Drive

Elokuvan ensimmäinen puolisko on hiukan pitkästyttävä, joskin välttämätön henkilösuhteiden selittämiseksi, ja sen jälkeen seuraa käännekohta, joka lähettää kuljettajan koston maantielle, joskin jonkinlaisen nurkkaan ajetun eläimen muodossa. Välillä melko raa’at kohtaukset sekoittuvat tunteellisiin hidastettuihin otoksiin ja toimintaelokuvalle epätyypilliseen, vaikkakin (tai juuri siksi) vaikuttavaan musiikkiin, joka korostaa väkivallan kuvausta. Osasta kohtauksia voisi tulla jopa unohtumattomia, kuten on käynyt niiden vanhemmille kollegoille muista elokuvista (hissikohtaus, maskikohtaus). (07.09.2011)

Drive reminded me of the movie Collateral in its intimacy. Its story is incredibly subtle, but for the whole 100 minutes, I watched with bated breath and hardly moved, so as not to let go of the incredibly oppressive and minimalist atmosphere in the room. However, it was not just the story that made an impact, but a perfectly directed film in its essence, flawless in both atmosphere, visuals, and especially music, which works wonders with the movie. For example, I liked the opening credits with the music as I haven't liked any in a long time. The whole film had a momentum and Ryan Gosling even showed me fully who he really is and what a good actor is hidden in him. Thanks to this film, I will never forget him and I will look forward to every his contribution to the world of cinema. (07.05.2012)

I haven’t seen a better film in the cinema this year. A dreamy, sad artsy gangster flick with an extremely charismatic protagonist and a perfect soundtrack. It gave me goosebumps, and more than once. Drive is basically a compilation of Refn’s previous films (I’d dutifully watched them all before). It’s like Pusher shot with the same slick cinematography of Valhalla Rising, spiced up with a blend of the music and the images of Bronson, and mixed with the ambiguous atmosphere of Fear X. A film that can be easily described as “beautiful”, even if fingers are smashed with a hammer, heads are shot and throats are cut. For me, a masterpiece without any flaws, but, as it’s been said, it’s certainly not for everyone. I’ve been playing “A Real Hero” on repeat for an hour. (16.09.2011)

It’s hypnotic (almost everyone talked about the soundtrack after leaving the movie theater), clings to details (cinematography, sound), and constantly goes against established audience expectations. When I got up from my seat, sweat was pouring off me and it wasn't just the heat in the movie theater. (14.09.2011)

The third viewing at the cinema definitely confirmed for me that trying to decide between four and five stars is pointless here. Drive is a challenge for film connoisseurs. It is something to discuss, to examine shot by shot and line by line. It’s impossible to put it into a qualitative category, and it’s impossible not to admire it. It is a hypnotically calm and slow opus that concurrently boils over with emotion and suspense. It works with several genres, but it cannot be clearly classified as belonging to any of them. The film keeps the greatest distance from the main character, not letting us understand him or feel his relationship with the girl, for whose protection he resorts to extreme, graphic violence. Though this violence thus becomes shockingly gratuitous, it is irresistibly cathartic in contrast to the romantic poetics that surround it. Through its extravagant camerawork and music, the film conceals the importance of the dialogue, which is the pillar of its story and is served sparingly, almost in fragments, but it perfectly defines the characters immediately with the first line or two. The choice of actors is original and unexpected, and with artistry reminiscent of Tarantino, the director pulls them out of their status as fades stars and eternal players of supporting roles and has them embody characters that will forever be embedded in your memory. Nicolas Winding Refn has what it takes to be the next Tarantino. However, Drive still isn’t his Pulp Fiction. For that, he will need more pieces on the chessboard and a more complex story. (23.11.2011)