Drive (2011 film)

Drive (2011 film) Drive is a 2011 American neo-noir crime drama film directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and written by Hossein Amini, based on the 2005 novel of the same name by James Sallis. The film stars Ryan Gosling as a stunt driver and mechanic who moonlights as a getaway driver, alongside Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks, Ron Perlman, and Albert Brooks. The film premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and was released in the United States on September 16, 2011, by FilmDistrict. The film received widespread critical acclaim, with praise for its direction, performances, and soundtrack, which features music by Kavinsky, College, and Cliff Martinez.

Plot

The film follows the story of a stunt driver and mechanic, known only as the Driver (played by Ryan Gosling), who works for Shannon (played by Bryan Cranston), a garage owner in Los Angeles. The Driver moonlights as a getaway driver for hire, using his exceptional driving skills to help criminals escape from the Los Angeles Police Department. He becomes involved with his neighbor, Irene (played by Carey Mulligan), and her son, Benicio (played by Kaden Leos), and agrees to help Irene's husband, Standard Gabriel (played by Oscar Isaac), with a heist to pay off a debt to a crime lord. The heist goes wrong, and the Driver finds himself in a desperate fight for survival against the crime lord's henchmen, including Bernie Rose (played by Albert Brooks) and Nino (played by Ron Perlman). The film's plot is heavily influenced by the works of Jean-Pierre Melville and Walter Hill, and features a distinctive visual style and atmosphere.

Production

The film was produced by Marc Platt, Adam Siegel, and Gigi Pritzker, and was filmed on location in Los Angeles and California. The film's cinematography was handled by Newton Thomas Sigel, who used a combination of digital cinematography and film stock to create the film's distinctive visual style. The film's soundtrack was composed by Cliff Martinez, who incorporated elements of electronic music and ambient music to create a moody and atmospheric score. The film's editing was handled by Mat Newman, who used a combination of quick cuts and long takes to create a sense of tension and suspense. The film's production design was handled by Beth Mickle, who created a distinctive and stylized look for the film's sets and costumes.

Cast

The film features a talented ensemble cast, including Ryan Gosling as the Driver, Carey Mulligan as Irene, Bryan Cranston as Shannon, Christina Hendricks as Blanche, Ron Perlman as Nino, and Albert Brooks as Bernie Rose. The cast also includes Oscar Isaac as Standard Gabriel, Kaden Leos as Benicio, and Jeff Wolfe as Tanaka. The film's cast delivers strong performances, with Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan receiving particular praise for their chemistry and portrayals of their characters.

Release

The film premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2011, and was released in the United States on September 16, 2011, by FilmDistrict. The film was released in France on August 31, 2011, and in the United Kingdom on September 23, 2011. The film was a commercial success, grossing over 81 million USD at the box office worldwide. The film received a limited release in the United States, but expanded to over 2,800 theaters in its second week of release. The film's success can be attributed to its strong word of mouth and positive reviews from critics, including Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times and A.O. Scott of The New York Times.

Reception

The film received widespread critical acclaim, with praise for its direction, performances, and soundtrack. The film holds a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 221 reviews, with an average rating of 8.4/10. The film also holds a 90% approval rating on Metacritic, based on 42 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10. The film was praised by critics such as Peter Travers of Rolling Stone, Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter, and Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times. The film was also praised by filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese, who cited the film as one of the best of the year.

Themes and analysis

The film explores several themes, including loneliness, isolation, and the human condition. The film's use of long takes and close-ups creates a sense of intimacy and emotional connection with the characters. The film's visual style and atmosphere are heavily influenced by the works of Jean-Pierre Melville and Walter Hill, and feature a distinctive neo-noir aesthetic. The film's soundtrack and score also play a key role in creating the film's mood and atmosphere. The film has been analyzed by scholars and critics such as Paul Schrader and Jocelyn Nussbaum, who have written about the film's use of symbolism and metaphor to explore its themes. The film's exploration of masculinity and violence has also been the subject of much analysis and debate. Category:2011 films