Welcome to New Movie Hot Seat where once a month we review new films that’s opened in theaters this month. We will have a live debate discussing the pros and cons of one of the newly released films, then vote if it’s worth the money. The film selected for our HOT SEAT debate is Drive. Thank you to those who participated in selecting our next film. I hope you will join us.
The live debate will begin Saturday: 10/1/ 2011 @ 3pE/8pUTC
Also listen to: Drive Soundtrack
comicreleaf
comicrelief2
Comic Relief
parisienne
littlebells
Lurker
ozzie20
Open Book
LIH
linkedinhollywood.com 
Woot woooooot!!!! 🙂
Hi everyone!
Hi LB!
I’m excited to discuss this film. Actually I’m going to see it later today. However, I would like to ask u Q about the film and what was your first reaction to it?
You betcha!
I’m going to try and get a sitter myself…This week was way to nuts for me! 🙂
It bet u have skates permantely attached to your feet! LOL!!
No, but that is a great idea! I’ll try and squeeze on my daughters princess skates.
LB- What was the audiences reaction to the film when u went?
Ok, hang on…let me go back two weeks! haha!
I want to say that there was some applause at the end, but it wasn’t huge. I think the reason being we were all just left speechless. It was intense from start to credits.
I heard it was a slow building climatic film. Would u say it was a linear or non linear story?
It was slow building, however, I wasn’t bored or annoyed. I felt it was non-linear. I actually felt the soundtrack was greatly influential in the fact that it “moved” with the story. It had a slow burn too and when the story reached its climax, so did the music. The music then went back to a lower intensity, but it was altered. Mmmm, sorry I am not doing a very good job in explaining my thoughts. Sorry. Just pay close attention to the story and the score as it plays out.
WAit maybe it was linear. Maybe it was both! HAHA!
No, this is good!
It sounds like no pun intended that he really focused more on the music to set the mood and reactions of the charcters rather than relying solely on dialogue. Was there a lot of dialogue and was it good or bad?
The only person who didn’t speak much is Driver, and when others spoke, it was with purpose. No frivolous dialogue, which personally, I like. I am so excited for you to see this film, OB! The book is quite short. I feel Refn and Hossein Amini (screenplay) did a fantastic job of pulling the best of the book for the adaptation.
This is so nice to hear. I think this is what a good film adaption is suppose to look like. I mean it should enhance the initial story not take away from it. Many, many, many, many, many, filmmakers get this wrong when adapting a story. That’s why many do not like to adapt a besteller because it’s too much to live up to and fail. The stakes are just to high.
Most books adapted to screen have so much going on and trying to get it all on the screen in 2 hours is extremely difficult. With this book, it is so short, you literally can pull and stretch it out without affecting the initial story. You actually can get much more.
Yes! It really hepls to have a novella or short stories for films because u keep a lot of the substance of the story when adapting. Yes, many filmmakers prefer this than novels.
In conclusion. It takes a director who understands literature really well and know how to bring words to life visually for audiences. This is why so many adaptations fail because the directors are not writers IMO!
I do know that he and Gosling drove for hours listening to music and at one point Gosling said Refn just started crying and saying “This is the character! A guy who drives and listens to music!” This was in the same video.
Excellent Interview. LB!!
I would like to say welcome new and returning visitors to our site. If u have seen this film, please let us know your reactions to this movie.
When the movie first started, I thought, “What’s with the 80s music and pink neon writing” and somehow SOMEHOW it WORKED with the film! I have never heard of the director (Refn) before and this was his American film debut. I was greatly impressed and blown away. You’ve got action, romance, violence, vengeance, umm….yeah, a lot! But there is also a gentle quality within the romance and nature of Driver.
Would u say everything was cohesive? Were u able to see the directors vision from begining to end?
It was very cohesive. As for your second question, do you mean as far as what he wanted to portray to the audience?
Yes, I mean did u know as an audience member the characters motivations? Was it clear who the protagonist and atagonist was? Was it the climax of the story clear? Did the action overwhelm the story and characters etc……
Yes, it was all very clear. However, Driver’s mystique was harder to crack. The antagonists were fantastic. Refn was given a very talented cast. I was impressed with every single actor and actress.
Let me go back to the cohesive: having just read the book, I found the movie more cohesive. The book kind of went back and forth.
The movie seemed minimal, yet I felt there were no “holes” in the storyline.
Also, I remember watching a video of Ryan Gosling explaining why Driver hardly speaks. They initially gave him more lines, but he’d just finished Blue Valentine and was “talked out”. They stripped his lines to bare bones for Drive, and to be quite honest, I though it was a brilliant decision.
See I like this minimalist filmmaking. IMO! It creates more intimacy between the characters. Sometimes having too much dialogue can make a story to contrived and characters too fantastic. But u have to have a director and actors who can compesate for the lack of dialogue.
*AMEN*! And there is quite an intimacy between Gosling and Mulligan, yet their scenes don’t have much dialogue. They use looks and glances. And honestly, that can say so much more.
I will come back and give my review later. However, this film is intriguing to me because of (Refn). He seems to know how to balance the complex emotions in action, romance and violence without it overwhelming the story. Would u say that’s a fair assesment to make about this film?
Absolutely 150%!!
OB, a bit on the violence. If I remember correctly, there are at least 4 major scenes. All are fast, gruesome and realistic. Beautifully choreographed and timed, IMO.
This is one of those films that I felt EVERYTHING came together. I couldn’t find anything wrong with it, down to location, costumes, and make up. SEriously, it was all so superbly done.
From a commenter on youtube regarding the film:
A hauntingly beautiful cinematic experience. Drive fires on all pistons. One of the best films I’ve seen in many years. Comparisons to other works will be made but this film stands on its own, sure to be a classic. Drive isn’t about cars. Drive is about what “drives” the characters and how they deal with the circumstances they find themselves in. The Driver is an inigma. Robotic yet tragically human. The dark beauty of this movie deserves more than one viewing. (Scojack01)
I agree.
