# Was "Drive" worth watching? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2012, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727 "2012-06-20T06:09:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/1 "2012-06-20T06:09:03Z")
I was looking over some “best of 2011” movie lists and I was surprised to see several people mentioning _Drive_ - some even calling it the best movie of the year. I’ll admit I didn’t pay it much attention. I assumed it was another _Fast and Furious_/_Gone in 60 Seconds_ type movie with a side of _Contraband_/_Killer Elite_: cliches and car chases. But did I overlook a good movie? I have no problem with an action movie as long as it’s well-made. Does _Drive_ rise above the average and should I check it out? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/2 "2012-06-20T06:18:39Z")
It was nothing like Fast and Furious. It was a violent film about a quiet man and the noisy people around him who meet their maker. It happened to have cars in it. Some very good performances, but some flawed directorial and editing choices. You remember the Downey Sherlock Holmes’ movie thingy where he can see each blow and counterblow in a fight in advance? They do that twice (at least) in Drive, and they should have simply edited those scenes out. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/3 "2012-06-20T06:47:30Z")
I absolutely loved it. It actually really has not much to with driving. **The Second Stone’s** review was quite good. The pacing is slow, though (and that seems to turn a lot of people off). However, I found all the acting to be excellent. It’s also quite violent, but that didn’t detract for me. It was easily my favorite movie of the year. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/4 "2012-06-20T06:49:16Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I was looking over some “best of 2011” movie lists and I was surprised to see several people mentioning _Drive_ - some even calling it the best movie of the year. > > I’ll admit I didn’t pay it much attention. I assumed it was another _Fast and Furious_/_Gone in 60 Seconds_ type movie with a side of _Contraband_/_Killer Elite_: cliches and car chases. > > But did I overlook a good movie? I have no problem with an action movie as long as it’s well-made. Does _Drive_ rise above the average and should I check it out? It’s not even really a car movie at all. It’s not like The Fast and the Furious. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/5 "2012-06-20T07:51:56Z")
I liked it. As others have said, it bears no resemblance to _The Fast and The Furious_. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/6 "2012-06-20T08:39:38Z")
A little while ago I was reading a thread on reddit about “weirdest thing a kid has ever said to you.” Story went something like this: Guy and girl are sitting down at a table when a kid runs over to them, looks at them seriously, and says “for every three seconds of awkward silence, a gay baby is born.” Guy and girl just bemusedly look at the kid, and three seconds pass, at which point the kid whispers “_gay baby_” and runs away. Why do I bring this up? Because _Drive_ is the king of gay baby movies. The entire movie is littered with awkward pauses that make no sense at all. Two characters will be having a conversation about something completely normal like “what did you do this morning?” and the characters will sit and stare at each other for five seconds before answering “I went to the supermarket”. Not because they’re lying or thinking hard or anything, but because the director is a jerk and apparently long pauses make movie critics go ga-ga over your film. It’s definitely not an action movie, which is problematic for some people because that’s how it was marketed. There’s only three driving scenes in the whole movie, and none of them are very action-packed (though the opening one does set a nice scene). But everything after that is kinda a silly mess, and none of the characters are all that interesting or relatable IMO. (There’s also a very WTF-worthy directorial choice involving a mask near the end of the film). ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/7 "2012-06-20T08:52:26Z")
It’s an excellent film, but it’s not going to be to everyone’s taste. There is a previous thread about it (full of spoilers), and it split opinions. I think it’s best described as a modern fable. > [@magnusblitz](#): > > (There’s also a very WTF-worthy directorial choice involving a mask near the end of the film). If you are referring to what I think you are, that made perfect sense. The driver uses the mask to peek into the Pizzeria without being recognised. He doesn’t have a chance to take it off before he drowns Nino. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/8 "2012-06-20T11:25:47Z")
The movie reminded me very much of movies from the 70s-80s where you have a quiet and stoic male protagonist who happens to be a criminal, usually a consumate professional. He is often conflicted about this, and trying to leave that life and become an average guy. The movie reminded me of Thief. ---
