"Are we married yet?"- MY FAVOURITE FILMS OF 2011

         I made my incomplete Top 10 Films of 2011 about two months back because I had not seen many of the "worthy" films of the year. I still haven't seen a few, but all in all, 2011 was quite a fun year. I still think that just because of the combined brilliance of The Social Network, Black Swan and Inception, 2010 was a stronger year, but 2011 has had its high points aplenty.

Honourable mentions: The marvelous and disturbing The Skin I Live In, a lovely romcom (surprisingly) Crazy, Stupid, Love, and the very colourful Kung Fu Panda 2.

20.

My Week with Marilyn (Dir: Simon Curtis) and Jane Eyre (Dir: Cary Fukunaga)

I could not pick between these two films. Even though Marilyn was flawed, I cannot quite stop thinking about it. Michelle Williams gives another dynamic performance, and I think if the film had been better edited, it would have been quite perfect. Jane Eyre was actually pretty perfect, a beautiful adaptation of a rather dark and at times dull novel, but the film had no such problems.

19.

Carnage (Dir: Roman Polanski)
I thought it was funny and outrageous and very well-acted. But what made me really appreciate is that Polanski dared to, in this day-and-age of big blockbusters ridden with CGI, make a film about four people in a room. And just that.

18.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Dir: Tomas Alfredson)
A thinking man's, or woman's, spy movie. This is one of those films that is much more rewarding after the second viewing. That's when you can truly appreciate the little subtleties that makes this film truly masterful. Added to that a plethora of excellent British actors, all acting against type, led by the amazing Gary Oldman.

17.

Super 8 (Dir: J.J. Abrams)

The Spielberg-y kid movie of our generation. I loved the child actors, I loved the look and the feel, and I absolutely loved how brilliant a tribute this film is. I like tributes, and this is one of the best.

16.

Martha Marcy May Marlene (Dir: Sean Durkin)

Beautiful, scary, and the debut of Elizabeth Olsen, who may just be the next Michelle Williams. 

15.

Captain America: The First Avenger (Dir: Joe Johnston)

I think this is going on to become one of my most favourite superhero movies ever. Chris Evans was born to play a superhero, and he puts so much charm and earnestness into his character. Also this film cleverly dodges many of the clichés that one would expect, and gives us a fun and satisfying blockbuster. Also I love the supporting cast.

14.

Beginners (Dir: Mike Mills)

A quirky sad movie with a fantastic cast- the perennially brilliant Ewan McGregor, the adorable Christopher Plummer and the beautiful Mélanie Laurent + Cosmo the dog. It's a film about love and loss and everything in between, but nothing like I have ever seen before. Leaves you with a smile on your face, and slight pangs to the heart.

13.

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (Dir: Steven Spielberg)

Just because it was my best experience at the cinemas all year. It was a helluva ride which makes me keep faith in 3D and the fact that Spielberg truly truly is a master film maker (when he's not churning out sap-fests about horses).

12.

Young Adult (Dir: Jason Reitman)

Reitman continues to provide us with characters that seem to be one-dimensional and so "been there, done that" but are much more. Mavis is a legend, and Theron gives a ballsy performance as a true bitch, but not a very happy one. 

11.

We Need to Talk About Kevin (Dir: Lynne Ramsay)

This film has some serious residual power. One cannot not think about it. It just stays and stays in your head. Like how everything stayed in Tilda Swinton's characters head. Makes you question things and shudder at them. Unnerving.

10.

The Muppets (Dir: James Bobin)

Who would've thought?! Certainly not me. Hell I have never seen anything Muppets-y in my life. I had ruled this off as something I won't get or enjoy, but man, o man! This film, is AWESOME! The feel-good movie of the year. I'm a manly muppet, people!

9.

The Artist (Dir: Michel Hazanavicius)

A most delightful film. Though not the best representative of its genre, it certainly brought it back with a bang and won hearts (and potential Oscars) all over. Also the leads, Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo, are just infectious with their charm.

8.

The Tree of Life (Dir: Terrence Malick)

Hauntingly beautiful. Though it is prettier during the universe part, I feel the better part of the film lies with the story of the boys growing up. It is as complex and magical and mysterious as life itself. 

7.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Dir: David Fincher)

Did I ever doubt this was going to be anything less than epic? No. No one can do a modern thriller like Fincher, and this isn't an exception. The look, the feel, the music, everything is spot on. Rooney Mara is a bloody brilliant Lisbeth and her chemistry with Daniel Craig is just wonderful. Love!


