It’s been two weeks since I saw Drive, and the movie is still rolling around in my head. That’s a good thing for a piece of art, when I have to step back from the pedestrian observations on whether I “liked” it or not, and am forced (or at least, willingly invited) to think through the cinematic style and character development.
A word of warning: Drive has several unflinchingly violent scenes of the type that I usually consider unnecessarily graphic, except that this time they are actually necessary for the story and the character development.
The film opens with perhaps the best car chase in film history. Instead of revving the engines and performing impossible stunts that fly off the end of a cliff, Ryan Gosling’s get away involves using the break pedal, and hiding in the plain view of a crowd. It’s smart. And in reality, it’s probably a better way to avoid the cops. Director Nicolas Winding Refn then invites us to accompany Carey Mulligan as she falls in love with Gosling, using prolonged shots, silence and smiles instead of the typical slick talk of exaggerated romance.
For me, it is this first half of the film which makes the violence of the second act necessary as a critique of genre, character and societal infatuation. As we fall in love with Gosling’s character, we reenact our society’s love for crime-ridden dramas and gas-guzzling vehicles. But unlike other films which pretend that these are harmless, Drive shows us the violent underside of this infatuation. Do we really believe that all of the criminals and get-away artists we revere in the movies are wholesome and peaceful? Can we not see the connection between our love of cars and our wars for oil? If we insist on falling for men who are mysterious and secretive, can we really be surprised when they are actually hiding something?
I’ve read some other reviews that talk about the film being “style over substance.” They are wrong. And the much-hyped elevator scene proves it. Other critics may pretend that there is a dichotomy in this scene between tenderness and violence, but I believe that Refn is sending us a singular message: We are a culture which is swept off its feet by violence, not in spite of it. It underlies all that came before.
Oscar Chances:
Lead Actor: Ryan Gosling (currently ranked 10) Supporting Actor: Albert Brooks (currently ranked 17, but likely to be in the top 5 in my next predictions. I wasn’t terribly impressed by him, but I think that Hollywood will reward him for playing against type.) Cinematography: Newton Thomas Sigel (currently ranked 13) Adapted Screenplay: Hossein Amini (currently ranked 14) Best Picture (currently ranked 24) Film Editing: Matthew Newman (currently ranked 32, likely to rise in my next predictions) Supporting Actress: Carey Mulligan (currently ranked 32) Best Director: Nicolas Winding Refn (currently ranked 39, but likely to rise in my next predictions) Visual Effects (currently ranked 19, likely to fall in my next predictions) Sound Editing (currently ranked 29) Sound Mixing (currently ranked 29) Score: Cliff Martinez (currently unranked, but may appear in next predictions) Art Direction: Beth Mickle and Lisa K. Sessions (currently unranked) Costume Design: Eric Benach (currently unranked) Makeup: Gerald Quist and Medusah (currently unranked)
My Lamb Score: 4 out of 5 Lambs What is a lamb score? Click HERE to learn more. Read more of my reviews HERE.
This weekend, we have two top Oscar contenders showing. Should I see Take Shelter in limited release, to improve its box office and increase its chances of showing in a theater near you? Or should I go with The Ides Of March, which has chances in multiple categories? Or should I throw caution to the wind and see something completely different? Vote for your choice in the comments!
1911; Abduction; The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975; Circumstance; Dirty Girl;
Dolphin Tale; Dream House; The Guard; The Ides Of March;Killer Elite;
Love Crime; Machine Gun Preacher; Margaret; Mozart’s Sister; The Mill And The Cross;
My Afternoons With Margueritte; Passione; Point Blank; Puncture; Real Steel;
Senna; Take Shelter; Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil; Weekend; What’s Your Number?
If your favorite movie isn’t here, feel free to recommend it anyway. It’s possible that it is not showing in my area, or that I have already seen it, but it’s also possible that you’ll become my new best friend for having recommended something new.
As usual in the supporting races, category confusion can play as big a role as the performances. Will VIola Davis go Lead? What about Sandra Bullock, Berenice Bejo and Keira Knightley? I have tried to take these factors into consideration in my predictions. For now, I have moved Viola Davis out of the top five, because I think she will campaign as lead. But if she does go supporting, then she would instantly move to the top of my list as the predicted winner.
Here are today’s rankings for the 84th Oscar Supporting Actress race (2011-2012 awards season), with previous ranking shown in parenthesis after each entry.