**Author:** ![JMH125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee59a6/32.png) [@JMH125](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JMH125)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/9 "2012-06-20T12:49:41Z")
Some well done parts, but the slow pace of the movie turned me off. It’s really one where it’s hard to listen to people’s opinions, you just have to see it and judge it. I would say that it is an artsy, violent film and nothing like Fast and Furious. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/10 "2012-06-20T12:59:49Z")
It was one of my favorite movies of the past year. It’s like a modern day fairy tale, or a twist on a tale of chivalry. It’s not a typical action movie in any sense except that it has action sequences. ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/11 "2012-06-20T13:10:10Z")
I don’t know if it was the best movie of 2011, but it was probably my favorite. As others have mentioned, the pacing is extremely deliberate, and that isn’t going to work for everyone - my fiancee hated it, actually, one of those “why did I agree to come to this?!” sort of movies for her. Though, even if it sounds like it isn’t going to work for you, it’s still worth trying to catch the opening scene, which is just perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/12 "2012-06-20T15:54:02Z")
I hated it. HATED it. I was bored and confused. The hot, troubled chick likes the driver…but there is nothing really likable about him. He’s not smart, warm, funny, macho…he’s nice, but in a really, really creepy way. ---
**Author:** ![JMH125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee59a6/32.png) [@JMH125](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JMH125)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/13 "2012-06-20T15:57:34Z")
> [@Kiros](#): > > I don’t know if it was the best movie of 2011, but it was probably my favorite. As others have mentioned, the pacing is extremely deliberate, and that isn’t going to work for everyone - my fiancee hated it, actually, one of those “why did I agree to come to this?!” sort of movies for her. Though, even if it sounds like it isn’t going to work for you, it’s still worth trying to catch the opening scene, which is just perfect. Although i didn’t like the movie much overall, the opening scene WAS pretty awesome. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/14 "2012-06-20T16:23:41Z")
I liked it a lot! [Here is my original thread on the movie](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=624615&highlight=Drive), with varying comments following. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/15 "2012-06-20T19:33:29Z")
I did not care for the movie. It was a bit too slow paced for me, although there are one or two stand-out scenes. The soundtrack, however, is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/16 "2012-06-20T19:39:59Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I did not care for the movie. It was a bit too slow paced for me, although there are one or two stand-out scenes. The soundtrack, however, is awesome. The soundtrack is awesome! ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/17 "2012-06-20T19:51:35Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I did not care for the movie. It was a bit too slow paced for me, although there are one or two stand-out scenes. The soundtrack, however, is awesome. I also thought that a lot of the cinematography, camera angles, lighting, etc… was amazing. I liked the movie overall, and I mostly didn’t mind the slower pacing. Mostly I thought the occasional minimal dialogue and “comfortable silences” were well done, although in a few instances they were a bit too long. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/18 "2012-06-20T20:03:31Z")
It’s a very, very simple story (I mean, don’t expect plot twists or anything. Stuff happens. It leads to other stuff. The end.) with some gore-ish violence in it and filmed in the style of one of those slow paced experimental trippy flicks from the seventies. It’s not The Fast and the Furious at all, it’s more like… Easy Rider, or Badlands. Enjoyable? Yeah, I reccomend it. Mind blowing? Not really. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/19 "2012-06-20T21:01:04Z")
I didn’t care for it too much. It was 15 minutes of interesting packed into an hour and a half of overacting. It didn’t pass my litmus test for a good movie… I have no desire to see it again. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727/20 "2012-06-21T16:29:59Z")
Worst movie I’ve seen in a long time, partly because the trailer was so deceptive. It was not an action or car movie at all, it was a long, slow, depressing, and occasionally very violent movie. Half the movie was just characters looking at each other in silence or the main character driving around aimlessly. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-drive-worth-watching/625727.md?page=2)