DRIVE. "People will love it ten years from now!"
Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 7:09PM I only left the Drive screening two and a ½ hours ago at the time of this typing. But I feel like I have two thoughts I want to get out immediately. (Plus a second screening seems wise before reviewing as it has that further-riches- await-you vibe emanating from its dark surface.)
The film is super-stylish and idiosyncratic and though some critics already love it, I'm not sure that people by and large will. But in ten years, if it's not a surprise hit in September, people will be pretending like they saw on opening night and were part of its first rush of fandom when in fact they caught it on DVD or cable a year or more after it flopped in theaters. I'm not wishing it ill, trust, but it feels like a possible contender for a Big Lebowski type trajectory, if you know what I mean. It's an odd film but it sure does know itself. Yay!
People will love it ten years from now!
-Nathaniel R, The Film Experience
Listen to me... Yeesh! I'm never ever going to make it as a blurb whore.
The new posters like the one above -- they just keep coming -- keep using the pink font and at first it's like "what? pink for a noir about a bad-ass driver?" But then you see the movie and all is right with the marketing due to the movie's neo-noir-neo-neon-1981 stylization. (What?) It's not exactly my type of film -- very bloody -- but I kinda loved it anyway. Or maybe admired/liked? I haven't decided. It's only been 2 and ½ hours. But my god can Nicolas Winding Refn compose a frame. I didn't see this coming when watching Bronson which was attention grabbing enough but hugely messy and undisciplined in comparison.
Blurb Whore, Drive, Nicolas Winding Refn
Reader Comments (7)
No offense to you at all, but hearing a new wave of admiration and love for this film every week ever since Cannes in May is giving me way too high of hopes for this I fear.
I hope this movie is a hit out the fuggin wazoo,
!!!
Best film of the year. Freakin' fantastic!! I need it injected into me at regular intervals.
I'll be one of those people who sees it opening day (or preferably at a presceening asap) I couldn't be more excited for this movie
Guy Lodge said he wanted to have sex with this movie. Nathan, does this mean you want to join him?
/3rtfull -- i do not want to have sex with this movie. No rough trade for me ;)
Dean -- yes. lower your expectations. that always helps. I don't think it's perfect but I do think it signals that Refn is going to be major... which honestly i just didn't get from Bronson or Valhalla Rising at all even though they weren't bad.
I think a lot of film buffs are going to watch it opening night, because of Gosling and Refn's win at Cannes. But yeah overall, I think you'll be right on the film's box office when it's come and gone.
The Canadian release date is terrible though, because it falls right in the middle of TIFF so I'll have to have to wait a few days to see it.