Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive

The film Drive fits into the current discussion of secrets in class by displaying the duality of the driver character. In the beginning it seems as though he is just a normal guy who happens to be a very talented driver, and as such uses that ability to his advantage to make money through aiding criminals in their getaways. It isn't until towards the middle of the film that you begin to see his other side come out. This particularly happens because of his attachment to Irene and Benicio, and the fact that he's never felt that way about anybody before. The fact that it gets taken away from him slowly drives him to become more violent, even though most of the time the violence was warranted.

Coolest Movie Poster Ever

The one scene and line I love so much is when Driver is watching TV with Benicio, and he asks him if the shark on the show is a bad guy. Benicio of course responds with yes, and Driver then asks him if there are any good sharks. Benicio responds, "I mean just look at him; does he look like a good guy to you?" This line is so memorable for me because it creates innocence in Driver's situation, and the shark is a metaphor not only for Bernie and Nino, but for himself as well. He wants to believe that he can be a good shark, or even that Bernie and Nino could be good sharks even though they have the appearance of a villain. This dilemma is the underlying theme of the movie in that Driver is trying to be a good person, but in the end his evil side ruins the situation, and he must prevail over his Mr. Hyde side to become A Real Hero to Irene and Benicio, and a real human being.

Driver with Irene and Benicio

This is simply one of my favorite movies ever. I have been a fan of Nicolas Winding Refn's movies for a while and when I saw the trailer for this movie in the theater, I was pumped. His past movies include Valhalla Rising, Bronson, and the Pusher trilogy to name a few. I especially recommend Bronson to anyone who enjoyed Drive. It is the story of Charles Bronson: a maniacal prisoner in the UK who wreaked havoc in every prison he ever attended. It is a very interesting movie, and when Refn puts his own spin on it, it is very entertaining. Tom Hardy, who portrayed Bane in Batman, was given the role of Bronson, and he played it brilliantly.

Ryan Gosling and Nicolas Winding Refn

A new movie is coming out this July called Only God Forgives starred by Ryan Gosling and of course directed by Refn. Needless to say I can't wait to see it, and I hope this isn't there last project working together.