Drive (dir N.W. Refn)

Trademark · Post by **Trademark** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:39 am

http://wp.me/p1VHlq-aR my review....

I'm confused about people saying there was no character development, we learn a lot about Driver, that his past is a secret, he's quiet, he's introverted. He helps single mothers when their cars break down(the supermarket scene). He's humble, he's loyal, he cares a lot about Benecio and Irene(carrying Benecio around, wanting to hang out with them on the weekend watching cartoons, etc.). In fact he takes a liking to the boy, maybe he too didn't have a father, or had a dead beat dad(when Standard is beat up he steps over him to go and speak with the boy)He also cares a lot about Shannon(he goes along with just about everything shannon wants to do, and doesn't make a lot of money doing it). He has a darker side(the guy in the diner), he moonlights as a getaway driver and he's DAMN good at it. He's also a bit psychotic and has problems with violence(the last 40 minutes). He must know this because LA is not his first stop, in fact it seems he's moved around quite a lot, makes little attachment to the places he goes and can leave at a moments notice(the final scene). He falls in love and his loyalty causes things to spiral out of control, he cooly and calmly goes about the business of fixing them. It isn't about money it's about repairing the damage he caused to the two people he cares about(3 if you count Shannon). The final act is the culmination of all those things. He calls Irene and says he must leave, their love can never happen because he will always be hunted.

Spartan · Post by **Spartan** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 10:06 am

One of my film buff nerd friends who disliked the film said גitגs like they took a Coen brothers film and soaked it in Eurotrash.ג Thank God!

I might be missing something, but other than some parts of it's soundtrack and Refn's ethnicity, I'm really not seeing the eurotrash factor I've seen thrown about to describe this film. If anything, it very much feels like an american genre movie from the early eighties. That's my thoughts anyway.

Trademark · Post by **Trademark** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 11:10 am

Spartan wrote:
One of my film buff nerd friends who disliked the film said גitגs like they took a Coen brothers film and soaked it in Eurotrash.ג Thank God!
I might be missing something, but other than some parts of it's soundtrack and Refn's ethnicity, I'm really not seeing the eurotrash factor I've seen thrown about to describe this film. If anything, it very much feels like an american genre movie from the early eighties. That's my thoughts anyway.

I think that came from a poster on this site and I'm too embarrassed to say I surf message boards.

yeah, I think it has some european sensibilities and come on the music is pretty constant throughout the film. In fact I'm not sure there is more than 60 seconds between each song making it feel strongly european.

Employee · Post by **Employee** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 12:21 pm

It's one of the best movies I've seen.

Comedy Quaddafi · Post by **Comedy Quaddafi** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 12:29 pm

Trademark wrote:I'm confused about people saying there was no character development, we learn a lot about Driver, that his past is a secret, he's quiet, he's introverted. He helps single mothers when their cars break down(the supermarket scene). He's humble, he's loyal, he cares a lot about Benecio and Irene(carrying Benecio around, wanting to hang out with them on the weekend watching cartoons, etc.). In fact he takes a liking to the boy, maybe he too didn't have a father, or had a dead beat dad(when Standard is beat up he steps over him to go and speak with the boy)He also cares a lot about Shannon(he goes along with just about everything shannon wants to do, and doesn't make a lot of money doing it). He has a darker side(the guy in the diner), he moonlights as a getaway driver and he's DAMN good at it. He's also a bit psychotic and has problems with violence(the last 40 minutes). He must know this because LA is not his first stop, in fact it seems he's moved around quite a lot, makes little attachment to the places he goes and can leave at a moments notice(the final scene). He falls in love and his loyalty causes things to spiral out of control, he cooly and calmly goes about the business of fixing them. It isn't about money it's about repairing the damage he caused to the two people he cares about(3 if you count Shannon). The final act is the culmination of all those things. He calls Irene and says he must leave, their love can never happen because he will always be hunted.

He doesn't talk a lot so there's no character-development!

Gosling's character lacks the subtle nuances that the likes of Vin Diesel in F&F have, which means I simply don't care about him. Also, he doesn't talk a lot.

Spartan · Post by **Spartan** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 12:39 pm

they're both real human beans.

Employee · Post by **Employee** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 1:05 pm

Comedy Quaddafi wrote: Gosling's character lacks the subtle nuances that the likes of Vin Diesel in F&F have, which means I simply don't care about him. Also, he doesn't talk a lot.

I seriously hope you're baiting, son.

