Image of "Drive" - FilmDistrict
DRIVE. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Nicolas Winding Refn’s
entangled disarray of manslaughter mistaken for love and passion is, visually, a superlative
trainwreak to witness unraveled. With
trancelike perspectives, dramatic framing, and slow motion effects during either
tender or brutal moments, one must question whether they are seeing a
presentation of truth or an elaborate representation of what the character
believes to be their reality. After mulling over this film, I am still astounded by the fact that the director managed to present a film that utilizes nostalgic
elements from preceding motion pictures, however it felt fresh and original. He
bestowed something that was raw, real and yet dreamlike and cinematic. Through the use of music, costume and
cinematography, I felt I was transported in a convoluted timeline of the
present to the 80s/70s/60s eras. Genres snarled behind a mask of a cheap pulp
fiction magazine. It’s homage to pastiche while steering in the current.
“… action films, sexy stuff –
one critic called them European”
- Bernie Rose, Drive.
Drive contains a
simple plot about a man who is a stunt-driver by day and a getaway driver for
robbers by night. (Refer to: The Driver feat. Ryan O’Neal). Jean-Luc Godard
proclaimed that all a film needs is a gun and girl. Refn’s swaps such formula
with a man and his car. The main character is a minimalist man who falls in
love with a pretty girl who becomes his very own damsel in distress. For a man who
acts so little, his reactions become extreme therefore this man comes across as
incredibly mysterious and complex. We know nothing about his past or even his
name. (Refer to: Man With No Name feat. Clint Eastwood). The protagonist,
played by Ryan Gosling, either goes by “Driver”, “Kid” or “Him”. Refn is stripping
down to the bare bone and only wants us to pay attention to what could be the
driver’s intentions. How can we understand what’s going on and the purpose of
his actions if we do not have any background information? This is where the
other cinematic elements become vital key players. So, knowing that this movie
is paying homage to other neo-noir films, we can gather that Driver is a man
who’s misunderstood, a loner if you will. If he’s not eating at a diner by
himself, then he’s either tinkering with car parts secluded in his hotel room
or voyaging the city in his safe haven, Chevy Impala, contemplating what the
world has to offer.
“Loneliness has followed me my whole life, everywhere; In
bars, in cars, sidewalks, stores, everywhere. There’s no escape. I’m God’s
lonelyman”
– Travis Bickle, Taxi Driver.
Silently, he is
always observing everything and everyone around him. A dark and brooding
presence. He is a champion of holding a sever pokerface, much like classic
action heroes of the 60s/70s: Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, Steve McQueen
and counter-culture’s leader, James Dean. Ryan Gosling made a bold decision to
perform this character with little dialog for most intense instances doesn’t
always entail contrived actions. During particular moments when Driver was in
his hero mode, he’d wear a satin bomber jacket with a striking scorpion sawn on
with gold thread, a replica of the same jacket in Kenneth Anger’s Scorpio
Rising, paired along with a single toothpick. A humorous jab against the “bad
guy” stereotypes depicted in motion pictures. Driver dressed this way for he
didn’t have an identity of his own. He only knew what was presented in film,
hence his association with film production as a Hollywood stunt driver. The
introduction to his daytime job was illustrated in a form of slick trickery,
much like his style as a getaway driver; A textbook presentation of a devious
cat and mouse chase against the LA police. Do not believe everything you see
until you receive all information. Whenever the initial state of equilibrium is
provoked into disequilibrium, by some complication or crisis, then the equilibrium
is restored. We are invited into the vivid continuous dream and are to dream
through the narrative. One must question – what is reality? The effects of
cultural hegemony.
With the
symphonic blend of steady synthetic pulse rate soundtrack, Michael Mann’s infamous neo-lit neo-noir crime mythology and Paul Schrader’s American Gigolo bubble gum
pink typography, Drive is an orgy of images and sounds that invoke the nostalgic
past for those who encountered the 1980s. As we ride in this violent modern
Grimm fairytale, it is recommended to relish in the quiet moments for the bumps
in the road are hair-raising. Let your instinctual level kick into second gear
for there isn’t any barefaced dialog to assist in explaining every situation
that may arise. Be alert to the surroundings and more importantly, the subtle
facial expressions. Once you buckle in, you’re embarking on a gripping thriller
and there are no break peddles to stop. Besides, how can you say no to such a gentle face like Gosling? You can't.
On a final note,
the question that everyone ponders over is – did he die? I won’t give a yes or
no answer, however I will express that as “Driver” rides into the proverbial
sunset, he finally accepts what kind of hero he can be.
“… a real human being and a
real hero”
- College feat. Electronic Youth.
Restaurant
Recommendation: Pizzeria Classico
Sitting on the
main corner of Sutter Street in Folsom, Pizzeria Classico's casual ambiance
is the perfect place to get the dirty job done – feed your starving stomach.
Always start the duty with a mountain high of crisp salad in a chilled bowl that's recommended to share with a least three or more people. From there on, do not burglarize
yourself from their mouthwatering garlic chips. The blend of gooey cheese, sweet,
hot butter and garlic smothered on a round dough that’s combines both textures
of soft and crispy is a murderous combination that you’ll gladly welcome your
way. As for the pizza, you truly cannot make a wrong decision. My personal
favorite: Stromboli. Your taste buds will definitely jump into fast lane! This
is when a toothpick will come in handy. After a satisfying travel to “delicious
town”, be sure to saunter around Sutter Street and enjoy the laidback mood Historic
Folsom has to offer. A calming experience that you’ll guiltlessly steal.
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