Drive, Joseph Campbell, & Becoming A Real Hero
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- This week's video essay is a look into Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive. We explore some of the different themes and ideas of the film, but ultimately look at it from the perspective of Joseph Cambell's monomyth and the hero's journey.
/ jackmoviereview
Special thanks to Christian for Voice Over post processing, check out his channel here:
/ @truefilm1556
Drive is such an underrated masterpiece, sad it did not get more attention.
It's definitely gotten its fair share online after release.
Imho it got the right attention - it's got a cult status amongst movie fans and flew under the radar of casual movie goers. In any case NWR doesn't make mainstream movies so in all likelihood he knew that this wouldn't garner popular acclaim
PartiZAn18 Good observation...I call this one 21st Century Noir myself.
It did win Refn the award for best director at Cannes, so I think it's fair to say it's gotten some earned attention. However very much overlooked at the Academy Awards, but then again, what movie isn't overlooked at that sad excuse for an award show.
It was pretty successful, and it’s still a very popular movie, especially among movie fans, so I wouldn’t really call it underrated, and this is coming from someone who considers Drive his favorite movie of all time.
I fucking love this movie. The opening credits and the cinematography alone is top notch. The movie is damn near perfection.
They did a great job with it!
KAZER Kavinsky's Night Call remains a fave to this day. I really see this film as 21st Century Noir: a lot of night scenes, people trying to get ahead and a lot of instances of that one mistake which unravels everything.
Favorite movie.
I agree, I love it so much!
I love Drive. When I first found it on Netflix I thought I would watch like 20 minutes and go to bed. 1 h 35 min later I'm staring at the credits listening to my new favourite song.
Good job explaining once again why I fell in love with a movie. Much love, Jack! :)
@mercx007 thx! haha!😗
Drive's OST is so amazing. Listening to it under your analysis was like the cherry on top!
OnigiriPuff In fact, the opening theme, Kavinsky's Night Call, inspired me to write a short story with some noir overtones.
Johnathon Haney More noir is always good! It's such an under used genre now.
Drive is one of my favorite movies of all time. I love videos like these that help to explain why it had such an effect on me.
Thanks buddy, I really appreciate it. Keep doing what you do.
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed!
Mine too.
By knowing why the film had an effect on us, we decrease the effect it has on us. At least that's my feeling.
The elevator scene is one of my favorite shots in all of cinema. The scorpion on the back of Gosling's jacket represents his violent side and this is the first and only scene in the film where Gosling is wearing the jacket in the presence of Irene. As Gosling first kisses her, he turns his back to the camera and we see the scorpion come into light. However, Irene then presses against him and turns him the other way, hiding the scorpion from view. It's great symbolism that shows that Irene and the driver's relationship with her can bring out the caring side of the driver and the she is capable of being with him.
+ZileanUltedJesus -great observation! There is so much more symbolism to discover about the Scorpion on the driver's jacket. Just think about the phone all where the old story/allegory of the Scorpion and the frog is being mentioned
ZileanUltedJesus There's also the lighting that dims as he kisses her, symbolizing that this moment is just for them. Then the light comes back on and the violence starts.
Good eye, and well analyzed. Both Gaspar Noe and Alejandro Jodorowsky has also praised the elevator scene for not only being a flawless transition between the purity of love and the dirtiness of violence, but also visualizing the two sides of Driver. I love the acting from Gosling in that scene, you can just see that as he stombs the guy, he knows it's over between him and Irene. He takes all of that out on the hitman, cause he knows Irene has seen his dark side now. Drive is filled with these small things that can be analyzed, even the use of color has been discussed and analyzed.
Rebel Cause - Gosling's character *thinks* it's over, but it isn't. Irene knows about violence, it's only now that she sees it on full display. Check the last scene of her when she knocks on his door and touches it with her right hand, holding onto it. If anything, he sacrifices himself. The head stomping is very much "Now that you mobsters had set me up with that phony pawn shop robbery and want to kill me, I'm coming for you. Here's what happens when you send a hit man to kill me" (and very likely Irene right after that because she saw him).
truefilm The emotions lies in Driver feeling that what he had with Irene is lost. That is also why he kisses her. He both kisses her as a distraction, but also because he knows that what he's about to do next will forever change the way she perceives him or so he believes, so he savors what's left. That's why Goslings acting is filled with so much emotion and aggression in that scene. I don't have to check the last scene to know what the elevator scene clearly implies. The whole reasoning for him to kiss her (their first and only on screen kiss), would be lost if your theory about it being to show the mafia that he's a badass was right. This is not your typical Hollywood actionflick.