6.

Submarine (Dir: Richard Ayoade)
This was originally much lower in my list, but a rewatch since then made me realise how much I actually adore this film. So quirky and different and cute and funny. Young love and growing up have never been shown so splendidly ever, I think. Also that soundtrack.




(My top 5 is the same)


5.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (Dir: David Yates)
The final good bye to the boy wizard, and with that, to our childhood. It was a great ride, one we will never forget and always cherish.


4.

A Separation (Dir: Asghar Farhadi)
The film that you can never shake off, because it is so painfully real. We see circumstances like this in daily life, where people suffer because they just cannot accept that they have made a mistake and are wrong- not wrong because they are evil, but because they are human. Also flawlessly directed and acted.


3.

Hugo (Dir: Martin Scorsese)
The most beautiful tribute to cinema, from a great film maker. Yes it has its flaws, but I can overlook all that because of the way it makes me feel. Like I belong in this world, because I love my films more than anything else.


2.

Drive (Dir: Nicolas Winding Refn)

Cooler than fuck, y'all. We'll be talking about this forever. Also that kiss.

1.

Midnight in Paris (Dir: Woody Allen)

What better film to represent this year of nostalgia in films, than this loveletter to all that was in the past and was so very wonderful? Woody makes one of his career's best and most widely-loved, because it just makes one feel so incredibly happy. Also is Paris magical, or is Paris magical?

"What kind of a name is 'Stove' anyway? What are you, like a kitchen appliance or something?" - MY FAVOURITE SCENES OF 2011

       My end-of-year lists continue with my favourite scenes of the year. I hope you like them :-)

Honourable Mentions: The "That's Not My Name" scene in Horrible Bosses, the dance in The Artist, Elle Fanning's rehearsal before the train crash in Super 8, Charles and Erik recruiting mutants in X-Men: First Class, the transformation in Captain America.

10) The opening sequence of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo- Okay I know that "technically" this isn't really a scene in the film, but screw you, this is AWESOME! It's disturbing and dark and cool, and has that incredible Immigrant Song cover by Karen O which makes me want to rewatch this film everytime I hear it.

9) The Burj Khalifa sequence in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol- I guess the Burj is an action film maker’s wet dream, but ex-Pixar director Brad Bird become the first to cash in on its amazing height and look. With the 3D cameras, it is a scene you have to watch with bated breaths because it really is that spectacular. And Tom Cruise does make it all so very believable.

8) The airplane scene in Bridesmaids- So I am not the biggest fan of this film, but even I cannot deny the brilliance of this scene. Kristen Wiig at her funniest, drunk and battling for the rights of all us poor people who have to fly coach, with a guy named Stove/Steve.

7) The creation of the universe in The Tree of Life- I actually prefer the family part of the film, and think that this scene is a little out of place in the grand scheme of the film. However in the grand scheme of everything that ever was, this scene is just so breathtaking and beautiful. There is a Doctor Who quote that comes to mind whenever I see this whole sequence, which is “Everywhere we look, the complex magic of nature blazes before our eyes.” Perfect.

6) The chase in Bagghar in The Adventures of Tintin- Oh so much fun! This whole film was a delightful ride, but this scene was probably the best part. I think Steven Spielberg must have been dying to make a scene like this for ages. Because though it has all the regular elements of the action sequences from films like Indiana Jones, it also has the immense power of animation that makes the whole scene possible.

5) Harry’s walk to death in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2- The Snape’s memories scene just before this is really lovely too, but it is when the realization hits Harry on what he is supposed to do and his final good bye to his friends and family is the really poignant and beautiful part.

4) The photoshopped scene in Crazy, Stupid, Love- As I have said before, I really love romcoms, and I genuinely respect the modern ones that make an effort to keep the genre fresh. This scene is a prime example on how to do things a bit differently. Hanna and Jacob little foreplay-y tryst is beyond cute and sexy at the same time. Also Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are a most enigmatic and endearing pair.

3) The Super 8 memories in Submarine- Oliver Tate’s and Jordana Bevan’s fortnight of atavistic lovemaking saved in his memory as a Super 8 movie. Just the whole concept gives me so much joy. This one little scene captures the essence of young love arguably better than entire films that make it all so sappy. With Alex Turner’s Hiding Tonight as the soundtrack to this little memory film, and the super adorable Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige, this scene is unforgettable.