Trademark · Post by **Trademark** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 2:27 pm

Comedy Quaddafi wrote:
Trademark wrote:I'm confused about people saying there was no character development, we learn a lot about Driver, that his past is a secret, he's quiet, he's introverted. He helps single mothers when their cars break down(the supermarket scene). He's humble, he's loyal, he cares a lot about Benecio and Irene(carrying Benecio around, wanting to hang out with them on the weekend watching cartoons, etc.). In fact he takes a liking to the boy, maybe he too didn't have a father, or had a dead beat dad(when Standard is beat up he steps over him to go and speak with the boy)He also cares a lot about Shannon(he goes along with just about everything shannon wants to do, and doesn't make a lot of money doing it). He has a darker side(the guy in the diner), he moonlights as a getaway driver and he's DAMN good at it. He's also a bit psychotic and has problems with violence(the last 40 minutes). He must know this because LA is not his first stop, in fact it seems he's moved around quite a lot, makes little attachment to the places he goes and can leave at a moments notice(the final scene). He falls in love and his loyalty causes things to spiral out of control, he cooly and calmly goes about the business of fixing them. It isn't about money it's about repairing the damage he caused to the two people he cares about(3 if you count Shannon). The final act is the culmination of all those things. He calls Irene and says he must leave, their love can never happen because he will always be hunted.
He doesn't talk a lot so there's no character-development!

Gosling's character lacks the subtle nuances that the likes of Vin Diesel in F&F have, which means I simply don't care about him. Also, he doesn't talk a lot.

it would have been so much better if he had a dead partner, and he gave up driving because his driving killed his best friend. but one last heist helps him find redemption while thwarting off the evil mexican ex-felon husband of the girl next door that he fell in love with. I simply didn't care about him because his situation wasn't the most hyperbolic, over the top, exaggerated cliche that I've come to expect from films like this. Next time more slow motion shots of past trauma would help me understand Gosling's character because that's exactly how I reflect on my life. Slowly, and in black and white.

The Ivy League Nigga · Fri Feb 10, 2012 1:23 pm

Comedy Quaddafi wrote:
Trademark wrote:I'm confused about people saying there was no character development, we learn a lot about Driver, that his past is a secret, he's quiet, he's introverted. He helps single mothers when their cars break down(the supermarket scene). He's humble, he's loyal, he cares a lot about Benecio and Irene(carrying Benecio around, wanting to hang out with them on the weekend watching cartoons, etc.). In fact he takes a liking to the boy, maybe he too didn't have a father, or had a dead beat dad(when Standard is beat up he steps over him to go and speak with the boy)He also cares a lot about Shannon(he goes along with just about everything shannon wants to do, and doesn't make a lot of money doing it). He has a darker side(the guy in the diner), he moonlights as a getaway driver and he's DAMN good at it. He's also a bit psychotic and has problems with violence(the last 40 minutes). He must know this because LA is not his first stop, in fact it seems he's moved around quite a lot, makes little attachment to the places he goes and can leave at a moments notice(the final scene). He falls in love and his loyalty causes things to spiral out of control, he cooly and calmly goes about the business of fixing them. It isn't about money it's about repairing the damage he caused to the two people he cares about(3 if you count Shannon). The final act is the culmination of all those things. He calls Irene and says he must leave, their love can never happen because he will always be hunted.
He doesn't talk a lot so there's no character-development!

Gosling's character lacks the subtle nuances that the likes of Vin Diesel in F&F have, which means I simply don't care about him. Also, he doesn't talk a lot.

No offense to the homie Trademark, but this post and response shows a pretty essential misunderstanding of how what we're referring to "character development" works. People aren't complaining that there wasn't enough exposition... I think people are complaining that the elements listed above didn't come together in a believable, satisfying way.

I suspect that you could make a similar list of character background and actions for almost every major Hollywood release in recent memory. But the difference between the ones that work and the ones that don't, from a character standpoint, has more to do with the character adhering to some kind of logic and taking actions that a normal person can relate to emotionally than it has to do with a list of past events.

Trademark · Post by **Trademark** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 2:03 pm

The Ivy League Nigga wrote:
Comedy Quaddafi wrote:
Trademark wrote:I'm confused about people saying there was no character development, we learn a lot about Driver, that his past is a secret, he's quiet, he's introverted. He helps single mothers when their cars break down(the supermarket scene). He's humble, he's loyal, he cares a lot about Benecio and Irene(carrying Benecio around, wanting to hang out with them on the weekend watching cartoons, etc.). In fact he takes a liking to the boy, maybe he too didn't have a father, or had a dead beat dad(when Standard is beat up he steps over him to go and speak with the boy)He also cares a lot about Shannon(he goes along with just about everything shannon wants to do, and doesn't make a lot of money doing it). He has a darker side(the guy in the diner), he moonlights as a getaway driver and he's DAMN good at it. He's also a bit psychotic and has problems with violence(the last 40 minutes). He must know this because LA is not his first stop, in fact it seems he's moved around quite a lot, makes little attachment to the places he goes and can leave at a moments notice(the final scene). He falls in love and his loyalty causes things to spiral out of control, he cooly and calmly goes about the business of fixing them. It isn't about money it's about repairing the damage he caused to the two people he cares about(3 if you count Shannon). The final act is the culmination of all those things. He calls Irene and says he must leave, their love can never happen because he will always be hunted.
He doesn't talk a lot so there's no character-development!