I love this effing movie so much. Ryan Gosling has quickly become one of my favorite actors and everything I see him in blows me away.
Yes, he's great. It's not just that he's a good actor, but the movies he chose are really good movies. His CV is close to being flawless. Blade Runner 2049 was another home run of many.
Rebel Cause Yes! I saw that solely because of him. I hadn't seen the first one, so it wasn't a big deal for me, but his addition made it a must-see. La La Land, too
I have yet to see La la land. Musicals is just not my favorite genre, but I'll give it a go.
Drive is one of those movies that never takes your attention for granted. Loved it
One of the best shots of this movie is when the Driver and Christina Hendrick's character get shot at; after he kills his attacker there is a brilliant shot of the Driver covered in blood slowly fading into the darker part of the frame. However, through the window you see sunshine and palm trees. To me the sunshine and trees is what he wants to be, where the darker shot of the frame is what he actually is.
Definitely the best analysis of Drive I have ever seen, heard or read! Love the way you go directly into the depths and totally fresh interpretations (which all make 100% sense) with just the right amount and choice of words. LOVE how you spot visual clues and cinematic shorthand (like Irene putting back a package into the supermarket shelf without being angry at her son, who wanted to have it) in movies and have these all confirmed in the larger context. Sounds corny, but it's true: your videos are pure gold!
truefilm Another thing: the first time Irene appears in the film during the opening sequence, she's treated as a throwaway, a piece of the scenery. It's only when the car breaks down that her importance shows.
Johnathon Haney - need to re-watch the movie, Seen i about 10 times now - guess you are right.
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
...and I still discover new stuff like the real meaning of the frog-scorpion (the driver has a scorpion on the back (!!!) of his white jacket) metaphor on the last phone call, which of course refers to the final encounter with Bernie and the stabbing.
The "head stomp" seems to be very likely a reference to the French movie "Irreversible" (VERY graphic!!!!). Also: check the last scene: Irene touches the door with her hand - she REALLY does not only check how he is doing. She truly cares about him, even after all the violence! That elevator kiss is epic (and shows that IN FACT the driver didn't even think about touching her as long as Standard was alive - they actually became friends and the driver put his life on the line for him and his family). Just need to piece it all together.
Easily one of my favourite films.
Easily the most well thought and precise, straight to the point review I've seen on Drive.
Thanks Marco!
@@JacksMovieReviews What do you think of the film's take on romance?
Really good movie, and also the fact that the director gave such attention to detail, after killing the villian inside his car the driver is shown in still mode long seconds, its purpose was to show that internally he has realised that now everything is over and the entire conflict is over and everything is over and also the end of his story with Irene.
Happy Birthday, Ryan Gosling! You're the best.
Thank you.
Drive is one of my top-five movies of all time.
My top 1
Great tastes.
My top 10 favorite movies of all time
1. The Shining
2. Blade Runner
3. Logan
4. Drive
5. Heat
6. Alien
7. The Departed
8. Die Hard
9. Dredd
10. The Raid Redemption
Been a fan of this channel for about a year now and it just keeps getting better!! TH-cam has so many great analysis channels these days. But one film most of these film analysis channels seem to completely ignore is 2000's Unbreakable. That film is criminally underrated and totally deserves to be rediscovered.
This movie is a masterpiece
I loved this movie, I remember recommending it to my brother who hated it because he was expecting more action. I think the trailer was misleading. I've watched this a bunch of times, still a favourite movie of mine!
Hell yeah, love me some Campbell. Also, never realized Oscar Isaac was in this... - Thomas
You and me both! This movie is a goldmine of great actors-the same with Inside Llewyn Davis (a lot of overlap in the casts)
Storytellers Believe this was the second time I saw Oscar Isaac. Before that, I saw him in Sucker Punch and just after Drive, watched him play the Count Dracula stand-in in Ex Machina. Man gets around.