2) The birth of cinema in Hugo- Hugo is a gift to all us cinephiles. Can you imagine being there when it all started? The magic of cinema and that wonder it fills people with, but for the very first time. Through Hugo and Isabelle, we get a glimpse of this enchanted, dream land that we love so much, but it is so inherent in us that we can never imagine a world before it. And Hugo shows us this world and how cinema changed everything. This is the scene I  probably cried most in all year, and it is because while it fills me with a bit of longing for such a time and place, ultimately I am just bubbling with happiness to know that I am blessed to be able to enjoy this magnificent art form in all its glory.

1) The elevator scene in Drive- You know what I just said about cinema being a magnificent art form? Well, this scene is experiencing it in all its glory. Years will go by, but this scene will continue to amaze us. It is why we will thank the invention of cinema, without which such a thing would have never been possible. Starting with the mind-blowing kiss (yes I am foreshadowing), in which the light dims in the way probably only dirty romance novels can describe, to that completely unexpected violent turn within seconds, and a regretful good bye to finish, this scene really is quite something else.

"What are these people watching? People like me."- BEST VILLAINS OF 2011

             I think it is common knowledge that I love my villains like none other. 2011 brought with it some particularly nasty and memorable ones. These were the best (or the worst).


Honourable mentions: Rattlesnake Jake from Rango, Lea Seydoux in MI4, Yorick van Wagingen as a particularly icky Nils Bjurman in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, David Lindhagen in Crazy, Stupid, Love.

10.

Melancholia in Melancholia

Both the planet and Justine's problem. However beautiful this film was, it was filled with melancholy and it did leave you feeling depressed as hell. 

9.

Sakharine in The Adventures of Tintin

He is the perfect image of a creepy thin man who is up to no good. Even though Tintin was not quite the hero, Sakharine was a pretty spot-on villain. Daniel Craig did a good job of voicing him.

8.

The virus in Contagion

Yes the virus in itself is scary as hell, because it kills people really really fast. But what is scarier is what it brings out in people- fear, violence, anarchy, apathy.

7.

Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

He is the Dark Lord after all. He is most effective in this film. He goes madder than ever, and makes people really afraid of him. Oh and the way his hissing voice makes people scream...

6.

The bosses in Horrible Bosses

You can't choose one. They were all pretty awful. Never want a boss like any of them.

5.

Bernie Rose in Drive

The perfect mobster. Cruel and heartless, but tries to be the nice guy after all. Albert Brooks was so very good as Bernie.

4.

The 'big gorilla-wolf-motherfuckers' aliens in Attack the Block

No explanation required.

3.

Loki in Thor
I do love supervillains so. Loki is probably one of the best ever, and is the sole reason why Thor is quite good. He adds a dimension to the film that otherwise would have been about a big cocky guy with a hammer, with Natalie Portman of course.


2.

Kevin in We Need to Talk About Kevin

All the Kevins are included in this. He was so sinister. As much as his parents were wrong, Kevin was no angel. He was a disturbed child from the get-go, and when he finally does what he does, we should not be scared as we had been expecting it from the start, but it steals manages to shock and startle us.

1.

Robert Ledgard in The Skin I Live In

The top 2 were neck-in-neck for me as both are ideal representations of what is good in the world- a child and a doctor, but are not in these cases. They are very much the opposite. But I could not shake the feeling of just how wrong Antonio Banderas's character was in this. Doctors and surgeons are entrusted with lives, and his character, a true mad man, tries to play god with them. I won't say what he does, because that has to be experienced, but it is so very disturbing and reprehensible. Frankenstein could not have been this crazy and horrible.

HELLO OSCAR NOMS!

       Oscar nominations will be announced in less than 2 days. Yaay! I still haven't seen 3 films that I think can score big here- Shame, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and My Week with Marilyn. Still, the following are my wish-lists/predictions for the Big 5 and the Supporting categories.


Best Film- Trickiest category because no one knows how many there will be.


Mine:  1) The Artist
2) Midnight in Paris
3) Hugo
4) Drive
5) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
6) The Tree of Life
7) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
8) A Separation


Theirs: Them heartless voters will kick poor Harry out, and have The Descendants in its place. Then probably Moneyball in place of Drive, The Help in place of The Tree of Life and maybe Bridesmaids in place of Dragon Tattoo. A Separation won't be nominated here.


Winner: It has become a The Artist vs The Descendants race, but the best part of this award season is still how relatively flexible it is. Between those two, The Artist has my vote. Otherwise I think A Separation is the most flawless film I've seen all year, and Drive is insanely cool.