LB-
U stated there was a mystique to the main character. Can u explain why this was so appealing and why it worked so well with the overall story?
Well I applaud Gosling in his portrayal. He did an amazing job encompassing the complexities of this character. With his non verbal communication and few lines, you were hooked and he’s like that “bad boy” you want to get to know.
I think it worked well with the story because…well, I think we all enjoy a bit of mystery in our lives. The unknown can be exciting. ugh, sorry, my loss for words kicked in again. 😦
Thank u,
Very nice description!
I really can’t wait to see this film. I will come back and let everyone know what I thought. I will read the book after I see the film as well.
My final question for u LB.
Would u recommend and or see this film again?
I give this a 5/5 because I did not know what to expect and it exceeded anything I could have hoped for. I would HIGHLY recommend this film and will buy the dang thing when it comes out. 🙂
I look forward to discussing this film with you and others!
Thank u for your great depiction and honesty about this film. I hope u have a nice weekend.
Take Care!
I’m literally on the edge of my seat waiting….waiting…:)
Ok, Paris, where are you??? 🙂
I’m here.
Hi Everyone!
LB,
It was an awesome film!
Hey, hey!!!
Ok, first, what was your overall feeling when you left the theater?
I’ll let you address OBs comments as well. I know she would be very interested.
The only part i put my head down was when the guy got the fork in the eye.
OH YEAH!!!! And I about puked when I saw the guys bashed in skull. I read that they got an expert who does stuff like that to help make it look real.
the elevator scene? that was one of the best scenes!
Q: was that kiss done in “slow time” because the killer would have tried to take him out sooner than that. I also read (lots of reading lately. haha!) that there was no kiss, but Gosling wanted to kiss Mulligan and that was the perfect scene to do it so they put it in. Yes, I did read that in Top Film magazine, while on vacation. See I take you guys with me everywhere! hahaha!!!
I have no idea how that kiss was done but it was great and then he turned around and killed the guy. I would think it would be done in slow time but idk.
I liked it but my first thought was I want that soundtrack. 🙂
I have yet to buy it, but I listen to that sample ALL THE TIME. It was surprisingly so fitting for the story.
I thought Ryan did an awesome job with all the non verbal communication. If he doesn’t get some type of award for this film. I will boycott HW.
Hi Paris,
Nice to see u. I hope u are doing well.
What did u think about the chemistry between Gosling and Mulligan?
Here ya go…..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DSVDcw6iW8
What I enjoyed about the songs was how well they were picked. Sometimes I swear music is just picked because it “sounds good” when it has nothing to do with the movie or scene. The lyrics to the chosen songs in this score went very well with the character/story.
ITA.
I must say….he did all that for one woman and she didn’t even have to put out. I need a man like that. 😉
I really liked the lighting style in the elevator scene too, when Ryan and Carey were kissing.
Yes, I liked it as well!
How did you like the way Gosling portrayed Driver?
great article Lurker! I’m looking forward to our discussion. Ive always been fascinated by what is a hit or miss outide the US box office.
Sorry for my late review…. I saw this film yesterday afternoon. The theater was half full for a Monday which I thought was surprising for a 98 seat theater. The crowd was mixed with male and female young adults. I noticed there were few minorities in the audience. Hmm! I wonder why?
Pros:
Let me begin with the story. Very unpredictable but only a little! Simplicity, subtlety and Ryan Gosling played the strong silent type to perfection. The chemistry between Carey Mulligan and Gosling was authentic and intrinsic. I like the way Refn establishes Goslings character with audiences in the first 10 minutes of the film. In ten minutes, we know his real job and money is illegal. Gosling works alone, lives by routines and works at night. His cover-up day job as a mechanic and stunt driver is plausible. Yet, after he meets Mulligan all his strict rules and routines goes out the window. Refn knew how to set up the slow cataclysm of this characters world seamlessly. The violence was not heavy handed and used to make Goslings desperation and recklessness credible. U can see everything from direction, production design; costume, music, acting and narrative were all well-orchestrated and devised. From beginning to end this film keeps u engaged and makes u care for Gosling.
Cons:
What was very predictable was how minorities were portrayed. Mulligan’s husband Standard (played by Cuban actor Oscar Isaac) was the only unwelcoming thing about this film. Could Gosling’s character still look astute without having a minority to step on? Regardless of this stereotypical role, Isaac made quite an impression. He played Standard very romantic and made u see why Mulligan fell in love with him, which helped u somewhat deal with the inane minority he plays who gets killed five minutes into the film. Also, I did not care for the obvious sequel potential at the end.
All in All: A Good film and well worth seeing.
OB,
I hear what you are saying about minorities, however, in the book Standard does exist. Refn actually gave him a much better role. Standard’s character in the book isn’t as great. Also, Mulligan’s character is also Latina. I wonder why they changed that? Why not cast a Latina???
Thanks LB for clarifying this for me. I have not read the book my impressions are strictly toward what the director chose to do in this film. I think it’s always difficult when adapting a book to please everyone.
However, in this case I think it would have been nice if Refn took more creative liberties. I think if Standard were Caucasion, Driver’s character would have stood out more. I felt it dimenished the character and actor to think he needed to be proped up by the usual superior race attiitudes we all see in films between Caucasions & Minorities. We’ve talked about this issue at length here on LIH. However, Mulligan’s character being changed from Latina to Caucasion really does not matter. The issue here is Driver is going after the wife of a minority who’s portrayed as inferior. I just found it disapointing to see how unpredictable the rest of the story & direction was to then drop the ball and go for the racial stereotypes was predictable and sad.