Drive

🚘98% ⚠️insanely high word count ahead. Journey to My Top 25: Drive is my first rewatch for this list because I had been putting it off for so long. I remember absolutely loving this a few years ago when I was first really getting into movies, and I was afraid it wouldn’t live up to that feeling I had the first time. Does it hold up (My score is at the top so that’s a dumb question)? Let’s take a look. The opening sequence is phenomenal, perfectly setting the tone and atmosphere for the entire film. I love the cinematography and overall aesthetic of the film, and it’s all present in the opening: the cityscape, the camera, the thrill of that first chase. It also does a great job at introducing us to Ryan Gosling’s character with little dialogue. Like I said, I’m a big fan of the visuals, but that coupled with the almost haunting score make for a neo-noir straight up my alley. The film has multiple standout sequences featuring strong choices by the director. My favorite might just be the pawn shop robbery. I love that they chose not to follow the robbery inside, and instead stay with Gosling, skyrocketing the anxiety of an already intense situation. Then the chase that immediately follows gives you a sudden shot of adrenaline that leads us to our third act. Another standout scene is the iconic elevator scene. I would usually complain when the “hero” wastes times kissing the girl before/in the middle of the impending danger, but it absolutely works here. The Driver knows this is the last moment he has with her before she sees his “dark-side,” and his character has been proven not to fear death. Plus the way the lighting changes in this scene really highlights the moment. We’ve got a phenomenal score here, and quality performances from quality actors(I always forget about Issac)… but it’s obviously the Gosling show. This is right up at the the top as one of my favorite Ryan Gosling roles. I always like to say he’s the king of subtlety, and it’s just so fucking true. One moment that sticks out to me is the scene immediately after he meets Standard, and he’s at the diner. His demeanor isn’t a shock to us, but we haven’t seen him deal with anyone like that up to this point in the film. Don’t get me wrong with the “subtlety” remarks, Gosling is menacing in this film. I could probably go on and on about this film, but the last thing I’ll say is that the score/soundtrack is incredible. Oh, and I love the ending— this is definitely making the Top 25. Edit: Almost 2 weeks later and this film is still dominating my thoughts. 1 point bump lol. **All 2023 Viewings List **