Drive

Starring

Plot

Ryan Gosling – “Anti-Hero”

Carey Mulligan – “Femme Fatale”

Bryan Cranston – “Friend/Mentor of Hero”

Ron Perlman – “Mobster/Gangster”

Unable to resist, Gosling shows interest in the Femme Fatale - Irene, and gets close to her family. He works in a garage to cover up his ‘corrupt’ job as being the “Driver” for burglaries. Irene’s husband is in jail and gets in trouble with some gangsters. Because Gosling cares for Irene and her Son, he then gets involved with the gangsters. There’s death and violence and money debts that need to be paid off.

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWX34ShfcsE

I also analysed the trailer: here’s an excerpt:

http://youtu.be/2SMpcqNh-W8

Drive Opening

Opening

Soundtrack

Black – Death/Evil/Worrying

Slow pan to left – opening scene

Very 80’s – Electronic, Synth

Sets the scene for the film – slightly edgy, harsh chords

College – A Real Hero – Minor Key (used more than once) – Foreboding/negative connotations

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDCt1V8T3To

youtube.com/watch?v=iIpXQS5gaAw

City lights – set scene

Nighttime

Blonde - innocence

Eyes lit by light – body in darkness – contrast (two sides to character)

Low angle shot – sinister character

Low key lighting – convention of Noir films

Neo-Noir Analysis

Over the head shot – being watched

Face cast in shadow – hidden agenda

Blue tiles – connotations of sadness – blue personality - loner

Text - like steps – stairway to heaven

Toothpick – “tough guy” exterior

Changing streetlights on car – symbolise ups and downs in film

Cold lighting – in spite of the films later events

Car driving down street – framed in the middle of the screen – audience make link between Car and Gosling

Most powerful shot – light turns off as music changes – implies that Gosling can change at the flick of a switch

Point of view shot – helps audience engage with character

White lights – 3 odd number – love triangle

Night lights from apartments - isolation

Reflection in mirror - weakness

Cursive italic font – handwritten

White/holy lighter light – has a good heart – home is where the heart is

Credits appear on screen during him driving – implies he is linked to all the characters mentioned on screen

Warm glow – small sign of optimism

Holy light

Repetitive driving shot to reinforce Gosling’s job

Similar colour to jacket he wears – best/1st Place

Director framed in middle of screen – shows importance

Golden Glow from streetlamps – revealing good side to character

Goes home, but then gets back in car – thought provoking as to what “home means to him, that he’d rather be in the car

Warm colour -Contrasts with cold light - mixed impressions of future events

Framed importantly within the screen of the car

Cars interior surrounds his name – active involvement

Blonde – innocent - misleading

Cold light – not “home”

Camera shifts as Gosling enters lift – following his gaze

Femme Fatale introduced – red – danger/warning – negative connotations

Position of eyes – blinds open – Gosling being watched

Pink – love – strange colour out of place - disorientating

Femme Fatale emerges from lift - lifts go down, symbolism of hell

Over shoulder shot – gives audience personal involvement

Nighttime setting – bad things happen under the cover of darkness

Bright light on Gosling – he’s in the spotlight – the key to the bad events that happen

Shadow – two sides to the character

Contrast in colours of warm glow from behind and cold wall – symbolises conflict – both personal within the character and between characters in the film (moral and physical)

Low shot – gives authority and power