Drive

I wanted to see Contagion but we decided to go and see Drive, starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston and Albert Brooks.

While walking into the theater I had no clue what was this movie all about I only knew Ryan Gosling and Bryan Cranston is in it. Lately we started watching Breaking Bad hence my inclination to watch Bryan Cranston doing something else then cooking crystal meth. All in all my expectation was set to 0, I will not say negative because it first of all sound pretentious and secondly, every movie needs a fair chance.

So, back to Drive, The opening of the movie was unpredictable (spoiler alert!) when we go to these kind of movie where you know from the reek of it that this movie is filled with action and explosion however, this movie started with a twist, they set you up for a car chase but then show it from altogether different perceptive, He is not Popeye Doyle who is driving rashly on street, but he has finesse in his driving that what we experience as he is being chased by the cops.

Ryan's character had no name in the film, he was either referred as Kid or Driver. His character is eccentric in some ways, not very expressive types. He observes and thinks. And every once in a while smiles. Story is pretty Ok.Bryan Cranston character(i.e. Shannon) kind of do most of the talking on his behalf. We know from the get go (Spolier Alert!!!) that Shanon will die. Unlike most action film this film have element of surprise, and very graphic scene I kept catching myself say S$%# and F*&# a lot .

The total estimated budget for the film is 13 million dollars. Looks like shot on location mostly. Which is cool, and very inspiring for filmmakers.

I will like to talk more elaborately about the Cinematography first. Especially for the moving car shots, I think the choice of shooting most of in the night paid off, I do not know if the DP was thinking the same, but they always shot him making decisions while he is driving at night mostly, the different light from the business falling on his face not only establishes that he is driving in a business area but it also kind of show his internal turmoil. Moreover, I think director was smart to use the light as the medium to express the character inner thoughts.

Long pauses tend to be boring while we are watching a film, it generally feels like the editor is newbie , However , in this film there are a lot of long pauses and with out any sound track which kind of leaves the audience hanging in anticipation. Again for filmmakers this movie is great example of how to break cliche.

All in all its an entertaining film, Oscar worthy, can't say yet. I will give 3 stars out of 5
cheers
Mragendra