling's "Driver" didn't need to say much either. I guess the action was like that as well. It wasn't flashy and over the top and there wasn't an excessive and annoying use of slow motion.

So, perhaps it doesn't hit the greatness bar in many ways, but all in all, I'm quite impressed and hope it finds a place in the modern pantheon of film classics. In the end, its just a film and meant to be enjoyed. I'm glad you enjoyed hope others do as well.

Oh, I was very impressed. Compared to most "action" movies that come out these days it's definitely one of the best to come out in awhile.

I think we are both in the same boat on our view of this film. Your the only other person I've met who has seen the movie and there is so much I'd like to discuss about it, but I should wait until its in general release before going on. Can't wait to read your review Lord Rahl.

One thing I will say is that I got to read one of the earlier versions of the script and, unlike Usual Suspects (which if anyone wants to be a script writer should definitely read and then watch the movie), the choices the director made totally took a mediocre script and turned into something far more than I would have expected. The only other script I've read that I can say the same about is King Pin.

That getaway scene has some tension in the air. It looks interesting. This movie will be on my "to watch" list. Some great actors in it, Bryan Cranston is just great and Ryan Gosling is a good actor. Just found out Christina "ultra hot" Hendricks is also in the cast, one more reason to watch it.

Excellent film and continues Refn's obsession with characters in the middle of a transition. I would certainly recommend this film to people.

It still isn't out in the Netherlands.

That sucks. I thought it was a very excellent film.

When I saw it a lot of people were grumbling about how much it sucked as we left but my town is braindead when it comes to good cinema and the trailers advertised it as an action movie.

Saw this last night, fantastic film.

After seeing it last week, and having a few days to digest it, I would say it is the best film of the year. It is such a deep movie that I think you'd almost have to watch it a few times, after reading the Scorpion and the Frog, in order to get the most out of it. Too many people are distracted by the violence.

If you stop thinking of this movie as an action flick, or a crime drama, and see it for what I think it is (which vizi has mentioned above) - as a character film, then it gets so much better. Driver is a psychopath - or more likely a sociopath, trying to overcome his natural instincts (a la the scorpion) - but we see by the end of the movie that it's an impossible task. He is what he is. This is apparent through the entire movie with the dialogue and his actions being enablers or reinforcing the fact that this dude is governed by instinct. Even when he makes an effort to normalize himself, he just can't do it - he even attempts to get the people around him to understand what he is (i.e. the scene with Benicio where Driver asks the kid why the shark is the bad guy in the cartoon - aka, I'm a shark, but I don't think I'm a bad guy). He is confused why Irene doesn't understand him. "I just stomped a guys face in, and I've offered to run away with you with a million dollars - why the cold shoulder?" Driver doesn't understand love, he doesn't understand compassion - he thinks logically/rationally, but he makes an effort to give people what he thinks they want (but fails).

You gotta be kiddin me.

http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10...ive/?hpt=hp_c2

Lawsuit of the day: Sarah Deming of Michigan is suing FilmDistrict, the distributor of Ryan Gosling's flick “Drive,”
because she wanted more driving in the film, CNN confirmed.

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I saw this movie recently and quite frankly I enjoyed it.

It's your typical man drives fast car, drives it well, sexy love interest, people die, drives more cars, drives another car in a THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE fashion - you get the idea....

Now, I don't normally like that type of movie - but this one felt different...the main character plays a near silent, brooding hero - but his periodic bursts of rage seem to serve quite well to show the audience there is a troubled young man under his ice-cool exterior. The soundtrack fit the movie really well, providing an 80's feel to it but mixed in with some more operatic pieces to provide a good balance. The acting is average, and the script was largely average too with the odd good one liner and the occassional outbreak of half-decent dialogue. The action scenes were entertaining and largely believeable also.


Has anyone else seen this, and if so what did they think?

It seems that the distribution company has been sued by a dissatisfied moviegoer that expected more action and found the trailer misleading...some people, really.
Some sources (could not choose one):http://www.google.dk/search?q=google...w=1280&bih=656
btw I have not seen it yet myself.

Please check for previous threads on the topic.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=482020

A very good movie, indeed. I also reviewed the movie here.

Threads merged.