Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Drive (2011)

What is it about?

A mysterious and introverted stuntman, mechanic, and professional getaway driver must work him self out of trouble in attempt to help a neighbor and her kid, whom he has become fond of.

Who is in it?

Ryan Gosling - Driver

Carey Mulligan - Irene

Bryan Cranston - Shannon

Favorite Scene:

After a robbery goes terrible,  the driver takes off with an accomplice of the robbery who escaped. After a chase scene, they find safety for a few moments before they come under gunfire from someone who is out to get them. 

Favorite Quote: 

Driver: [watching a cartoon] Is he a bad guy?
Benicio: Yeah.
Driver: How can you tell?
Benicio: Because he's a shark.
Driver: There's no good sharks? 

Review: 

Drive is a film that has been acclaimed by many. It has been heralded as one of the better films that was not nominated for an Oscar in 2011. Unfortunately, for all the praise it receives, there is another side on how Drive is percieved, and that is where this review will fall. In a nut shell, Drive isn't a film for everyone.

Ryan Gosling - who is always great - does a phenomenal job in playing the mysterious, lead character, whose name is never revealed. The film goes beyond Gosling and does a great job in providing some cool chase scenes and the typical guts, gore, blood, and violence we all shamelessly love in films. 

However, what makes the film tough to watch is the slow and dull build in the first hour of the film were the relationship between Gosling's character and his relationship and ties to everyone else is formed. It is during this time where the film drags and leaves the viewer wondering, what happened to the film that started off with such intrigue and suspense in the opening getaway scene? 

Drive also adds a bit of art and poetic cinematography with it's use of an eighties-style soundtrack and lack of overall dialogue between specific characters. 

All in all, Driver is different. And for some, it maybe a beautiful love story, and for others, its a failed action movie. 

Somewhere in the middle is the truth. 

Grade: 2.75/5

Recent Favorites

WWE Wrestlemania XL Review: "I absolutely loved this Wrestlemania"

It's easy to get caught up and become a prisoner of the moment. Especially in today's world where the latest moment is ostracized, super-analyzed, and hyperbolized - it's very much the clickbait, social media, microwave society we live in.  Yet, even after acknowledging that (as well as my Tribal Chief, of course), I still come to this feeling that Wrestlemania XL is one of the best Wrestlemania's, ever.  Yes, ever!  I don't need Triple H's metrics and benchmarks to influence me. No, no, no! In terms of hype, storylines, payoffs, match quality, and just overall fun - this entire weekend was amazing.  I'm slightly skewed in my preference as well. This was my son's first Wrestlemania as a pro wrestling fan. Having him at my side cheering on his favorites, getting caught up in the drama, and even crying at the end of the night because his Tribal Chief lost to "that no good Cody" added to the overall appreciation of the event.  So yeah, I have some

DP Review of the Alternate Knicks Orange Jersey

One of the good aspects about having a blog and being truthful and honest about it, is the hindsight thought process it provides. DP devotees already know how much I love my New York Knicks, and how excited I was about their new jerseys last year. It was a new look that was desperately needed ( DP Review On Knicks New Uniforms ).  In reviewing those jerseys last year, I had the following comments in regards to then-rumors regarding the addition of an alternative orange jersey for the Knicks and overall NBA changes to the Christmas Day special jerseys:  "As long as we do not add an "alternative jersey" (I read rumors of an orange one - woof!) (and the league-wide Spanish jerseys are fine). And please, please - PLEASE - let's finally do away with the awful green jerseys we feel the need to wear on Christmas and St. Patrick's day! Pretty please!"

Quick Ponder: Daily Armor

Imagine, if we can see the dents and scratches, the smashes and chaos,  on the daily armor, each of us put on. Just imagine.