Drive as Film Noir

Rating: 9/10 (25 September 2012)

Film Noir is a cycle of movies exploring the darker aspects of modernity and usually set in a criminal underworld or exploring the consequences of a criminal act; these films are usually low budget thus focusing on the character development. This helps the director to portray a character from a different light. Film noir can be beautifully portrayed to the audience using techniques that Hollywood blockbusters would not even consider using. Expressionistic lighting and unique camera angles define this film into the category of film noir. Drive is a perfect example of film noir in the modern age as it depicts a story in modern Los Angeles, where the main character is a Hollywood stunt driver and a getaway driver who meets a mother and son that captivate the story, the iconic anti-hero in Drive is known only as "The Driver". Drive is all about character development, we are not really sure what kind of character the anti-hero is until the story unfolds. The Antihero is someone with some of the qualities of a villain, up to and including brutality, malice, and ruthlessness, but with the soul or motivations of a more conventional Hero. The character is depicted with a toothpick constantly in the corner of his mouth while he speaks little and remains a mystery to the end, though we never doubt his fundamentally good nature, he has a surprisingly light, even boyish voice that can seem to be escaping his throat, rather than being sent forth from it. The cinematography to Drive is a masterpiece as it completes the cliché film noir genre, from the soundtrack which portrays a seemingly old LA feel to it but in a modern LA setting. From the very opening scene this is clear as it there is no music just the intense feel of the moment we see the main character on a getaway mission till the moment he gets away the soundtrack begins and we get a sense of unique storytelling about to unfold. The camera angles used here are beautifully done as we get a sense that we are in the car with the driver. The street lights hitting Gosling's face as he drives are all mixed to give a dark feeling. The cinematography and the soundtrack are so important to Drive, they are almost characters. They are intertwined and tonally aligned and it makes for a really absorbing experience.
All in all this is a must see film and well deserves an 8 out of 10.