Best Director- Oh happy happy year. Something old and something new, and everything is just amazing.


Mine: 1)Martin Scorsese, Hugo
2) Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive
3) Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
4) Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
5) Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life


Theirs: Either Refn or Malick will be replaced by Alexander Payne for The Descendants. David Fincher is being showered with love for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, so who knows what that will bring. Steven Spielberg is being considered for War Horse, though personally I would prefer if he were nominated for Tintin.


Winner: Scorsese or Refn, in my eyes. But my gut says Hazanavicius.




Best Actress- This was difficult, and also I haven't seen 3 of the performances that will probably make the cut.


Mine: 1) Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin
2) Kirsten Dunst, Melancholia
3) Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene
4) Viola Davis, The Help
5) Charlize Theron, Young Adult


Theirs: Olsen isn't getting any love, most unfortunately. We can all count Meryl Streep in, for her role in The Iron Lady. Theron will also be substituted by Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn. Glenn Close will replace poor Kiki for that awful Albert Nobbs and Tilda, the Goddess, may find herself kicked out in favour of Rooney Mara, for Dragon Tattoo.


Winner- Among the ones I have seen, I think Tilda Swinton was just incredible. But it may become a Meryl vs Viola thing this year, and I can't help but be pro-Meryl, because she IS Meryl "Fuckin" Streep!




Best Actor- Ooh. What a year. Beauties, all of them.


Mine: 1) Ryan Gosling, Drive
2) Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
3) Jean Dujardin, The Artist
4) Ewan McGregor, Beginners
5) George Clooney, The Descendants


Special wish: Daniel Radcliffe- because they had a FYC for him and this was his best performance as Harry Potter ever, and because he IS Harry Potter.


Theirs: They will never nominate McGregor because they are all bastards and do not appreciate that man. Gosling won't get nominated either and if that does happen, it will be for his performance in The Ides of March, who we all know was someone the Driver could kill in a lift at any point of time. Brad Pitt will be nominated for Moneyball. Michael Fassbender might be nominated for Shame though it still might be too racy a role for them. Michael Shannon for Take Shelter (haven't seen that one either). Also maybe Leo for J.Edgar because they love him so.


Winner- Oldman is just so very very good. It's about time Academy recognises this. But it maybe a Ocean's/two-time Sexiest Men Alive face-off with Brad and George fighting for the top prize. Or everyone could have been completely charmed by Dujardin and give him the award.




Best Supporting Actress- This was the category I was least passionate about for some reason.


Mine: 1) Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
2) Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
3) Octavia Spencer, The Help
4) Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
5) Jessica Chastain, The Help/The Tree of Life


Theirs: I have a feeling this might be it. Chastain was apparently the best in Take Shelter so I don't know, but this WAS her year. Carey Mulligan may be nominated for Shame or Janet McTeer for Albert Nobbs.


Winner: I was really impressed with Woodley and McCarthy (yaay Gilmore Girls!). But Spencer is in the lead, and she was good enough.




Best Supporting Actor- I am proud of this one.


Mine: 1) Alan Rickman, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 2 as Professor Severus Snape (I HAD to do that)
2) Albert Brooks, Drive
3) Christopher Plummer, Beginners
4) Hunter McCracken/Brad Pitt, The Tree of Life
5) Ezra Miller, We Need to Talk About Kevin


Theirs- Those bitches will never reward Rickman either. But I shall love him, always. Pitt will get nominated in the Actor category, but he was just better in this role. Jonah Hill was very good in Moneyball. Kenneth Branagh will be nominated for My Week with Marilyn. There is also chances for Viggo Mortensen for A Dangerous Method and all the people from The Ides of March. Whatever- my list rules all.


Winner- Plummer is the front-runner, though I still think Brooks was better. They're it really.




Best Original Screenplay- This is a good year for this category.


Mine: 1) Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
2) Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
3) Asghar Farhadi, A Separation
4) Mike Mills, Beginners
5) Diablo Cody, Young Adult


Theirs: I don't think Farhadi will get nominated. There are films like Bridesmaids, 50-50, Take Shelter, Shame and maybe even The Iron Lady (it's the power of the Streep) who can take the place.


Winner- Woody. I shall hear no more of this.




Best Adapted Screenplay- Honest question: how does someone decide this without having read the source material?


Mine: 1) Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
2) John Logan, Hugo
3) Moira Buffini, Jane Eyre
4) Yasmina Reza and Roman Polanski, Carnage
5) Steven Zaillian, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo


Theirs: The Help and The Descendants is a lock. Maybe even Moneyball. From my list, I think only Hugo and maybe Dragon Tattoo will make it through.


