I find the Albert Brooks character rather heartbreaking. Despicable, too, but still. It's not fair to call him a "caricature," IMO. I thought a real, specific, flawed humanity came through loud and clear. Just watch the final scene between him and Bryan Cranston, for pete's sake.

Gunslinger David made an astute observation that Drive would make a good double feature with Hanna. They're both very good adult action movies that are unafraid to abandon reality in favour of atmosphere, tone and bitchin' good sound. Personally I find them both to be technically superb, but I didn't buy all of the relationships either. It might be harsh to call them emotionally hollow, I just think they are more impressive for the mise-en-scene than making me emotionally invested.

Although I gotta say, I think in some respects I kinda like Hanna more. It's a bit more uneven, but I was impressed at how effective the violence was without needing to get so over-the-top. Where Drive does an extremely familiar story exquisitely well, Hanna was a more dangerous, novel concept that fell apart a little bit at the end because basic aspects of the story weren't fleshed out. Where Driver is (an extremely clever and thought provoking) commentary on the 'hero' archtype and little more, Hanna tries to explain its anti-hero and in the end suffers a bit from trying too hard to fill in the gaps. Still, I like that Hanna ended on a bleaker note by not allowing it's monster to find redemption.

Have you seen the film?

Drive is my nominee for best superhero movie of 2011.

It's one of the rare action psycho-dramas to find it's way to theatres anymore - - a dream beat version of the thrash punk Crank franchise.

Only spinning off the road momentarily with an uncharacteristic surplus of exposition in the third quarter... Drive is one wild ride.


8 out of 5.

Is "A Real Hero" eligible for a Best Song nomination? That shit is my new jam.

I love that song.

WOW! That was C!O!O!L!

Best film of the year so far for me, i didn't find it boring at all and i loved the first getaway sequence, it didn't have non stop action like big action films but the tension was incredible, i thought Gosling was fantastic.

early contender for KJ Film of the Year?

I definitely expect it to score some nominations at the KJ Awards. Gosling should for sure get a Best Actor nomination. Best Director too perhaps? Probably Supporting Actor. Best Movie wouldn't surprise me either.

Please also make a point to see


The Adventures of Tintin
Elite Squad: The Enemy Within
Footnote
La quattro volte
The Last Circus
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Melancholia
My Joy
A Separation


before declaring Drive the inevitable winner of WOKJ Best Picture award... Though I'll happily admit it's a strong contender!

I find it amusing how MovieDude slipped Tintin in with a bunch of festival-circuit favorites.

I agree with Magnus' Drive/Tinker, Tailor assessment, though I wouldn't necessarily rule out The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo or War Horse.

I've seen all the other films, and I will personally think higher of anyone who tells me they've seen those, especially the ones that are going to be harder to find and less in the conversation

My inclusion for Tintin stems more from a strong suspicion that it will absolutely blow people away - we definitely have not seen the most impressive effects yet (just look at Weta's track record,) and the talent behind this gives me huge faith in its quality. Then again, some people will continue to be afraid of motion capture and there's not much we can do for that.

So maybe Drive is the inevitable 'WOKJ Best Picture' winner. I'm just saying there's even better stuff making its way to theaters this year - or on OnDemand today!

Derailmania.

I for one am not surprised the Drive thread has descended into navel gazing.

Excellent movie. 9/10

Loved it. In my top 3 of the year so far.

9/10 -> A-

This movie rocks. Gosling also.

I gave it seven points out of ten.

Amazing. Gosling, Brooks, the cheesy synth-pop score, etc.. Everything was amazing.

When I have first seen the movie I liked it quite a bit, but didn't love it. But it HUGELY grew on me. It has some timeless quality about it.

And some of y'all overanalyze movies way too much (though not as much as imdb). Drive is not poetry. Everything you need to know is on screen.

Perhaps some stock footage of trees and waves along with rambling voiceovers would give it deeper meaning?

Sure it is.

Nothing special about this film.

It started off good but was not an entertaining film.

Sure its well made but its not entertaining.