Literally me
One of my favorite movies, great video
This seems to be one of those movies where people will call you a hipster for liking it. But I don't care. I very much enjoyed Drive.
+Self Pity Entertainment - well I doubt that anyone would call someone a hipster for liking a movie that features real heavy criminals of all sorts, a brand new black Ford Mustang (even the light gray Chevy Impala is heavily modified for high performance, not a hipster thing at all) and a ton of violence. Is it the 80s retro music, the Polariod (or analog?) photo on the mirror - or because it has an art house flavor to it? Not a vinyl record in sight. Nah, not a hipster movie in my book. Yep: I enjoyed it too. The cast alone is stellar.
This film is pretty accessible tbh. It's a stylish, well shot neo-noir crime drama with an unconventional soundtrack and a compelling yet straightforward plot. I'd say it's less of a hipster thing and more for film buffs. In terms of 'artsiness', it's probably around the same level as Michael Mann's Heat. Refn's other films are an acquired taste though lol
Self Pity Entertainment Fuck the haters, man. Love what you like!
Johnathon Haney - agreed 100%!
No such thing as a hispter anymore, anyone who claims to be one or acusses one to be one is just asumming what it means, really hate that word, just like the word aesthetic all those terms these kids nowadays use to sound cool
Arguably Ryan Gosling's best performance, although I kinda prefer Lars and the Real Girl as far as his performances go. He also does a surprisingly great job in Blade Runner 2049.
You should watch The Believer and Half Nelson. He's brilliant. I don't think it was surprising at all that he did a great job in Blade Runner 2049. He's one of the best and most versatile actors of his generation.
A place beyond the pines was really good.
Nice Guys was one of my favorite movies that somehow hits every mark for a terrific witty movie. His comedic timing is impeccable in his delivery.
Brian Collins la la land!
The Nice Guys is great.
I literally just finished posting my Letterboxd review after my 2nd watch. Perfect timing, man.
Link ?
Dude, kudos for putting "Nightcall" in the back, I love this movie and it's soundtrack so freaking much! Great analysis as usual, I hope you get more subs soon, because you're definitely one of the better youtubers out there :)
Excellent movie!
Also introduced me to the world of 80s retro synth music.
Space Cat! Same here.
Drive is one of my favorite movies, and this video makes me like it even more. Great video!
Great video, as usual for you - and Drive remains one of my faves. I thought it was often overlooked and underrated despite the almost pitch perfect acting done by all the players. Thanks for this one.
Thanks for watching Jualian!
*insert joke about human bean here*
😂😂
This movie is sooo Phucking 80's" it hurts my soul, wit such intense pleasure!
Favourite film of all time, this is a masterpiece and is timeless....
I love your commentaries. I feel you're not only helping me understand a particular movie better, but you're helping me improve my skills as a writer.
I’ve been obsessed with Campbell’s work since the 90s! Thank you for the analysis of this amazing film and all the subtext! Great insight.
Thank you so much Jack for doing a video for Drive I really love this movie your awesome keep up the great work
For godsake, i love your vídeos, thank u só much. I didnt realize that Irene returned to the drivers house, after the elevator scene
I've seen that overlooked a few times, it really is of the utmost importance to understanding her character.
I watched the movie like 7 times and I don't have at all the same analysis than you. But still, your analysis is good and it has been a pleasure to discover it.
My analysis is that "The Driver" is actually a super-hero. Some examples that can confirm this interpretation :
When Irene asks him if his work is dangerous, he just stares at her and doesn't answer, like "If only you knew" ;
The music title "A Real Hero" ;
He refuses to shake hands with the mob guy at the training circuit in the first place (Good doesn't get along with Evil).
Shanon about The Driver "I've never seen anything like this. You put this kid behind the wheel, there is nothing he can't do" and to Irene : "He's a good guy. He came out of the blue. He is amazing" ;
When he hits Nino's car with his car (two times), his headlights and his car have taken zero damage.
At the end, he recovers from the deep knife injury, made by a professional criminal.
There are also other signs.