Winner: TTSS really impressed me, but they love The Descendants.




My winners are sort of preliminary, but I don't think my final decisions will be all that different.
And now we wait...

My Top 10 Films of 2011, Somewhat

      The end of 2011 is nigh, and all I can do is make a list. That too an incomplete one as nothing releases where I am. Anyways, let me present to you the list-

Note: There is no honourable mentions in this one as some of them may make it to the final top 20, which will be posted along with my favourite performances and scenes of the year.

Special Mention

Delhi Belly (Dir: Abhinay Deo)

The best Bollywood film I saw this year. I even considered to put it in the final list, but I felt it was not as good as the rest. Still it was bloody ballsy and very entertaining, and I hope it brings about a revolution in Indian cinema for the better.

10.

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (Dir: Steven Spielberg)

I really enjoyed this film, and I didn't even like the Tintin comics. Spielberg brings all the Indiana Jones-esque energy and splendour into the film. Also, Snowy!

9.

Submarine (Dir: Richard Ayoade)

It's so cute and quirky and adorable- I wish I had made it. One of the simplest and funniest coming-of-age films I have seen, and ugh that Alex Turner soundtrack is just beautiful.

8.

We Need to Talk About Kevin (Dir: Lynne Ramsay)

Bloody creepy film that just gets under your skin. What was really brilliant was how unnerving all the Kevins were. And Tilda Swinton gives a fantastic performance too.

7.

Martha Marcy May Marlene (Dir: Sean Durkin)

A most unsettling, yet beautiful looking film. It is the debut of both Durkin and Elizabeth Olsen, who just blew me away with her extremely natural and superb acting.

6.

The Tree of Life (Dir: Terrence Malick)

Easily one of the most visually stunning films I, or anyone else has ever seen. I am among the people who was mostly blown away by the core story of the American family growing up in the 50s, and not so much by the cosmic stuff. Still, the beauty in this is just staggering.

5.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (Dir: David Yates)

Oh my childhood :'( I still have issues with it, but I cannot deny that it is a brilliant end to the beloved series. With the music and Professor McBadass and Neville and the emotional impact and Daniel Radcliffe's best performance in the series, it had to be in my list.

4.

A Separation (Dir: Asghar Farhadi)

I saw this only a couple of days back. Didn't want to like it, but ended up loving it- true story. What an impactful drama, and so well made and acted.

3.

Hugo (Dir: Martin Scorsese)

This film just killed me- there's no other way to put it. Yes there is the childlike wonder and the mystery of the automaton, but what it really is is a love-letter to cinema by one of the greatest living film makers. How can a young film-lover like me not be touched?

2.

Drive (Dir: Nicolas Winding Refn)

Yes, it really is that good. Refn has made one helluva stylish film and also made Ryan Gosling a bona fide star. One cannot watch this enough times. Just put it on repeat and be mindblown.

1.

Midnight in Paris (Dir: Woody Allen)

My favourite film maker returned with a bang and a nostalgic tale that will enchant everyone. I always believed that Paris is magical, but Woody's take on that makes it so much more. Funny, heartwarming, gobsmacking, unforgettable, brilliant- Midnight in Paris people!

And there you have it :D

I'm sorry Globes...

but the Driver is not impressed-

 It would have been the perfect ending to the Year of the Gos, but alas both of Ryan Gosling's other performances from this year have gotten nominations and this beautiful silent visceral one, which is not only his best this year but probably of his entire career thus far, got snubbed.

Well atleast he'll look super faiiinnnneee in one of his sexy suits on Jan 15th, 2012. You lose some, you get some I suppose.

"I don't carry a gun... I drive."

             As the hot pink lettering on the black screen fade away, and an electronic beat starts playing, we hear the voice of a man, a nameless man, who is talking about the streets of a city. The first image that comes on the screen is of a marked map, and then we see this man, his scorpion jacket and everything, talking on his phone, telling the person on the other end of the line about his conditions and rules. Soon we find out that this nameless driver is the getaway driver for two robbers and what then ensues is one of the most riveting opening sequences that I have ever seen, definitely the best one since last year's The Social Network. But while TSN's opening sequence showcases the clever dialogue that will become the essence of the film, Drive's opening sequence shows the mystery and the efficiency of the Driver, the fast-paced action and an excellent car chase, the almost addictive pop score, and of course, the total unexpectedness of 'what will happen next' that will continue throughout the film. And this really is just the beginning.


