Film Review #1

Drive


1) Provide a description of the film. Discuss the plot and characters and how they influenced the film. Was the plot line or character development more important? Why?
The film starts off with a young man, in his late 20s or early 30s, apparently driving for two criminals, who just robbed some building in L.A.  He then makes his way through L.A., avoiding all the police searching for the him.  Realizing that he will get caught, he escapes by ditching the car the Clippers game and blending in with the crowd, walking right by police.  We figure out that doing under the table jobs and being a movie stunt driver is his job, all the while working at a auto shop as well.  Eventually, the shop owner of where he works, involves him in stock car racing, the owner and financer of the team is a mob member.  "Kid" eventually befriends his neighbor, Irene, played by Carey Mulligan and her young son, Benicio.  We learn that the father is in prison.  "Kid" and Irene become very good friends and "Kid" watches out for Benicio, acting as a father figure.  The father in prison is released and this separates "Kid" and Irene.  However, after the father, Standard, notices that "Kid" was taking care of his family, he thanks him and invites "Kid" over to dinner.  One day, "Kid" stumbles upon Standard and Benicio, where Standard has been beaten up by thugs and Benicio is hiding in the corner.  We learn Standard is in debt to some bad people, and "Kid" decides to help him out by being his getaway driver for heist Standard is supposed to commit, in order to settle his debts with the mob.  The heist was a setup and Benicio is killed, but "Kid" gets away.  "Kid" now has the mob's money, and has made some enemies that he doesn't want.    We also learn that the mob "Kid" and Standard stole from the mob who sponsors his stock car racing.  "Kid" now must figure out how to protect Irene and Benicio, and settle the debt he has mistakenly made.

The character development was minimal.  It is classified as a neo-noir film.  This genre is all about a main character who is a "badass" but the audience knows little about, adding to the mysterious effect of the character.  The most important was the plot.  You at first think it is going one way, but then changes after we learn of Standard's debts he must pay.  Everything must be put on hold before anyone can move on with their life.

2) Think critically about how the film was shot, directed, use of lighting, etc. What do you think was effective in the making of the film? What took away or could have been done differently to enhance the film?
The film was shot incredibly.  Car movies are common, and sometimes can be boring because the same exact shots of cars flipping over and exploding are overused.  But this movie introduces brand new cinematography that has never been before.  Or at least I haven't.  Lighting was sort of 80s-ish, with purple and blue lighting on the character's faces at night.  The most effective was probably the cinematography.  It is a great source for anyone who is looking for new ways to shoot, should watch.  My favorite two shots were 1) Where "Kid" sees two thugs walking by in a parking garage.  The camera is placed inside the car, in the passenger seat, looking out at the driver and the two thugs walking by.  Then the car pulls in, all the while maintaing view of the thugs.  My next favorite is when "Kid" is going to settle debts and wearing a mask to keep is identity hidden.  The angle is from inside a pizza parlor, looking out, where we see "Kid" walk up to the door and stare inside, deciding what his next move would be.  Keep a look out for those two when watching it.  Another key factor was the music, the music was this kind of 80s synthesizer based soundtrack.  It worked well with the theme and makes you want to listen the same music when you drive.  Nothing could have been done differently.  It was a great homage to noir films by Nicolas Refn.


3) What is you overall opinion of the film? Would you recommend it? Why/why not?
Highly recommend it.  While the film is quite artsy and can be boring, not understandable, and "weird" in a way, it was fantastic because of each shot was taken into careful consideration and made the film art, instead of simply entertainment.