Gosling's character lacks the subtle nuances that the likes of Vin Diesel in F&F have, which means I simply don't care about him. Also, he doesn't talk a lot.
No offense to the homie Trademark, but this post and response shows a pretty essential misunderstanding of how what we're referring to "character development" works. People aren't complaining that there wasn't enough exposition... I think people are complaining that the elements listed above didn't come together in a believable, satisfying way.

I suspect that you could make a similar list of character background and actions for almost every major Hollywood release in recent memory. But the difference between the ones that work and the ones that don't, from a character standpoint, has more to do with the character adhering to some kind of logic and taking actions that a normal person can relate to emotionally than it has to do with a list of past events.

I thought it came through in a very believable way. Anyone who moonlights as a getaway driver, seems to have a temper and possibly is psychotic would act almost precisely as The Driver acts. Also, there is plenty of exposition, just not enough for some people. I for one, don't need to have every detail explained to me, I can tell the man must have a psychotic violent past. That's why he shows up out of nowhere, moves from place to place and tells people in coffee shops he'll kick their teeth down their throat. I can also tell he's a loyal person who fell in love with a single mother and her small son.

"has more to do with the character adhering to some kind of logic and taking actions that a normal person can relate to emotionally than it has to do with a list of past events."

that might be out of Robert Mckee's STORY and that might work for Tom Hanks, but I'm more interested in a character who is set up as a loner, psychotic, violent, introvert acting like a loner, psychotic, violent, introvert(in this case anyways).

NO it doesn't have a character ARC(and that might be more what youre arguing) because it begins and ends and Driver has not changed. I for one liked it that way. In fact more movies should be that way, not everyone's life changes in 90 minutes... If you can do it in a stylish, interesting and captivating way, then by God more power to you. I think this film works on every level and that it has immediately become one of my favorite films.

Cash Rulz · Post by **Cash Rulz** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 2:48 pm

Nah, this fuckin' movie was just wack.

And he's not a good enough actor in this to play off the silent, psychotic type without a backstory.

Rachel Hobozal · Post by **Rachel Hobozal** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 3:06 pm

Cash Rulz wrote:Nah, this fuckin' movie was just wack.

And he's not a good enough actor in this to play off the silent, psychotic type without a backstory.

Man, if you weren't so big and nice (usually) I'd beat the fuck out of you. But instead I'd just shake my head and buy you a beer if I saw you in person.

Employee · Post by **Employee** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 3:14 pm

Cash Rulz wrote:Nah, this fuckin' movie was just wack.

And he's not a good enough actor in this to play off the silent, psychotic type without a backstory.

Good God...

Granted, it has its Art-Fag Adventure moments, but there is no way you can front on this shit if you produce as much testosterone as a hulking, black man does.

Employee · Post by **Employee** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 3:17 pm

Trademark wrote:I thought it came through in a very believable way. Anyone who moonlights as a getaway driver, seems to have a temper and possibly is psychotic would act almost precisely as The Driver acts. Also, there is plenty of exposition, just not enough for some people. I for one, don't need to have every detail explained to me, I can tell the man must have a psychotic violent past. That's why he shows up out of nowhere, moves from place to place and tells people in coffee shops he'll kick their teeth down their throat. I can also tell he's a loyal person who fell in love with a single mother and her small son.

"has more to do with the character adhering to some kind of logic and taking actions that a normal person can relate to emotionally than it has to do with a list of past events."

that might be out of Robert Mckee's STORY and that might work for Tom Hanks, but I'm more interested in a character who is set up as a loner, psychotic, violent, introvert acting like a loner, psychotic, violent, introvert(in this case anyways).

NO it doesn't have a character ARC(and that might be more what youre arguing) because it begins and ends and Driver has not changed. I for one liked it that way. In fact more movies should be that way, not everyone's life changes in 90 minutes... If you can do it in a stylish, interesting and captivating way, then by God more power to you. I think this film works on every level and that it has immediately become one of my favorite films.

Bravo I cannot believe I am agreeing with you.

This movie would have rocketed to Gay Land if they tried to explain the driver.

LilLeftBrain · Post by **LilLeftBrain** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 8:21 pm

a good movie
extremely shitty thread

perlman · Post by **perlman** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 11:50 pm

This thread gets me Ignatius Riley levels of unspeakably offended.