            It is because of this unexpected nature of the film that I will just mention the obvious plotline that one is able to devise from its trailer. There is a man, who I'm sure everyone knows by now, doesn't have a name and is simply called the Driver in the film's IMDb page. He drives stunt cars in Hollywood films by day, and is a getaway driver at night. He meets a woman named Irene and her kid, and his very exciting yet lonely life changes, for what seems, the better. That is until her husband returns from prison and is in some kind of trouble. The Driver decides to help him, but then all hell breaks loose. It is then that the Driver has to takes things into his own hands to protect the only people he has seemingly ever cared about in his life.

          God I make that sound so clichéd, and you know even if the basic idea seems all too familiar, the film really is not. Atleast not to me. I have read innumerable reviews in which comparisons have been drawn to 70s action flicks, and that it is an "arthouse Transporter" and that's probably right because people have seen much more cinema than I have, obviously. I am not at all familiar with 70s action films and I have not seen any of the Transporter films because of reasons unknown to all of us. Personally speaking, I found elements of Taxi Driver, American Psycho and A Clockwork Orange in the film, but the latter two were just singular scenes. I sort of liked my ignorance in this case, having had two amazing cinematic experiences, and this film has just left me wanting so much more.


              For one thing, I am going to watch all of Nicolas Winding Refn's films soon. He has made one stylish film here, for which he won a well deserved Best Director award at this year's Cannes. I am a  huge fan of specific shots that make me go "And this is why I love films", and they were there in Drive aplenty. The lighting especially defined some of the best shots in the film. For starters there was L.A. as the back drop, and it is the city of lights and the perfect place to film those amazing car chases. Then the kiss, which was dazzling and beautiful. Towards the end there was a scene with a lighthouse, and it has stuck to my brain like superglue, I was that impressed with it. But those are just some scenes. Contrasting with these bright gritty scenes, there were scenes between the Driver and Irene, like when he takes her and her kid for a drive, that were soft and intimate and just real. I liked the emotional sweet parts as much as the gory visceral ones. Refn struck a great balance in this film in this way. While the first-half was slow, but darling, the second-half was one intense, brutal ride. The screenwriter Hossein Amini should get equal points for this; he really has written a thrilling film that isn't just some action flick with computer effects galore, but  rather a somewhat emotional film with quite a violent streak in it.

            Speaking of emotional things with violent streaks, can Ryan Gosling as the Driver be more bang on? And fantastic? It is one of the most restrained performances that I have ever seen. He only speaks when completely necessary, he drives with utmost focus, he smiles occasionally, and though they are not big smiles, they seem ginormous because of the rarity of such smiles. And all this is important, because once he breaks this reserve of his, he is a very dangerous man who can bash your brains out, quite literally. I think this might have become my favourite performance by Gosling ever. Gosling, who has the ability to give really intense performances but more on an emotional level, is almost stoic here. The Driver seems to have no feelings or thoughts or cares, but once Irene and her kid enters his life, we immediately understand how devastatingly lonely he is. I am going to put in another superbly clichéd line here so you have been warned, but he tries to save them so much because they had saved him. He was a nameless man with a pointless existence, no matter how cool, but they give him a reason to live and fight for something. Sure his methods are a bit out of hand (if there ever was an understatement...), but his motives are in place, and because of all this, Driver has now joined the very prestigious list of my favourite anti-heroes. 


          It is true that this was Gosling's film through and through, but the whole ride would have been slightly boring, inspite of the awesome music playing (more on that later), if he wasn't backed by some stellar supporting performances. The two I really loved are of Carey Mulligan's, who plays Irene, and Albert Brooks's, who plays Bernie Ross. It is true that Mulligan can do sad roles well, my favourite one was in Never Let Me Go, but I really did not expect Irene from her. What I mean is that the whole image of a lonely, American single-mother with her husband in prison is not what one necessarily thinks of when they think of Mulligan, but she pulled it off. She is sweet and adorable in the film, and no wonder the Driver would want to go to any lengths to protect her. Her chemistry with Gosling was incredible. During their, for lack of a better word, courtship period, the simple smiles and long glances that they gave to each other was more sincere than most over-the-top romantic crap we see nowadays. The second time when I had gone to watch this film, it was with two female friends of mine and one of them kept trying to think of expected lines and things that we are so used to in such scenes. But none of that happened, which is good. It made me think of something Uma Thurman said as Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction, "Why do we feel it's necessary to yak about bullshit in order to be comfortable? ...That's when you know you've found somebody special. When you can just shut the fuck up for a minute and comfortably enjoy the silence." If anything can define the Driver's and Irene's relationship, it's that quote. And that kiss...*swoon* Apparently Gosling put it in there because he really wanted to kiss Mulligan. Good call sir (Lucky Bitch!).

