Drive

Release Date:Sep 16, 2011
Runtime:1 hr. 40 min.
Director:Nicolas Winding Refn
Cast:Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Ron Perlman, Oscar Isaac, Christina Hendricks.

The saying 'less is more' may sound like a cliché but never has it been truer than in conjunction to arguably one of the best films of this year. Directed by Danish filmmaker Nicolas Refn, "Drive" is anything but your average car chase movie and here's why. First off, it has minimal dialogue. Almost to the point of being a silent film, it's the intense calm that speaks louder than words and delves into the unexpected. Furthermore, it has style. Whether it's attributing to classic film noirs or under the influence of contemporary directors, such as Michael Mann or the Coen Brothers, "Drive" is distinguishable enough to leave its trace. Moving slowly to build caliber and then amping up when it needs to, the contrast is stark but works to its advantage. Lastly, it has taste. The soundtrack is atypical for this type of film and embraces the mellowness that is comparable to its central character. Ryan Gosling is the epitome of cool when he's steering the wheel or pining from afar. His quiet charm and forthright acting have all the makings of a Hollywood legend, but it's his merciless attitude that will forever be embedded, and make for one of the most gruesome but notable scenes in recent history. Also battling typecasts is Albert Brooks as the central antagonist. With all jokes aside, Brooks is perfectly suited for this gangster role and just as sharp as his knife-wielding abilities. In any case, "Drive" can be considered an art form or a film open to opinions; you either like it or you don't. But either way, you'll sure be left talking about it and that's what matters.

Rating: 4½ stars

Contagion

Release Date: Sep 09, 2011 

Runtime: 1 hr. 46 min.

Director: Steven Soderbergh 

Cast: Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet.

Fear can come in all shapes and forms, but sometimes, it's what you can't see that's the most dangerous of them all. And so it implies in the viral-disaster thriller from director Steven Soderbergh. When a mysterious virus breaks loose on the population, the CDC is caught in the crossfires, and social mayhem ensues across the globe. Supported by a cast of high-profile actors, Soderbergh brings relevance to today's society with a devastating epidemic that feels terrifyingly surreal, yet seemingly familiar. Through a gritty lens, we witness the paranoia that engulfs the masses, dismantling all sense of security and sanity we have come to withhold. But in spite of the crisis that pans out on screen, there's a lack of mounting tension that keeps the film suspenseful for great periods of time. This is primarily due to the fact that you never quite feel invested in any of the victims of the outbreak. As various stories merge and disperse, the time spent on introducing characters is abbreviated, thus allowing recall to come solely based on faces alone. An exception to the rule is Paltrow, whose presence on screen is ostensibly brief but crucial to the plot. Her pallid face and body convulsions are but a few of the things that resonate from the entirety of the film. However, this goes without saying, the acting is still all-around superb; with names like Damon, Winslet and Cotillard, it's bound to be the case. By the end of the film, you can't help but feel unease as the pieces fall into place, which is probably what Soderbergh was gunning for. Next time you're out and about, you may just think twice about who, or what, you touch.

Rating: 3 stars

Warrior

Release Date: Sep 09, 2011 

Runtime: 2 hr. 19 min.

Director: Gavin O'Connor 

Cast: Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Jennifer Morrison, Frank Grillo, Nick Nolte. 

From the director of “Miracle” comes another inspirational story of overcoming obstacles and defeating the odds. Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy play estranged brothers from different sides of the track. While one struggles to support his family, the other seeks means of escape from a haunted past, and coincidentally, find themselves on a parallel path to the championship tournament of mixed martial arts. In the same vein as “The Fighter,” O’Connor delivers a solid portrait of combat that goes beyond the ring, or in this case the octagon. During a time when award season is in full swing, “Warrior” proves to be no exception, and bests that of “The Fighter” and many sport sagas before it through sheer emotion. Edgerton and Hardy both deliver powerful performances that will certainly earn praise, but it’s Hardy who gets the upper hand with his brute force and raw determination. For his supporting role, Nick Nolte is a sure bet, with his battered ego and heartfelt remorse. His scenes are nothing short of heart wrenching, if not moving, when he’s biding for acceptance from his sons. Clocking in at over two hours, the film is slow-moving in the first half to build upon the backstories that are required for general purposes. But it’s this concentration on development that heavily benefits the characters in the end, and evokes sympathy for each of the individuals that are fighting for a cause. The interweaving of side elements seem random at times, maybe due to hasty editing, but the result is more or less expected. Though there can only be one winner, it’s difficult to choose a side when both are so deserving of the ultimate prize: redemption. Be sure to have your emotions in check at the door. Even grown men can shed a tear.

Rating: 4 stars