Drive (2011)
It was almost art-house noir horror at times. I tend to prefer subtlety over gore and do better with implied violence over dragging it out (see also: how I prefer real life) and so…the treatment was at times a bit too retribution oriented for me, but I don’t know if there was a better way to do this than how they did it. Mumblecore directors take note. This is how you do minimal dialogue. Also, the soundtrack was awesome. I doubt there’s anything I do during the day that’s badass enough to need a soundtrack like that. Maybe if my neighbor was Carey Mulligan. Two snaps up in z-formation.Ok, so full admission. I’m a pretty big stan for Carey Mulligan. Like, There aren’t even words. That being said, this flick is a dark action movie that doesn’t really sell itself out from. Gosling is methodical, the language is halting and everything about it down to the soundtrack is pretty arresting. Her character and Ryan Gosling’s find themselves living a few doors down from each other in the same apartment complex.
Sidebar: How the hell do a mechanic and a waitress with a kid live successfully in Los Angeles? Just not possible on this earth.
Anyway, Ryan Gosling is a complete and utter badass. He plays this part to perfection as the silent superhero badass who attempts to save the day. The film can be a bit violent, gruesome and like I said…very dark. And if you don’t brace yourself for it, it can be a bit…surprising.
Nonetheless, Drive is one of those critically acclimated cult flicks that actually holds up. It’s minimalist and borderline kitsch. Not a date film, but absolutely worth seeing.
Now watching.
Oh my word. This movie…gracious. Not many movies pull you in from the first frame and refuse to let go. I wish I’d seen it in the movies, only so I wouldn’t allow myself to pause it and do other things as I am wont to do with movies at home.
Carey Mulligan earned her Oscar nomination, friends. Everything about it is just so many things all at once. Goodness.
What I liked about it was that it was all of the things you expect from a schoolgirl. The whole headstrong “I know better than you, I’ll show you. I’m smarter than everyone here,” thing. She nailed it. Then when it inevitably goes south, she blames everyone but herself. On one hand, she’s right. The fact that she knows it, just I guess shows that she’s smart? I dunno.
I had a hard time watching it during the mythical parts of the movie because I just knew it was setting her up for the hard fall. Save for all of the hype, I really think if this is an American movie she wins an Oscar, because it was just beautifully filmed and just a really well done story.
I had a ton of fun with it and like I said, Carey Mulligan was pitch perfect, but all of the supporting cast were just so super even down to her schoolgirl friends. I love that she wanted life without strings attached.
Anyway, it was just a beautiful, beautiful film.