               Albert Brooks, on the other hand, is the furthest thing from sweet and adorable you can find. Of course if you think that being a two-faced, murderously efficient or efficiently murderous mobster is sweet and adorable, he is exactly that. When we first meet him, he seems okay...I mean as far as mobster go, talking about his fortune cookies and all. But the second he meets the Driver and admits to his hands being dirty, you know this guy is bad news. He tries to be friendly with everyone- the Driver, Shannon, who is played by Bryan Cranston, Nino, played by Ron Perlman, but something evil and disturbing lurks underneath his skin. While I only had Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver to compare the Driver with, and that also not so much because the former now looks like a Parliamentarian orator compared to the latter, I could see clearly the kind of mobster Bernie Ross was. He had the whole gruff talking and frighteningly vicious criminal thing down. And that is amazing, seeing that Brooks is famous for being a comedic actor.


              Among the others, Cranston was good as an almost-fatherly figure to the Driver, who has a lot of bad luck. Now most people would compare this performance of his to his character in Breaking Bad, but I know him as Malcolm's dad, so you can see how remarkable it was to me. I especially liked the final part of when his character is shown. Perlman, a.k.a. Hellboy, was the slobbery, angry mobster Nino who contrasted with the perfectionist, cool and collected Bernie. Oscar Isaac played Standard, Irene's ex-convict husband. He could have been deadly generic, but he was very good too as an emotional family man who is trying to do the right thing. Christina Hendricks of Mad Men was in this as well. She had a really minor role, albeit a pivotal one, but honestly I couldn't care less about her. Last, but not the least, Irene's son Benicio was played by Kaden Leos, who was so cute and his scenes with Gosling were lovely and touching.


        I have two more points to make about this film, but I'll take help of another review. This is what NME magazine had to say about Drive:

'Drive is the epitome of cool. It isn't just as cool as fuck. It's cooler. That's right: “Drive Is Cooler Than Fuck”.'

I agree whole-heartedly. Three reasons: the first is everything I have written above- you know the whole mysterious scary driver, and stunning shots, and stylish directing, and splendid acting. The second would be the music. I personally am not a big fan of electronic, synth-pop tunes that were prevalent throughout the film. Having said that, I must say that I am now a big fan of those tunes because of the way they were put in the film. Gosling has talked about how he chose Refn to direct this film because Refn had wanted to make a film about a guy who drives around at nights listening to pop music. So you see the music is as an integral part of the story as the friggin' Driver himself, somewhat. The four songs that come in the film- 'Nightcall', 'Under Your Spell', 'Oh My Love' and 'A Real Hero' were perfectly placed according to the mood and feel of the film, especially 'Under Your Spell' which plays when Standard returns and it is playing in his welcoming party and it just means so much to the Driver and Irene. Ahmazing! The final reason why Drive is so fucking cool is because of the iconic status that it is going to inevitably reach. The Driver, with his duo-coloured scorpion jacket and leather gloves and toothpick-biting and the song 'A Real Hero' describing him...it's all going to become huge. I can see it. It has been a while that a film has really gotten a cult status, the last film worthy of it was Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, in my opinion, though that had Michael Cera and this has Ryan Gosling. I know I shouldn't care about how cool a film is and just think about all its goodness, but meh. I want to be the person who was there when it all happened. Drive might be for me what Pulp Fiction was to the people who were old enough to get it in the 90s. And that seriously is wayyyy cooler than fuck.

       I guess that's all folks. I loved this film to bits, my second favourite this year, that too only by a margin. It is awesome and gritty and smooth and just a hell of a ride. Oscar-wise, I'd love to see Refn, Gosling and Brooks get recognised but this film is a bit non-Oscar-baity. And I don't even care about that because um, was The King's Speech cooler than fuck? I didn't think so. So anyways, GO SEE IT!!

INTERVIEWS FOR LIFE! ~ Sixth Installment

l

Since I am officially obsessed with this film and cannot wait to watch it again, expect a lot more of Drive Fandom coming your way. Starting with my superbly awesome banner and this interview. I like Nicolas Winding Refn. I think he loves Ryan Gosling almost as much as I do.

Ryan: Is it true that you almost killed your stepmother?

