Shut up and Drive

This picture is a movie poster for the 2011 Oscar nominated film, Drive, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and features actors Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan. The primary figure, Ryan Gosling’s character, is centered in the middle of the image showing his importance as the protagonist throughout the entire film. The second figure within this image is the car that rests idle in the middle of the street directly behind him and although the car is unidentifiable it is still easily categorized as some type of classic and fast automobile to some extent.

The perspective we see in this photo is as if Ryan Gosling is walking towards us although his eyes are gazed elsewhere lost in thought. This type of chilling perspective allows the viewer and audience to understand that the character is daring and he is a risk-taker and is willing to face a problem dead on. Without the lighting there wouldn’t be a perspective in this poster to show how dark and provoking everything seems at the moment. The scene is placed in a big city late at night where the streets are empty and desolate. The shades of blues and blacks demonstrate a ferocious and sinister light to the city as if something wicked is going to occur on this particular night. The way that the lightning illuminates the character shows more good qualities in him than evil and the blurred darkness that flows around the outer corners of the picture displays a vengeance and or aggression that he feels altogether.

The cinematographer of this scene captured an elegant way of showing a vast and yet vacant city late at night where the sounds grow softer and the lights ooze together. The empty space around the character and his car practically sums up the story without saying too much. The buildings that stand tall off to the sides take up the negative space that needs to be filled, showing how the character feels stuck in a place he isn’t quite comfortable in and his car shows his escape. The main character is walking casually along the street at night sporting a creamy white colored leather jacket as he clutches a dark duffle bag tightly in his right hand. His jacket is a soothing and peaceful color showing that he remains calm, cool and collected through times of fear. And although he seems to be fearless, he is still holding something mysterious and important in his right hand that could put him in jeopardy.

This image tells a story about an independent man who would rather be on the road than stay in one place for the rest of his life. He looks suspicious at a first glance but once you look at the surroundings you notice that he isn’t the bad guy but someone who might be working as a criminal to get the independence he seeks in the world as a new-type of hero. Everyone has the need to be free but some others have to work harder for their freedom; some people work in big businesses, some people fly planes and some people drive.

Links below:

http://collider.com/wp-content/uploads/drive-movie-poster-international-01.jpg
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780504/

11 September 2012 

Author: Jasmine Brown