Epic Soundtrack to this FANTASTIC 🎬🎯
This is my film for this weekend so grab the popcorn and take your seats.... Jack gives us better understanding not spoilers per sa
I have watched this film 3 times and am irresistible with his acting. This film brings a unique satisfaction about watching of a lonely wolf!
A) Loved this breakdown/analysis. As always, great job Jack.
B) Drive is my favourite movie & I've seen it *at least* 20 times by now... And as a grip who works on TV sets for a living, I'm ashamed to say that this video is the FIRST TIME that I have noticed the grip equipment on the faux film set a 2:14. Great attention to detail, considering that most folks wouldn't really know what they're looking at when it comes to grip equipment-- in this case, a tabled 8x8 frame on Sky High stands with an Opal Frost on it (I think).
LOVE THIS MOVIE.
+Zacharie Wilson - great observation! First thing I noticed on the faux film set were the Panavison film cameras (red sealing tape around the white external 1000ft mags) - although Drive was made with the digital Arri Alexa (and looks excellent! Ace DP and colorist!).
It would have been fun to be on set and watch the dolly movements of both the fake film crew and the Alexa for the crash scene. I'm curious as to wether or not they just got actual crew members for some of those roles, such as the dolly grip.
Well I think so. This is L.A./Hollywood, so actual crew members from various productions are around all the time.
I love this movie so much. I feel like i am meditating while watching it. And the cinematography is amazing, very soft colors and smooth movements.
Great! Now I'm gonna have to watch 'Drive' now. Nice review.
YES!!! Been waiting for you to talk about this movie!
Me too!
YESSSS
THANK YOU
I requested this film because when I watched this film for the first time I saw some certain scenes with changing colors and themes I kinda wanted to know on what's going on with that scene in the perspective of a film analyst.
I'm glad you enjoyed! Like I said in the video, it was my most requested topic to cover, and I'm glad you enjoyed!
One of the best analyses of one of the best films ever made! Well done.
my favorite movie and favorite analysis
Great video. When I first watcvhed this film I was probably too young to understand all those meanings and metafors. I haven't watched it since so this was an eye opener!
Keep goin Jack!
whenever I finish watching a movie i come here and find your review of that movie. Every time it made me love that movie even more. Thanks for the amazing content :D
In the end he achieves his purpose, and becomes a real human bean.
This movie was incredible. One of those substance-over-style action flicks.
Excellent analysis. Thanks!
My favourite film of all time.
Excellent as always.
Good review, Thnx.
This channel never disappoints. Thumbs up!
Yesss finally did my favorite movie, even learned a little more about it. Great job!
One of my fav's. Not only did it introduce me to synthwave, but I totally bought the driving gloves. I had to have them!
Jack, i havnt seen anyone explain movies better then you. Keep up the good work playboy
Thanks Rony!
I have 5 movies on my number 1 spot (Drive, Whiplash, Batman Begins, The Social Network, The last samurai), but if at gunpoint, someone asks me to choose one, the obvious answer is : Drive.
This character is so cool and relatable in many ways.
There is a comfort in knowing i resonate with this character.
I was fascinated with the Driver because he wasn't a person that relied on guns to solve problems
Try some classics like "A Clockwork Orange", "The Wild Bunch", "Pulp Fiction" or "The Good the Bad and the Ugly" There are better films made before the year 2000
I loved Drive...I knew it was different...I could feel it in my bones.
Great job mate !! Always loved this movie.
IF I ALREADY WANTS THIS VIDEO
Drive is my favourite film.
Omg I just watched this and then you upload this. It's fate
Love the ideas you bring to the table. Cool things to think on.
I always told myself my two favorite movies are Drive and Shawshank Redemption, but in the last couple of days i did some thinking and came to the conclusion that Drive takes the number one spot and its honestly not even close
Very good movie
Great video
Awesome.
Agh it makes me mad I missed so much of the deeper stuff. Knew there was something truly special about this film , thank you #subbed
One of my favorite movies of all time
Forever waiting for Refn to make Driven!!
Just found your channel, looking forward to digging into your other videos!
Just started watching the channel, saw the '12 angry men' video on Reddit and really enjoyed it. You're doing great work and I really have fun with your content.