Nicolas: That's true. I pointed a gun at her, tried to fire it. Didn't work.

*Ryan laughs*

Thoughts

Ugh...I'm thoughtless (is that even a word?), but anyways:


1) Yesterday I saw this Bollywood film called Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, which roughly translates to You Only Live Once. It was about these three men who go on a road trip in Spain for an extended bachelor party for one of them. The film was, most surprisingly, one of the best looking films of this year that I have seen. It had many non-Indian aspects...probably more global ones like relationships and workaholics, abandonment issues, cold feet before weddings, but it was fun. It was directed by Zoya Akhtar, and it did resemble her brother Farhan's (one of the leads in Zindagi...) directorial debut Dil Chahta Hai, which is one of the best films, Bollywood or otherwise, that I have ever seen. However because of the beautiful backdrops and cinematography, and a more emotional, less comedic purview, it was quite different. I won't say it was as good as Dil Chahta Hai- that film for me is flawless, but it was an honest effort to go into a new territory without making it cheap in any way. Even the little Flamenco+Hindi song number ended up being adorable instead of it becoming the infamous "item" number. Plus Hrithik Roshan's skin tone against the warm Mediterranean colours was quite something else. Another thing I really loved was the infusion of Javed Akhtar's (Zoya and Farhan's legendary father) poetry within key moments of the film, and a special appearance by the always spectacular Naseeruddin Shah. I like how Bollywood is trying to expand its limits nowadays and Zoya and Farhan may well be the pioneers in such a pursuit.


2) TRAILERS FOR LIFE!! Great week for trailers. Or teaser trailers...I dunno. Why not just give a trailer? These teasers can get annoying. Anyways...we saw the trailers of Martin Scorcese's Hugo, the last part of Nolan's epic superhero trilogy The Dark Knight Rises, Marc Webb's (no pun intended, or maybe intended...haven't really gotten to the bottom of that) The Amazing Spiderman and Cannes award winning director/Ryan Gosling's smooching buddy Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive. Hugo looks amazing, probably the best live-action children's film since Lemony Snickets: A Series of Unfortunate Events. I have never seen a non-serious Scorcese film, so this might be a welcome surprise. I love Asa Butterfield (and his name!). The Dark Knight Rises's teaser trailer is a bit meh, I agree; especially without any glimpses of Anne Hathaway as Catwoman or Joseph Gordon-Levitt or Marion Cottilard, but COME ON PEOPLE! It will be brilliant...I don't think I'm being that presumptuous in saying so. Will it surpass The Dark Knight...we'll see. I honestly don't have any such expectations because that is near impossible, but what I do expect is solid entertainment that will leave me completely gobsmacked by the end of it. And if anyone knows how to do that, it's Christopher Fuckin' Nolan. The Amazing Spiderman's trailer leaves me perplexed. I am one of those people who only liked Spiderman 1, and grew sick of Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst after that; and am now insanely in love with Andrew Garfield, and also Emma Stone to some extent. But even I must say that the last 30 odd seconds are too video game-y and well, annoying. But yes, I am dying to see this film- JUST LOOK AT HIM- bdiugbfklnkjbgviufhdxkihjfhjbgfdxjlkjyhegruhvchjbjc. However the king of trailers this week has to be Drive. It looks awesome! Slick, dangerous, sexy- fast cars and violent men, with a lot of Ryan "MyEarthquakeMan" Gosling in it...*swoon*. Gosling is made to do films like this, in my opinion- he has the cool, anti-hero, action movie star thing down. And I love Carey Mulligan forever also.


3) Guillermo Del Toro will be directing the new Beauty and the Beast film, with my dream woman Emma Watson as the female lead. Excited...I think yes! Just this week, after watching HP8, I was thinking about what would have happened if he did direct some of the HP films. I could obviously not come to any conclusion, just that it would have been really cool. Anyways, no Beast has been cast yet, to my knowledge. I personally think it should be someone much older to Watson. Fassy comes to mind, but he sort of shouldn't do it, because of all the ubiquity. Then again it is Del Toro, and one may never get a chance like that. I personally like the idea of Matthew Goode- he's a very sexy, very able actor, who has not been given the right role yet.


4) Teen Choice Awards is round the corner. Hurrah! I have been voting a lot, as it is my duty to exercise my rights as a teen. Best Category- Web Star! Guess who voted for Rebecca Black y'all?!


5) Finally, I love Tumblr...get to see such genius things there. For instance:

To Luke and Michael.

Over.