1. Octavia Spencer in The Help (Predicted Winner) (previous rank 2) 2. Vanessa Redgrave in Coriolanus (previous rank 4) 3. Shailene Woodley in The Descendants (New) 4. Sandra Bullock in Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close (previously listed in 85th Oscar lead actress race, rank 11) 5. Janet McTeer in Albert Nobbs (New)
Alternates: 6. Viola Davis in The Help (I’m thinking she campaigns lead, but would easily win this category if nominated as supporting.) (previous rank 1) 7. Berenice Bejo in The Artist (previously listead as lead, rank 49) 8. Keira Knightley in A Dangerous Method (previous rank 3) 9. Judi Dench in J. Edgar (previous rank 30) 10. Carey Mulligan in Shame (previously listed as lead, rank24) 11. Evan Rachel Wood in The Ides Of March (previous rank 22) 12. Emily Watson in War Horse (New) 13. Kate Winslet in Carnage (previously listed as lead, rank 8) 14. Naomi Watts in J. Edgar (previous rank 8) 15. Jessica Chastain in Take Shelter (New) 16. Jessica Chastain in The Help (New) 17. Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids (New) 18. Nia Long in Mooz-lum (previous rank 7) 19. Marion Cotillard in Midnight In Paris (previous rank 10) 20. Judi Dench in My Week With Marilyn (previous rank 13) 21. Zoe Caldwell in Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close (previously listed in 85th Oscar race, rank 3) 22. Amy Adams in On The Road (previous rank 5) 23. Jessica Chastain in The Tree Of Life (previous rank 6) 24. Anna Kendrick in 50/50 (previously listed as lead, rank 43) 25. Scarlett Johansson in We Bought A Zoo (previous rank 38) 26. Viola Davis in Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close (previously listed in 85th Oscar race, rank 9) 27. Andrea Riseborough in W.E. (New) 28. Vivian Wu in Snow Flower And The Secret Fan (New) 29. Kate Winslet in Contagion previous rank 25) 30. Vanesa Redgrave in Anonymous (previous rank 48) 31. Angelica Huston in 50/50 (New) 32. Carey Mulligan in Drive (New) 33. Mia Wasikowska in Albert Nobbs (New) 34. Harmony Santana in Gun Hill Road (New) 35. Michole White in I Will Follow (previous rank 9) 36. Freida Pinto in Black Gold (previous rank 18) 37. Elizabeth Reaser in Young Adult (New) 38. Marisa Paredes in La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I Live In) (previous rank 21) 39. Elle Fanning in Super 8 (New) 40. Sarah Paulson in Martha Marcy May Marlene (New) 41. Charlotte Gainsbourg in Melancholia (previous rank 33) 42. Patricia Clarkson in One Day (previous rank 34) 43. Chloe Moretz in Hugo (previous rank 20) 44. Melanie Laurent in Beginners (New) 45. Marisa Tomei in The Ides Of March (previous rank 12) 46. Amy Ryan in Win Win (previous rank 15) 47. Bryce Dallas Howard in The Help (New) 48. Julia Ormond in My Week With Marilyn (previous rank 23) 49. Sigourney Weaver in Rampart (previous rank 31) 50. Gabourey Sidibe in Yelling To The Sky (previous rank 45) As always, check the Tracker Pages in the upper right hand corner of this blog for the most updated predictions in all categories! See Supporting Actress predictions for other yearsHERE. Or check out theLead Actor,Lead Actress andSupporting Actor predictions. See predictions for other categories at the 84th OscarsHERE. Switch to another year:84th, 85th, 86th, 87th, 88th, 89th
I realize that many people are just beginning to do their predictions for the 84th Oscar race, but today is October 1, the day when the 85th Oscar race (2012-2013 awards season) officially begins for three categories: The Animated Shorts, The Live Action Shorts, and the Foreign Language race!
I hope to do an update for each of these categories in the next month or so, but in honor of the beginning of the season, I thought I would open this up for an Open Thread.
My blogger stats say that I’ve had visitors to this blog from 99 countries--which is just short of 100. And I’m betting that each of you has better film contacts in your nation or region than I do. So I’d like to ask: Have you heard of any upcoming films from your country that should be on my radar for next year? Have a favorite home-grown director that has been working on a new project? Let me know in the comments, and they may become an early front-runner in my next predictions!
Similarly, I know that there are many short filmmakers who read this blog, and that very often it is hard to get publicity out about your films. Let me know what you’re working on, and you might just find a new fan! Have an idea of what is being submitted to film festivals over the next year? Let me know that as well.
Got a prediction for another category? Let me know that too.
Here’s to another 85 years!
See predictions for other categories at the 85th OscarsHERE. Switch to another year:84th, 85th, 86th, 87th, 88th, 89th
