Movie Review: "DRIVE"

I've been wanting to talk about this movie for quite awhile. "DRIVE," directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, and Bryan Cranston. It's all about a stunt driver for the movies, who becomes the get-away driver and the target of the town's mob boss, played by Albert Brooks. With all the makings of a non-stop action flick just in that description alone, it really isn't what you think it is. It is best described from another critic as "an art-house 80's action movie." The look of the movie, the cinematography, is gorgeous from beginning to end and there is a great cast in here, especially with the always-reliable Cranston. Gosling plays the mysterious driver character and I gotta say, looks and plays badass pretty well and Carey Mulligan is really a sight as the girl who falls for Gosling.  And I should mention the soundtrack as well, as that is really worth a listen, which helped give the movie that 80's vibe and kept me tuned in until the very end. 

I do have my issues with "Drive," though. The pacing and script. This is why causes it to be an art-house film as there is very little dialogue, the action is not very in-your-face, and too.... many... pauses... inbetween... lines... and cuts. I got over it, but I know this may be a problem with much of the mainstream audience who are probably expecting "Fast and Furious 15." In the screening I went to, there were people laughing during some of those moments and you can't help but agree with them. But this is a very different animal than the Fast movies and that's where I give it its props. Director Refn, who also did the underrated "Bronson" and "Valhalla Rising," had all the right ideas going for what is his first American film but he just couldn't fully execute them.

Is it worth the ticket price, you ask? Depends. If you want some artsy, different, and with a hint of brains, then check it out. Otherwise, wait for DVD or until it's on TV if you're still very mixed on seeing it or even see Refn's other films instead. I say, see it and judge for yourself.

6/10

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I am a dork.

At the Movies.

Who doesn't love a good moving picture show, or as these kids nowadays call it, movie? It's a way of escaping for 90 minutes or more and enjoying some good ol' fashioned storytelling. I mean, yeah, you can read a book, but the movies are like fast food: fast, easy, and fun.(By the way, I use the metaphor alot, so get used to it!) I'm not saying reading can't be fun either, but after a long day of work, sometimes putting on "Fight Club" or something silly like "Police Academy" can soothe one's nerves. I like my movies with a great storyline, amazing cinematography, and for them to be one hell of a fun ride!

As a writer and artist, they also inspire and motivate me, like in the previous post about traveling and "Rocky". Many innovative ideas have been put on the screen and it shows there are still creative minds out there. Companies like Pixar and all-around visionaries like Quentin Tarentino and David Fincher push the limits on what goes on in film and writing. Even the really bad movies with its horrid writing and acting help out so much. Because if movies like "Skyline" and "The Happening" are being released, then you know anyone can do a movie!

I'll talk more about movies in later posts, like more of what I love and especially the ones I just downright loathe. And just a hint on the next movie post: It's October related. Yeah, no-brainer there.

Until next time...

Gonna Fly Now...

It's been awhile since I've updated here, but figured it's about time. Art is my life, but I've developed another love these past couple years. Traveling. Everything about it  I love. It's a way of starting over, a change of scenery, and adding new experiences (good, bad, and ugly) to your life that you will never forget.

The picture above is from one of those travels. It's the time I went to Philadelphia a couple of years ago. And yes, that right there is where cinema's most famous boxing underdog Rocky Balboa stood tall for 6 films. I ran up those steps I had seen time and time again on TV, and the feeling was very real. Sure, it was a movie, but those films inspired me to just keep going and fight, fight, fight. That shot was worth for me, as far as that trip went and that's why I tell people that traveling is such a great thing. Going on a journey and see something new!

I've seen a good chunk of the United States so far, but not much outside of it. I definitely hope to see more. The sights, sounds, food, the air, and yes, the women, are different everywhere and you'd never know it until you've been elsewhere. So once more with feeling, go out and live a little! Save up plenty of cash, do your research and just go! Live is short and this is a big world. I hope to see it all soon, as I MAY have a job with a certain cruise line pretty soon. THAT'S how much I love to travel.

More posts (with pictures) about travel to come...