Thank you! I'm glad you've been enjoying!
this and bladerunner, both similar in a way, both have ryan gosling, and both super underrated masterpieces
Great insight as usual, this movie is totally under rated. It must have been the way they made the trailer for this movie because I get the impression most people think this is a Cheesy Fast and Furious rip off. I would have never ever even thought of watching it until the other day I was just switching around channels and it was on like WGN or something. I just caught the scene where the first time he was spending time with her and her kid, and they got back from their day and they looked at each other in the kitchen without saying a word and you
could tell that's when they realize they love each other. I thought that scene was amazing so I immediately downloaded it watched it and haven't stopped recommending it to people sn it asked have you seen Drive, no one has.
Thanks Dean!
If Drive is everyone's favourite movie, then please go and read the novel it was based on. It's beautiful.
Maybe I would hurt your fingers to precise the name of the novel.
The novel and movie share the same name, a quick google search would have solved that also.
It certainly would. But in the first place you are the one talking about a novel whose the most of us never heard of. So it's your job to be precise, don't you think ? Anyway I thank you and will take a look at it !
Loved this review. I was really taken by this film.
Once were warriors, is really worth a look
I love this movie, I love this channel.
Thank Amaury!
My favorite film of all time.
Really great breakdown!
I only have one problem with the movie.. as a professional stuntman myself, I find it ridiculous how they portrayed the life of a stuntman! We don't ever get our jobs from our mechanic calling up and saying "hey buddy, I got a job for you"...we also don't use our own cars often, and certainly don't just drive off the set once the take is over!
Other than that, great movie :)
Please discuss Only God Forgives.
need a memento analysis
I'm sure one will be coming sooner than later!
yaas
You should cover trainspotting and shallow grave! Love your content man
Hey, I use the same book for my thesis lol.
anyway, beautiful video as always, Jack.
i like to think he drove to see irene and benicio at the end when he knew he wasn’t going to die
Awesome video as always !!! Can you do a video about Taxi driver or Chinatown ?
Thanks Lukas-yes and yes but I'm not sure when...
Awesomeness
I feel like this movie is the legacy of Taxi Driver theme saying you are not alone in the desperate, loneliness and unberrable car/environnement.
Since Travis Bickle left us with a doubt about his sanity and contact with reality i think this movie bring light to hope. I love how the caracter his only knowed as the driver. It's a symbole of a men who his in control of himself (even in criminal environnement) and that he represent even more the archetype of Anyone than Travis Bickle.
It took 35 years to get out of that car. I hope Scorsese have seen it.
I love this movie and I love this video.
great video, great channel
HOLY SHIT! Am i going thru a drive-like scenario right now? Without all the violence of course
thank you i needed this for a project.
There's no way to look at this movie and think it is bad.
Awesome job man!
When we see Irene go back to Driver’s apartment my only thought was “BAD LIFE CHOICES, GIRL!” She seems to get mixed up with the wrong kind of guy a lot (well, if two-that we know of-is “a lot”). Instead of seeing it as a romantic gesture of acceptance despite Driver’s violent nature, I interpreted it as her returning to old patterns (she should have just walked away).
Definitely interesting coming at it from a different perspective, though! I wonder if it has anything to do with bias, like I wonder if I as a woman tend to be on the lookout for “dangerous men” and feel protective toward Irene because of this. Couldn’t say for sure but hey, it’s cool to see something from a point of view you hadn’t considered before. Thanks for the video :).
I took this film as a warning. This film is the story of the frog, lured in with false hope that everything can work out. Obviously it can't. Irene is the scorpion. The driver is a man trying to insert himself into someone else's family. A warning to leave the damned alone and make something for yourself. This story is a tragedy, the path a lost man shouldn't take.
You have some serious understanding issues.
Request: can you take a look at the Newt Scamander from "The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them"? It's a very odd main character, who doesn't seem to fit the classic hero's journey type. Of course I'm not good at analyzing films, so I may be completely wrong. The character seems to stay the same while changing others around him instead of himself? It'd be interesting to see someone really explain it.
Still my favorite movie of all time. I had to get the scorion jacket, very expensive but worth it!
Peter1x2 - awesome, congrats! Now all you need is a heavily modified gray Chevy Impala with some serious horsepower under the hood and matching suspension ;-)