Dan · Post by **Dan** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 11:57 pm

perlman wrote:This thread gets me Ignatius Riley levels of unspeakably offended.

Watch your valve.

Employee · Post by **Employee** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:14 am

Not trolling or baiting, but what are the horrors of this thread?

perlman · Post by **perlman** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 1:08 am

The set designer has showed a consistent lack of taste and decency on one too many occasion. To say the least.

Spiccoli · Post by **Spiccoli** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 3:24 am

perlman wrote:The set designer has showed a consistent lack of taste and decency on one too many occasion. To say the least.

get.

the fuck.

out of here.

Cash Rulz · Post by **Cash Rulz** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 1:00 pm

Cleanhobo wrote:
Cash Rulz wrote:Nah, this fuckin' movie was just wack.

And he's not a good enough actor in this to play off the silent, psychotic type without a backstory.
Man, if you weren't so big and nice (usually) I'd beat the fuck out of you. But instead I'd just shake my head and buy you a beer if I saw you in person.

LMAO!!!

You could team up with everyone else in here that says my taste in movies suck.

You'd still owe me that beer tho'.

Mindbender Futurama · Post by **Mindbender Futurama** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 7:58 pm

Cash Rulz wrote:Nah, this fuckin' movie was just wack.

RwithTF · Post by **RwithTF** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:06 pm

Just saw this movie last night...Absolutely fucking loved it. It kept me hooked the whole time and was just superb...

Mindbender Futurama · Post by **Mindbender Futurama** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:33 pm

i will say it is a real piece of art though.

cause it inspires extreme love and extreme hate.

i didn't hate it, i just think it's crazy overrated, which makes it wack. i just thought the parts that sucked REALLY sucked balls. the look was dope and the attempt was fresh.

a gamble in hollywood, even one that fails with 2 out of 5 people, is still waaaay better than STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE..... IN 3-D

Rachel Hobozal · Post by **Rachel Hobozal** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:37 pm

Cash Rulz wrote:
Cleanhobo wrote:
Cash Rulz wrote:Nah, this fuckin' movie was just wack.

And he's not a good enough actor in this to play off the silent, psychotic type without a backstory.
Man, if you weren't so big and nice (usually) I'd beat the fuck out of you. But instead I'd just shake my head and buy you a beer if I saw you in person.
LMAO!!!

You could team up with everyone else in here that says my taste in movies suck.

You'd still owe me that beer tho'.

At the risk of sounding gay, you got yourself a deal if you ever find yourself in L.A. or San Diego, Cash. And although I do have two gay uncles, I myself love vagina my friend. Promise.

Cash Rulz · Post by **Cash Rulz** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:20 am

Cleanhobo wrote:
Cash Rulz wrote:
Cleanhobo wrote:
Cash Rulz wrote:Nah, this fuckin' movie was just wack.

And he's not a good enough actor in this to play off the silent, psychotic type without a backstory.
Man, if you weren't so big and nice (usually) I'd beat the fuck out of you. But instead I'd just shake my head and buy you a beer if I saw you in person.
LMAO!!!

You could team up with everyone else in here that says my taste in movies suck.

You'd still owe me that beer tho'.
At the risk of sounding gay, you got yourself a deal if you ever find yourself in L.A. or San Diego, Cash. And although I do have two gay uncles, I myself love vagina my friend. Promise.

Can't we just be two really close guys who just happen to be men, you know, just, two good-looking guys sharing a cramped office running the galaxy together, you know, just getting the job done, you know maybe we, maybe we do it occasionally but it's not weird, you know, 'cause we're just, two guys with raging goals you know? I mean it's not even about the doing it part, but that's a part of it, but it's not-it's not the whole thing.

[now that sounds gay]

drizzle · Post by **drizzle** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 12:23 pm

how is it possible that a thread about a movie that's so good has taken on so many permutations and variations of gaping gayness

BARRY LURKIN · Post by **BARRY LURKIN** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:46 pm

RYAN GOSLING.

Cash Rulz · Post by **Cash Rulz** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:40 pm

drizzle wrote:how is it possible that a thread about a movie that's so good has taken on so many permutations and variations of gaping gayness

Mind your business or its 3 guys running the galaxy with raging goals.

drizzle · Post by **drizzle** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 3:41 pm

GOD FORGIVES GOZ DON'T

Julian lives in exile in Bangkok where he runs a Thai boxing club as a front for the family's drugs smuggling operation. When Julian's brother Billy is killed their mother, Jenna, arrives in the city. She wants revenge and forces Julian to find the killer. Julian's contacts in the criminal underworld lead him directly to The Angel of Vengeance, a retired police officer who knows everything and who is both Judge and Punisher. Jenna demands that Julian kill The Angel of Vengeance, an act that will cost him dearly.