REVIEW OF: Drive
The PLOT: A Stuntman/getaway driver falls in love with a married woman and has to clean up after her fuck-up of a husband.
The CAST: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, Bryan Cranston, and Ron Perlman
The GOOD: See, this is where I have a difficult time selling films to your average viewer. Here was a brilliant film for so MANY things OUTSIDE of acting and dialogue, and yet most people allow these things to go unnoticed. For starters, this film is CLEARLY a movie that attempts (and succeeds at) bringing back the cool guy flick from days long gone. The likes of "Cool Hand Luke" mixed with "Scarface" come to mind. It's a genre that was thought to be dead and yet successfully resurrected Nicolas Winding Refn's brilliant direction. It wasn't subtle or even original, but it contained so many well framed shots that you'd have to be blind to miss the art behind them. To imagine being an actor in this film, one would think you wouldn't have an inkling of an idea as to how violently artistic the final product would become.
The BAD: Watch the actors hands. Especially Gosling's. That shit pissed me off a lot when he lights up Bryan Cranston for spilling her name to the mob. Also, while I understand that the 2k10's has shown a vast resurgence of the 80's, that doesn't mean I personally liked the 80's. In fact, I fucking hate the 80's. Nevertheless, this movie did a decent job at putting a modern spin on even the pink font used for the film's credits that were so reminiscent of many a John Hughes film.
The UNFORTUNATE: You don't get stabbed in the liver and NOT finish the film on the close-up profile of Gosling behind the wheel of his car, dead. You just don't. He doesn't need to drive off into the night leaving you to wonder whether or not he's going to make it. This film will not have a sequel. I don't care how the book ends, this is a movie. Just end it.
The GRADE: A-
The CAST: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, Bryan Cranston, and Ron Perlman
The GOOD: See, this is where I have a difficult time selling films to your average viewer. Here was a brilliant film for so MANY things OUTSIDE of acting and dialogue, and yet most people allow these things to go unnoticed. For starters, this film is CLEARLY a movie that attempts (and succeeds at) bringing back the cool guy flick from days long gone. The likes of "Cool Hand Luke" mixed with "Scarface" come to mind. It's a genre that was thought to be dead and yet successfully resurrected Nicolas Winding Refn's brilliant direction. It wasn't subtle or even original, but it contained so many well framed shots that you'd have to be blind to miss the art behind them. To imagine being an actor in this film, one would think you wouldn't have an inkling of an idea as to how violently artistic the final product would become.
The BAD: Watch the actors hands. Especially Gosling's. That shit pissed me off a lot when he lights up Bryan Cranston for spilling her name to the mob. Also, while I understand that the 2k10's has shown a vast resurgence of the 80's, that doesn't mean I personally liked the 80's. In fact, I fucking hate the 80's. Nevertheless, this movie did a decent job at putting a modern spin on even the pink font used for the film's credits that were so reminiscent of many a John Hughes film.
The UNFORTUNATE: You don't get stabbed in the liver and NOT finish the film on the close-up profile of Gosling behind the wheel of his car, dead. You just don't. He doesn't need to drive off into the night leaving you to wonder whether or not he's going to make it. This film will not have a sequel. I don't care how the book ends, this is a movie. Just end it.
The GRADE: A-
Well perceived review. I saw this epic and would tone down my praise for it v. yours; howsomever, I like your analysis of the tone and cool guy retro observations.
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