Drive

There is a lot that can be said about this film, even though, ironically, dialogue was not one of its strong suits.  However, trust Ryan Gosling to deliver a character to its full potential - and believe me, it's worth the watch.

Drive is about a Hollywood stunt performer who gets involved in a heist gone wrong.  His involvement makes him a target, so he does everything he can to protect those he loves.  This film stars Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Oscar Isaac, Christina Hendricks, and Ron Perlman.    

For starters, this film is based on a book.  That's important to point out, because when you base a film on a book, a director might feel limited to the world of that book.  This is where Nicholas Winding Refn really stepped it up.  He made the soundtrack one of the most interesting things in the film, as well as the slow motion scenes that only added to the precision of the events.  His camera angles and shooting decisions really stood out and made each scene seem that much more iconic.  You feel like you could pause any scene, and whatever picture you get, it would radiate some sort of underlying or deep meaning. The saying "less is more" really rings true in this film.  You can just tell, this director truly loves his art.  And to him, that's exactly what this is - art.
             
For a film like this, the plot doesn't necessarily have to be detailed or complex.  It's the delivery of each line, the motion of the body, the direction and angles of the face - that matter most.  You have to be able to convey heartache, revenge, motivation, or contentment with a powerful look.  No exaggeration or melodrama, only one look; one chance to get that emotion right.  This was definitely portrayed through the eyes of Ryan Gosling, and, at times, Carey Mulligan.  Their eyes told you everything you needed to know.  That's the way it made me feel, anyways, watching this film.

As for having a little fun, the blood was the dramatic release of the film.  The whole film runs sort of rigid, very disciplined, and when the killing begins, that's when it releases its playfulness.

The acting was excellent on all accounts.  I thoroughly enjoyed that.

So I give this film 8.8/10 for being just the way it is.

The Help

 

Sorry for the slight absence there, but I'm back and I have lots to tell!

I saw The Help a few weeks ago but, unfortunately, I haven't found the time to write about it.  Luckily the film made such an impact on me, that a few weeks isn't long enough to forget about it.  

The Help is about African American maids in the 1960s, as we watch their lives and their hardships unfold while working for white families, and ultimately, having their stories told within a heartwarming book.  This film stars Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Octavia Spencer.  It's moving, it's disturbing, and it's is real to its very core.

Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer stole the show in this film.  I was blown away by their talent.  These ladies know how to lead the way.  Emma Stone was her usual charming and humorous self, which sucks you in immediately.  This film was not only female driven, but female empowered.  I was so moved, I even felt a tear stream down my cheek.  Let me tell you, that doesn't happen very often, even when a film is excellently sad. 

Expect tears, expect the reality of the time, and expect the power that women have to tug at your heart strings and make you see life for what it really is.  

Enjoy this film!!! You won't regret it.  I give this film 8/10.